Cleaning dust out of a lens

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Vertigo1

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Out of interest, I emailed H.Lehmann to ask how much they'd charge to remove dust from behind the front element of a 17-55. I've seen the various tutorials on this and it's literally a 15-minute job, just not something I'd be happy with doing myself if I could get a proper service centre to do it for a nominal fee. At present the lens only has a few specs but I was just enquiring in case I need to get it done at some future point or my perfectionism takes over and I decide to get it cleaned anyway :)

They quoted me £162 !!!

I replied saying that I didn't want a full service on the lens, just the dust cleaning which should be a 15 minute job. They replied again saying it wasn't a 15-minute job and they weren't intending to service the lens, meaning they do indeed want £162 to clean some dust out.

They can't be serious can they? Is this really the going rate for such a simple job or are they taking the mick?
 
Good money if you can get it, going to have a go myself.

One seal, three screws and a bit of care needed
 
If you try it yourself you will probably get more dust in than before you opened it up. Additionally if you make a mistake you have to cough up for the repair.

Try some other Service centres and see what they charge.
 
Any chance of some pictures of the dust in the lens,or pics that are spoiled by the dust?????
 
As I said, there are only a few tiny specs and they obviously don't show up in pics - certainly not worth bothering with cleaning out tbh. I was just enquiring in case more dust gets in and I need it done or I felt the urge to have it made "perfect" :)
 
Vertigo1 said:
As I said, there are only a few tiny specs and they obviously don't show up in pics - certainly not worth bothering with cleaning out tbh. I was just enquiring in case more dust gets in and I need it done or I felt the urge to have it made "perfect" :)
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I've had that urge before now and made things considerably less perfect... :eek:
 
Vertigo1 said:
As I said, there are only a few tiny specs and they obviously don't show up in pics - certainly not worth bothering with cleaning out tbh. I was just enquiring in case more dust gets in and I need it done or I felt the urge to have it made "perfect" :)
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Just leave it you will never see it on a image, my 200L has 1 big spec right in the middle and the lens is 2 month old and it can stay there for me.
 
Seems a ridiculous price. I recently noticed a thread elsewhere, that included the following quote from Sigma, when someone enquired about dust inside their lens. Not sure how true this is, but I would have thought it was not in Sigma's interest, as they are potentially turning away business.

Quote as follows;

‘’I have several specs of dust in my lens. Will this affect my pictures ‘’
‘’No. This will make no difference to image quality as the dust is too far away from the sensor. If you do have dust specs on your pictures, this will be due to dust particles on you image sensor ‘’
 
Vertigo1 said:
OMG! - what did you do!?
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There are many instances, not limited to camera lenses. Fortunately the camera lenses have been cheap, already knackered ones off ebay. I have scratched my pentaprism, though, incurring a £250 repair bill... I have got a spec of dust inside my 50-200 near the iris - so occasionally I can see it on some specular highlights - not a biggie!

Andy
 
OP, I take it your lens is out of warranty?
 
A few specs of dust will be fine, when I was in the Market for a 17-55 I went to view one second hand. There was a good coating of dust inside plus the odd bit of animal hair. I tried the lens out and the pics were sharp with no visible sign of dust or lack of contrast.
I didn't buy it as it was a little OTT on dust for my liking but just goes to show!!!
I really wouldn't worry over a few specs.
 
That's an outrageous price, but quite typical.

It's very easy to do yourself, but these guys cleaned and checked everything on my 17-55 before I sold it. Not that it needed doing, but folks expect things to be 100% for that kind of money.

£60 all in, including six months warranty, from Advanced Camera Services http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/
 
But isn't re alighning the elements requiring a specialist tool such as a laser ? I understand that the dead center of the elements have to be perfectly in line or soft edges are on the menu.
 
nikonian bob said:
But isn't re alighning the elements requiring a specialist tool such as a laser ? I understand that the dead center of the elements have to be perfectly in line or soft edges are on the menu.
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If you put it back together in exactly the same position it was taken apart, ie noting the degree of rotation on the front adjusters held by the three retaining screws, nothing can change.
 
if the dust is not affecting the images i wouldnt worry, dust spots come and go.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you put it back together in exactly the same position it was taken apart, ie noting the degree of rotation on the front adjusters held by the three retaining screws, nothing can change.
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Also, it's possible to remove the front element of the lens being discussed here without going anywhere near the other internal elements. I would be happy to pay £60 for someone who knows what they're doing to do that and get the dust out for me.
 
Nifkin said:
OP, I take it your lens is out of warranty?
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Yeah, bought it used and out of warranty.

HoppyUK said:
That's an outrageous price, but quite typical.

It's very easy to do yourself, but these guys cleaned and checked everything on my 17-55 before I sold it. Not that it needed doing, but folks expect things to be 100% for that kind of money.

£60 all in, including six months warranty, from Advanced Camera Services http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Now that's more like it and what I'd consider a reasonable price.
 
33L said:
if the dust is not affecting the images i wouldnt worry, dust spots come and go.
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Just to reiterate - I'm not the slightest it worried about it :) There are litterally just a few tiny specs in there atm, nowhere near the amount some of these lenses seem to attract, and they'd never affect pictures. I just enquired with Lehmann's as to how much they'd charge to clean it should more dust get in and I wanted it done - I just felt the need to post after being stunned by the price! :)
 
Vertigo1 said:
I just enquired with Lehmann's as to how much they'd charge to clean it should more dust get in and I wanted it done - I just felt the need to post after being stunned by the price! :)
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There was another big thread on here not that long ago with people saying that, out of the Canon service centres, Lehmann's were crap. Certainly put me off ever sending stuff to them; amazing in these straitened times when some companies rest on their laurels and take the p*ss out of their customers :thumbsdown:
 
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