Lens Scratch, Should I be Worried?

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Thomas Keidan

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I recently purchased an Olympus 35 RC camera which has been recently refurbished. It all looks perfect apart from a tiny scratch/scuff in the middle of the lens. It's about 1-2mm long. I have ordered some film online but it wont be coming for a few days. In the meantime should I be worried or is this not a big deal? Will this show up in my images? I really want to test and see for myself but like I said I wont be able to for a few days. Any help would be much appreciated to stop me exploding with worry!
 
Unlikely.
It will not be seen on images in any way. Though it could make lens more prove to flare (not to certain about this). Lens hood would be good help.
 
Rudlin said:
Unlikely.
It will not be seen on images in any way. Though it could make lens more prove to flare (not to certain about this). Lens hood would be good help.
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thanks, does the depth as well as size alone make a difference?
 
I've seen lenses in atrocious conditions, not far off the ones in that link, produce perfectly fine image results. Longer lenses seem to get away with it easier, as they are focusing well beyond closer planes. There is limits of course, but marks on lenses tend to bother ocd gear heads more so than photographers. I'm trying to sell a lens atm that has a spec of dust on one of the inner elements. And I do mean a spec ... it has no affect whatsoever on the images, and you have to hold the lens up to a strong light and get your eye right up to look inside before you'd notice - yet I still had to make a big point about this in the lens description, because I know after sale, I'll get bad feedback for not doing so.
 
Cagey75 said:
I've seen lenses in atrocious conditions, not far off the ones in that link, produce perfectly fine image results. Longer lenses seem to get away with it easier, as they are focusing well beyond closer planes. There is limits of course, but marks on lenses tend to bother ocd gear heads more so than photographers. I'm trying to sell a lens atm that has a spec of dust on one of the inner elements. And I do mean a spec ... it has no affect whatsoever on the images, and you have to hold the lens up to a strong light and get your eye right up to look inside before you'd notice - yet I still had to make a big point about this in the lens description, because I know after sale, I'll get bad feedback for not doing so.
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Thanks, from reading online it seemed like a much bigger problem than it actually is. The scratch itself is small but i was worried it might impact something especially seen as its close to the centre. But it seems as if i'm worrying over nothing!
 
I used to be ocd about cleaning my lenses but now I don’t bother with little bits of dust. I think it matters more, if on the rear element which is nearer the sensor. One of my favourite lenses has a tiny chip 1.5mm but it has no effect on the photos. Who knows with 200mp sensors in the future it could be a problem.
 
I had a Canon 100mm IS macro which was badly scuffed on the front element.

Quality-wise, the pictures it produced were pretty much just as sharp as a brand new version, but there was a foggyness to bright whites, so I think you’ll be fine. [emoji1303]
 
Rudlin said:
Unlikely.
It will not be seen on images in any way. Though it could make lens more prove to flare (not to certain about this). Lens hood would be good help.
Click to expand...
If the scratch cause flare - a real possibility - use a Sharpie to black-out the scratch. It will have no effect at all on the image after that.

The only other effect scratching of the lens will have is to reduce image contrast, but unless the scratching is excessive that is unlikely to be noticeable.
 
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