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Fine scratches on front element

reso
Posted 05/12/2022 - 17:42 Link
Hi all
Has anyone been able to polish out fine scratches off a front element if so did it work and what did you use
k5iis sigma 8-16 sigma 10_20 hsm tamron 17-50 pentax faj 18-35 pentax da 18-135 tokina 20-35 tokina 28-70 atx pro pentax dfa 100 wr
pentax da*50-135 pentax da*60-250 sigma af 400mm pentax 1.7 af adapter
Pentax af aw 1.4 rear converter and a flash
bforbes
Posted 05/12/2022 - 23:15 Link
I have a lens with a front element scratch, but I've not thought it worth the effort of "polish out". That's because "polish out" would change the shape of the element and hence the performance of the lens.

But I'd love to be proved wrong
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 06/12/2022 - 08:32 Link
I don't think that can be done. Scratches on the front element are very unlikely to affect image quality, it's scratches on the rear element that do that.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Lubbyman
Posted 06/12/2022 - 08:52 Link
Polishing out would remove the coating as well as change the shape of the lens. Don't do it !!!

Steve
Mike-P
Posted 06/12/2022 - 08:54 Link
I had one once, didn't bother with the scratch as it made no difference to the IQ. Sold it a few months ago on Ebay (pointing out the mark obviously) and the buyer was more than happy.

Of course if you bought it with no knowledge of the scratch then I would be asking for some sort of recompense as it will effect resale value.
reso
Posted 06/12/2022 - 17:24 Link
Great thanks for the advice
k5iis sigma 8-16 sigma 10_20 hsm tamron 17-50 pentax faj 18-35 pentax da 18-135 tokina 20-35 tokina 28-70 atx pro pentax dfa 100 wr
pentax da*50-135 pentax da*60-250 sigma af 400mm pentax 1.7 af adapter
Pentax af aw 1.4 rear converter and a flash
Cayman
Posted 06/12/2022 - 18:34 - Helpful Comment Link
Honestly I would not worry about it at all. This makes interesting reading about the impact of front element scratches.

https://wordpress.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches/
cabstar
Posted 09/12/2022 - 23:48 Link
I recently sent a lens to MPB and they would only offer me scrap price for it due to the rear element being severely scratched so I asked them to send it back.

In the 6 years I owned it I never noticed a single issue on any image nor the scratch.
PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography

Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released

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