I just discovered a paint flake that has taken up residence inside my 24/2.8 R lens. The flake is currently dead center in the lens. It is difficult to tell exactly how large the flake is, however the object is clearly visible from both the front and rear. I cannot detect the object when viewing through the camera. My question is if, or how, this will affect an image?

Thanks for your help.

-- Scott Grane (PFD261@hotmail.com), August 18, 2001

Answers

It will hardly make any difference. The biggest problem will be loss of sleep worrying over it. Ignore it and sleep better.

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), August 18, 2001.

Theoretically anything the lens designers didn't take into account will have an effect on the imaging properties. Practically, the only way to tell is to compare shots in varying conditions with a clean lens, or duplicate some shots you took before yours turned flaky. My thoughts are that if it's a black flake, it will absorb light and have less possible detrimental affect than a white flake which would reflect light. You would be really amazed at how little effect things like flakes, specks and even chips and deep (but small and localized) scratches cause. A front element with very fine cleaning marks in the coating is a much more serious defect, causing overall loss of contrast. You could try tapping the lens sideways against the palm of your hand, perhaps the paint flake will dislodge (but probably not). I would probably not risk having the lens disassembled for such a thing, though, as you can get another flake the day it comes from the shop.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), August 18, 2001.

Hi, Scott:

You might do as Jay says and duplicate previous pictures to see whether it makes any difference. But if your eye can't detect it while looking through the camera, the highest probability by far is that it will go unnoticed in your pictures too. More so in such a wide angle lens, I think. Otherwise you wouldn't be wondering, right ?

Go do the test, sleep well and have fun !

Regards and best of luck.

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), August 18, 2001.

Just vouching for what others have said. An old photojournalist trick (they are notorious for ending up with scratched lenses) is to take a fine black felt tip marker and 'fill' in the deeper scratches. Makes the lens as good as new (they claim), image-wise.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), August 18, 2001.