Scratched lens, to buy or not?

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fulwood

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I'm very tempted to buy a lens with a small scratch on the front element, unfortunately I won't be able to test before purchase.

My understanding is that whilst a bad, deep central scratch is a no-no as far as buying is concerned, a little one near an edge won't significantly affect performance. I would be concerned about light scatter from the scratch perhaps causing flare, loss of contrast and may be a mild resolution drop at worst. More worried about a scratch being caused by impact, which could de-centre an element or impinge on the mechanics if a bad bash.

What do you think - it must affect value at the very least - how do you think it would affect optical performance? The lens in question is a telephoto macro prime.

Should I be afraid!!:eek:
 
Has no impact on image quality at all - hold a pencil (way thicker than a tiny scratch) right up to your lens and take a shot, it'll focus right past it.
 
In all likelihood it won't be visible in shots, except the outside chance of flare in some.

Only you can gauge whether or not the price you pay accurately reflects the damage or not.
 
If you buy it for yourself for using in long term, not a slightly though about selling it, I would say go for it :thumbs:
A scratch (even big one) on the front edge is very very very unlikely to result in any difference in your image :thumbs:
 
fulwood said:
I'm very tempted to buy a lens with a small scratch on the front element, unfortunately I won't be able to test before purchase.

My understanding is that whilst a bad, deep central scratch is a no-no as far as buying is concerned, a little one near an edge won't significantly affect performance. I would be concerned about light scatter from the scratch perhaps causing flare, loss of contrast and may be a mild resolution drop at worst. More worried about a scratch being caused by impact, which could de-centre an element or impinge on the mechanics if a bad bash.

What do you think - it must affect value at the very least - how do you think it would affect optical performance? The lens in question is a telephoto macro prime.

Should I be afraid!!:eek:
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It would help if you said what lens it is, and how much you can get it. Then so advice might be coming forward.
The above is right to a point, but with out knowing what lens it is I hold off
 
I was hoping for a good joke in this as it is NSFW. Boo!

Hope you get the lens sorted;)
 
I think you would regret it, you will always see the scratch and know its there, it will also be difficult to sell on. Save a little more for a pristine one.
 
It won't be visible in the image, although it will affect IQ in a bench-test.

If the front or rear elements are at all marked (blemishes in the coating - sometimes described rather hopefully as 'polishing' marks...lol) or scratched, then I'd expect the price to reflect that.
You can't in all fairness expect someone to pay the same amount as for an immaculate/undamaged lens...
 
I use this 35mm Summicron all the time. That's a huge great crack all the way across the outer element!

4308437775_c2d18e97e7.jpg


Never had an issue with flare with it, or it showing up in photographs. I even took a lovely set of sunset photos, the first night of the Icelandic volcano eruption, straight into the setting sun with no flare problems!

I would never use it for lets say "mission critical" photos as you can't tell what's happened to the picture like you can with modern digitals!
 
But would you buy one with a scratch already there....
 
I'm sure not long ago someone posted some pictures taken with a filter that had been completely shattered and nobody could tell what was wrong until the reveal. Go for it, but don't pay full price purely for resale sake.
 
Look as we do not know what lens and the price how can anyone reply
say its a Canon 70-200 IS L 2.8 for say £500 with a fixed repair cost of less then £150 I think its worth buying it Dont you?
That is why I ask the question what lens and how much.....
 
Flamez said:
I think you would regret it, you will always see the scratch and know its there, it will also be difficult to sell on. Save a little more for a pristine one.
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If money no object, then I would totally agree, but sadly 'Line Manager (Domestic)' :D has some very tight purse strings and she says I've spent an awful lot this month already. This is one is as much as I can afford!
 
pepper said:
I use this 35mm Summicron all the time. That's a huge great crack all the way across the outer element!

4308437775_c2d18e97e7.jpg


Never had an issue with flare with it, or it showing up in photographs. I even took a lovely set of sunset photos, the first night of the Icelandic volcano eruption, straight into the setting sun with no flare problems!

I would never use it for lets say "mission critical" photos as you can't tell what's happened to the picture like you can with modern digitals!
Click to expand...

Amazing!!
 
Chaz Photos said:
Look as we do not know what lens and the price how can anyone reply
say its a Canon 70-200 IS L 2.8 for say £500 with a fixed repair cost of less then £150 I think its worth buying it Dont you?
That is why I ask the question what lens and how much.....
Click to expand...

I have the owner's ok to reveal - it's a Tamron 180mm f3.5 macro which I want to use with a 5D, priced at £375 posted, mint (apart from the scratch...) with box and hood.
 
Thanks for all the encouraging comments and brilliant link!, as I'm on a very tight budget I'll go for it. I have revealed that it's a Tamron 180mm macro f3.5 at £375 posted, boxed etc.

I did once have a MF Pentax 200mm f4 with scratch on the front element - I black felt-tipped the scratch and it performed brilliantly, managed to sell it to someone local who tested before parting with his money - can't do that in this case, unfortunately, as it's mail order.
 
Dave450 said:
You what??? :eek::eek::eek:
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Yep, the scratch went through the coatings and into the glass, about 1/3 of the way in. Black felt tip into just the scratch prevented any flare, optically it was very, very sharp in spite of the damage!
 
fulwood said:
I have the owner's ok to reveal - it's a Tamron 180mm f3.5 macro which I want to use with a 5D, priced at £375 posted, mint (apart from the scratch...) with box and hood.
Click to expand...

Price seems high to me, with or without a scratch. 18 months ago this was a £400 lens (and even less imported).. so it doesn't seem an amazing price. The price has gone up but the asking now is silly.

I wouldn't worry about the scratch.. but I reckon you could find a Sigma 150mm f/2.8 HSM for around £400 which is going to be a better lens I think.
 
puddleduck said:
Price seems high to me, with or without a scratch. 18 months ago this was a £400 lens (and even less imported).. so it doesn't seem an amazing price. The price has gone up but the asking now is silly.

I wouldn't worry about the scratch.. but I reckon you could find a Sigma 150mm f/2.8 HSM for around £400 which is going to be a better lens I think.
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I've gone for this one as whilst the Sigma may be just as good optically, I've loved the (slow & chuggy I know) af on my Tamron 90 macro, it always got there accurately in the end. The same is true af-wise for the 180 (I hope)!

I know purists will say NEVER use af with a macro, but I (try to) take pics moving creatures - butterflies, bugs, dragonflies - where a bit of af helps. I got very few keepers with a Sigma 105 af or mf, but pleasantly surprised with my Tamron 90 when using AF.
 
I bought a Canon compact that had a scratch on the lens, from all the images i've shot with it is only visible on the odd image, but looks like when you get a raindrop on it, which is easily cloned out if you really want to.
I use the camera to shoot video of the birds in my garden and love it. Got it for nearly half the price of a 2nd hand one so really pleased with it.


Have to agree that £375 sounds expensive for that lens.
 
fulwood said:
I'm very tempted to buy a lens with a small scratch on the front element, unfortunately I won't be able to test before purchase....

Should I be afraid!!:eek:
Click to expand...

Personally, absolutely no chance.

Firstly, as you also stated, you do not know how the scratch got there in the first place. If it is an impact scratch then you could just have bought a crock of a lens and also, as you've also sort of argued for yourself that there could be issues with light flare, image quality etc etc

Not for me - I just could not tae a chance with something that would effect so much in my photgraphy
 
Just got hold of a Tamron SP 70-150 f2.8 varisoft (very rare) that has a small scratch just off centre on the front element. Used it a few times with great results so I wouldn't be too bothered.
 
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