What to do about a scratch?

[Vickko]

What to do about a scratch?

I have a 55mm lens for MF and there is a 1/8" scratch on it. It is a true scratch - I can feel it when I run my finger nail on it.

Judging from information that I've found, it might not have dire effects on image making, but, should there be something done about it? I've seen some suggestions to filling the scratch with paint. How about filling it with clear nail polish?

What have you done with scratched lenses (no I don't yet intend to sell it).

regards

 

[zeroeseight]

Shoot with it and see if you notice anything wrong, if you don't find anything just leave it. I have scratches on some lens and don't notice it myself.

 

[NeeZee]

single scratches usually don't show in your pictures, especially when on the front element. theoretically it could increase flare but in general haze on the elements or separation is much worse.

 

[f16sunshine]

I have a Zuiko f2/24mm that has a few scratches on the front. I bought it like that and had planned on replacing the front element (it was $70 plus Labor to do so at the time). I read about gently filling the scratch with india ink and gave that a try. The lens still is great all these years later. No unusual flaring, loss of contrast, or sharpness in images. I think this could work for you. Scratches on the rear element are the real troublemakers.

 

[splitimageview]

Ignore it... 🙂

 

[Vics]

An instructor at the Nikon School told a group a story about a PJ who sprayed his 400mm lens with one of those cans of compressed air (and freon) and his front element cracked all the way across. I asked the instructor on a break what happened to the lens, and he said the guy was still using it years later, crack and all. Anecdotal, I know...

 

[Bill58]

I've read, but not tried, you can use a black Sharpie pen on the scratch.

 

[flipflop]

Sandpaper, wet sand down to a mirror polish, usually 2000 grit.

Don't do anything leave it alone, you are asking for trouble!

 

[Vickko]

Yeah, I've done that on prism surfaces.
But not keen on doing it on a spherical surface.

Vick

Sandpaper, wet sand down to a mirror polish, usually 2000 grit.

Don't do anything leave it alone, you are asking for trouble!

 

[sepiareverb]

black in the scratch will tend to prevent any flare from the scratch, tho it seems to be pretty hard to have a scratch that will show up in most light.

 

[one90guy]

I have a very old Nikon 28mm that looks real bad, and a real nice vivtatr 28mm. I see no difference on my prints. I even talked to a fellow who looks for scratched lens bargains on ebay.

 

[Tom hicks]

Fill with flat black paint , you'll never know the difference in any of the shots , DO NOT SAND or polish on the lens surface .

 

[Beemermark]

I have a very old Nikon 28mm that looks real bad, and a real nice vivtatr 28mm. I see no difference on my prints. I even talked to a fellow who looks for scratched lens bargains on ebay.

When I was younger (and much poorer) I always looked for lenses that were scratched. The were a real bargain and rarely showed any flaws in the final negative. I still won't pass up a bargain.

 

[splitimageview]

I said it before. Ignore it. 🙂

 

[mathomas]

Don't sweat it:

http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

.
.

 

[jsrockit]

Ignore it... 🙂

Yep... check this out: http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

 

[Vickko]

Thanks for posting the story. I've seen a similar story ....http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches

Same message, tiny scratches, up to major cracks, don't really hurt imaging quality.

The scratches only hurt resale value.

🙂

 

[Jabberwockt]

Almost anything besides ignoring it will only make it worse

 

[Photo_Smith]

The lens that too this image was not only heavily scratched, but had a huge ding on the front element, so much so I was given it for free.

Canon 100mm ƒ2,8 'soft focus' sand papered front element

In short use it and don't worry 🙂

 

[Harry Lime]

It depends.

If the scratch is on the front it will probably not show up.

Scratches on the rear element are a lot more serious.