Scratched Lens Elements

Many photographers protect their lens glass by covering the front element with a UV or skylight filter. This keeps the front element free of any scratches as well as oil and dust. If you buy lenses from these photographers, you can be assured that the front elements are in pristine condition.

However, there are those who believe that filters distort light entering the lens and reduce the quality of the pictures taken. Unless they are well-taken care of, the front element will often be scarred with scratches as well as dust and oil.

Large scratches should be quite obvious, even if the front or rear elements is covered with oil and dust. Unless they are really large or deep, these scratches should not affect picture quality. This is especially true for scratches on the front element. Large scratches are more of a problem with the rear element. It should be as scratch-free as possible.

A relatively deep scratch on a front element of this lens

Several light scratches on the rear element of this lens

Fine scratches are much less of a problem, even if there are quite a lot of them. However, if you want to check for scratches, you should first remove the dust and oil (see Eroded Lens Coatings). Once done, you will be ready to examine the lens elements for scratches. Look at the front and rear elements in bright light. By varying the angle of the light and the angle at which you examine both elements, you can see if there are any scratches.

You can also look through the lens at a bright light source. The bright sky or a sun-lit wall works well. By varying the distance of the lens from your eyes, you can focus on the different elements in the lens and look for fine scratches.

If you want to be sure that the scratches do not affect picture quality, you can check by using the lens to take a picture of the bright sky at the smallest aperture possible. You should, of course, take the biggest picture possible with fine JPEG compression. Next, extract the picture and examine it at 100%. If you do not see any artifacts in the picture, then you have confirmed that the scratches do not affect picture quality.

If the lens has scratches that affect picture quality, you should think twice about buying it. Repairing it may cost you quite a bit of money, unless you can buy the replacement element cheaply in online auctions. If the scratches do not affect picture quality, you can still use that as a tool to help you bargain down the price of the lens. Just remember that someone else will do the same to you when it's your turn to sell the lens!

Chipped Lens Elements

Sometimes you will find lens being sold with a chipped element. Usually, this will be the front element. You should be able to spot large chips in the element instantly although smaller chips may require a closer look.

Depending on the location, the chips may or may not affect the performance of the lens. If the chips are small and are at the periphery, they won't affect picture quality. However, if they are big or situated in the center of the lens, this may cause flaring or artifacts. Chips in the rear element are more serious than those in the front element. So, make sure you examine the rear element as well.

This skylight filter saved a Nikkor lens from damage!

The minor chip on the front element of this Sigma zoom lens was the end result of an unwanted encounter with a hard object. This is why you should always protect your lenses with filters.

You can check the effect of these chips by using the lens to take a picture of the bright sky at the smallest aperture possible. You should, of course, take the biggest picture possible with fine JPEG compression. Next, extract the picture and examine it at 100%. If you do not see any artifacts or abnormal flaring in the picture, then you have confirmed that the chipped element does not affect picture quality.

If the chipped element affects picture quality, you shouldn't bother buying the lens. Repairing it will cost you a substantial amount of money, unless you can buy the replacement element cheaply in online auctions. If the chipped element does not affect picture quality, you can still use that as a tool to help you bargain down the price of the lens, although it will make it a lot more difficult to resell the lens in the future.

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