Tiny hairline scratch - probably not a big deal, right?

[walter23]

I feel almost like a fool for even putting this up here, but I just got a 90mm large format lens in almost perfect shape, but for one thing - a tiny hairline scratch on the front element that you can barely see. Any of you guys shoot with minor (or major) scratches? Any effect, particularly if you shoot in backlighting (where I'd guess flare might come up)?

Again I doubt it's an issue, and like I said it's very small (and you can only see it at some angles), but I don't even own a large format camera yet to shoot any test shots on.

Bah, it's probably fine.

[Ted Harris]

You are right that it is probably fine. A related question is did you pay a fair price considering the scratch.

As an example I have a Fuji 240A with 4 hairline scratches 2mm long on the rear element .... absolutely no impact in any type of light and Ihave been using the lens for years.

[walter23]

$400 for a grandagon 90/6.8 (caltar nametag). Wasn't described as scratched (ebay).

These usually go for $400 to $500 in variable condition (and keh has one for like $800 with the rodenstock nametag on it) so I don't think the price was bad.

[Brian Ellis]

Where is the scratch? If it's near the edge of the glass it almost certainly won't matter, if it's more towards the center it might but even there if it's as insignificant as it sounds from your description it won't be a problem.

[Capocheny]

If it's as minor as you suggest... it won't be a problem whatsoever!

Cheers

[E. von Hoegh]

Walter,

I use a 9.5" Dagor with a nasty looking 9mm scratch right in the middle of the rear surface. I filled the scratch with India ink, and it has no discernible effect when compared with a pristine lens of the same design and focal length. Shoot a few pics with your lens, and be happy!

[walter23]

Shoot a few pics with your lens, and be happy!

Yeah, I would normally just do that except that I bought this lens anticipating the rest of my large format startup kit (which I'm getting at the end of the month). I'm pretty sure it's not going to affect most of my images.

I mean, I've shot my digital and 35mm with worse dust and stuff on the lens and it's only bad if I get water drops on the lens, and I have a downright wretched looking taking lens on a rolleiflex that produces beautiful shots.

I guess I'll just contact the seller and decide what kind of ebay feedback to leave. I looked at it again this morning and decided, even though it's about 1.5 cm long and in the middle of the front element, that it's probably not going to be an issue. It seems to just be a scratch in the multicoating, and it's not too noticable except at certain angles, so I could almost imagine the seller overlooking it (seemed to be a pro selling a lot of gear, and a few other auctions of his disclosed minor flaws).

Thanks for the feedback, and I'm glad nobody said "IT WILL RUIN THAT ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME IMAGE!" Like I said, if I even had a camera I'd go out and do some real photography with it and then decide.

[Donald Qualls]

One thing you can do to make that kind of insignificant scratch even less likely to cause problem is fill it in with India ink. Just wipe it onto the surface of the lens with a soft paper towel dampened with the ink, or swab it on with a cotton swab, give it a few seconds, then wipe the excess away with a microfiber cloth (which will come completely clean if promptly washed in cool water with a little dish soap, followed by regular laundering without fabric softener).

The black will reduce the light scatter from the irregular interior of the scratch and reduce its optical effect to essentially zero.

[Darcy Cote]

If it bothers you, return the lens to the seller. He either did not know it was there or inaccurately described the condition. You got the lens in a condition you did not expect to be in. About the scratch. If the rear element is scratched on the back, then there could be a problem but on the front especially hairline you won't notice a difference. I am sure some of the optical experts on this forum could explain why the rear of the rear element damage would be an issue rather than the front. But I just know it as a fact. I once had a Nikon 180mm lens I bought for 35mm that was scratched to hell on the front element. I would have liked to knock the person on the head I bought it off of for not caring for the equipment. But the selling price was so good I figured what the hay. That lens was the sharpest lens I had ever owned and probably ever will own despite the scratches. What a fricken great lens.... Anyhow.

[Mark Sawyer]

Some years ago I bought my 8x10 Kodak Master, and it came with an uncoated 12" Dagor that is very, VERY scratched and pitted front and rear. I'd always wanted one of these legendary cult lenses, but this one was so bad that I just put it away and never even tried it...

A few months ago, I had a sheet of 8x10 left in the last holder, and on a lark, decided to see just how badly the lens performed. The negative and the prints it gave are sharp and beautiful. You can't tell much from a crappy scan, but here's a thumbnail you can enlarge, and the detail in the print is finer than the eye can resolve.