Nikon 17-55 mm lens 2.8 - is it ruined?

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emyllis

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I bought a year ago lens off chap on this forum and have been delighted with it. However in the past few months, I have noticed marks where paint(?) has come away from the top of the lens - and this results in messy photos being produced where dots are appearing on pictures.

Initially I thought it was the UV filter but having replaced that, they are still there, and I am unsure how to go about getting these fixed.

I have enclosed a picture which shows the spotting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61444402@N00/7690412070/
See the top part of the picture...
7690412070_c79c33014c_b.jpg

Swapping to different lenses removes the problem, and I've tried cleaning the filter, lens etc, but am worried that there's dust inside the lens which will mean this can not be relied upon in the future.

Is there any advice someone can give me as to what I can do to get this lens which I love back to its previously useful state?
 
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I would imagine that is crap on your sensor rather than paint bits on the lens.

Swapping lens should show the same problem to be honest, so a bit of a strange one.
 
So I have cleaned the sensor, and when I try on a 50 mm, I get a different result - I'll show you in 2 seconads.
 
Have you tried cleaning the sensor?
 
Put the lens to F20 and take a shot of the sky, then do this with the 50mm at F20 as well.............Post the results and we can advise further.
 
This is the same body, but with a 50 mm lens with no "mess" on the image

7690437776_5c2731d800_c.jpg
 
emyllis said:
This is the same body, but with a 50 mm lens with no "mess" on the image

7690437776_5c2731d800_c.jpg
Click to expand...

Same aperture too? Looks like a wider aperture on that shot.

Lens muck tends to show up only at narrower apertures. As above, try both lenses at F/16 or something and see what happens.
 
Strange! The 50 mm has loads of spots on now, I will double check the results for peace of mind...

50mm at 16 - the highest it would go

7690464664_832a7524a8_b.jpg


17mm at 22
7690465248_25f91afa73_b.jpg


17mm at 16 for comparison
7690465794_1fcdb37740_b.jpg
 
This is odd, as I've never noticed the spotting on the 50mm lens, so am going back to double check...
 
Sensor needs cleaning, panic over.........:thumbs:
 
in which case, I take the lens off, and the "mirror" I give a clean with a lens pen or equivalent, or will that be asking for trouble?
 
No, the sensor is behind the mirror. Take it to a shop or google "DSLR sensor cleaning" or even search on here.

Most people clean their own sensors, it is not difficult.
 
Thank you fracster. I shall see how easy this is, appreciate you taking the time to help me out, I thought I had "cooked my goose" as it were!
 
Some people use the sensor pens but when I used one on my D80 it came out looking worse. I then used the visible dust ez sensor cleaning kit green and that worked well.
 
Big plus 1 for visible dust green swabs and eclipse fluid, or sensorklear smear away.

Make sure your battery is fully charged, DO NOT risk it. If the shutter closes whilst you are doing it, then its game over.

Use the camera's sensor cleaning mode if it has it, or the mirror up function if it doesnt.

DONT use a 30 second shutter speed as I have seen some people do!

Use enough pressure to get the dust off, but not so much you risk damaging something. Pencil pressure is about right.

Its likely you'll need several passes to get the worst off, and you'll still be left with some no matter how many times you do it.

Do a pass and then reattach the lens and take the sky test shot at a narrow aperture as above. If it looks ok, then job done, if not, do it again and retest.
 
emyllis said:
Thank you fracster. I shall see how easy this is, appreciate you taking the time to help me out, I thought I had "cooked my goose" as it were!
Click to expand...
No problem glad to be of help.

For the record I use a blower initially, then swabs and fluid should I need to. As Tom says, use the sensor cleaning mode in the camera and make sure the battery is fully charged.
 
i use the 30 second exposure mode on my D2Xs as i dont have the external power lead. you just gotta be quick :naughty:

i generally have about 3 or 4 quick go's at it & its always nice & clear afterwards :thumbs:
 
I was going to post an update to say it's all done, but it's not! Certainly a good chunk of spots have gone, but a few more have appeared, but it's certainly progress, especially in comparison to how it was...


Pic 1 at f16
7691289342_2b01fcd473_b.jpg




Pic 2 clouds at f22
7691290256_d281862564_b.jpg


Do I assume that simple perseverance is all that's needed?
 
Well I've cleared 80% of these and am going to stop for a bit, I can easily edit the pics I've taken to remove belimshes, which I will do until i finish my summer break when I will address the other 20%. What a real pain...
 
Emyllis - this could something like oil splatter off the mirror mech that some D7000 owners have found.
 
Tirpitz said:
i use the 30 second exposure mode on my D2Xs as i dont have the external power lead. you just gotta be quick :naughty:

i generally have about 3 or 4 quick go's at it & its always nice & clear afterwards :thumbs:
Click to expand...

If the D2Xs is like the D2x, then you can put it in mirror lock-up (in the menu) and you press start and then the shutter release ands the mirror and shutter lock up so you can access the sensor. :thumbs:
 
Remember if going after particularly stubborn spots that if they appear, say, in the top left of the picture they're actually on the bottom right of the sensor ;)
 
specialman said:
If the D2Xs is like the D2x, then you can put it in mirror lock-up (in the menu) and you press start and then the shutter release ands the mirror and shutter lock up so you can access the sensor. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

you could be right Pat i've never really ever delved into Mup :shrug:

i bet you were sorry to say goodbye to one of your pair?
 
Tirpitz said:
you could be right Pat i've never really ever delved into Mup :shrug:

i bet you were sorry to say goodbye to one of your pair?
Click to expand...

In a way yes - the build and feel is unrivalled in the Nikon range i feel - but the D7000 sensor is excellent at high ISOs and that's what I really needed. Still hankering after a D3 though ;)
 
Took me about 8 swabs when I did one of my old Canon DSLRs. I used eclipse fluid and glue spactulars wrapped in pec pads. First 2-3 shots were worse or the same, then gradually they got better, until I was left with just a couple of bits soo minor it was time to stop. Warning...you will never get it PERFECT and will always see some very minor ones if you go looking for them imo.
 
specialman said:
In a way yes - the build and feel is unrivalled in the Nikon range i feel - but the D7000 sensor is excellent at high ISOs and that's what I really needed. Still hankering after a D3 though ;)
Click to expand...

the Pro bodys are awesome in the hand. luckily i happened across a D3 for sale locally a couple of weeks ago :thumbs:

bit gutted i bought a brand new 17-55 only 2 weeks earlier though :shrug:
 
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