Will a hair line chip in lens front element effect image quality?

4 years 2 months ago #672580 by Sean Lamber
I almost bought a used 24-70mm from someone off Craigslist yesterday, however upon close inspection I noticed a tiny hair line chip about 1/8" long and as thick as very thick hair.  I hope that makes sense.  The guy said that won't make any difference in the photos.  Before buying I just wanted to make sure.  Would that be noticed under any circumstances? 


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4 years 2 months ago - 4 years 2 months ago #672605 by Nikon Shooter
On the front lens? That is not worth mentioning it since
it is well away from the minimum focusing distance BUT
that little hairline is a weak point in the structural integri-
ty of the glass and brings unstable properties with it like
reacting in an undesired way to cold etc.

Unless you get it for peanuts, Sean, don't.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #672607 by Sean Lamber
OK, good to know.  Didn't even think about what that might do to the strength of the glass.  I was more concerned about the image quality, but you bring up a good point.  Now would you say this is still a concern if just surface level deep on the front glass element? 


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4 years 2 months ago #672613 by Nikon Shooter
Glass has a crystal structure and so material integrity
is always in balance with the stress within… other wise
it may crack longer or even shatter.

Glass cutters are only "scratching" the surface to brake
it but in a controlled way.

Optically, it won't matter (I wouldn't go for it cause I'm
a freak!) but mechanically may be an other matter.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #672614 by Nikon Shooter
ADDENDUM

Mind you, I have pros working with what looked
like bottles bottoms more than lenses.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #672619 by Sean Lamber

Nikon Shooter wrote: ADDENDUM

Mind you, I have pros working with what looked
like bottles bottoms more than lenses.



I'm sorry, I'm not following you here?  


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4 years 2 months ago #672621 by Nikon Shooter
By opposition to me wanting my gear to be perfect in
every possible ways, these pros showed themselves to
have all possible tolerances.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #672625 by Sean Lamber
I see what you are saying.  Pro's are out there using gear that has character scars?  


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4 years 2 months ago #672626 by Nikon Shooter
… and I said nothing of smudges, finger prints, dust!   :S  :sick:

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #672642 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Sean

Is it possible for you to shoot some test images to confirm the seller's claims?

Shoot towards a bright light - place the lens at an angle to the light such that this tiny crack is in the light and see whether it throws refractions across the image itself

Personally - if it's only a minor crack and remembering that all the lens glass is tightly held by a metal body - it might not make a real difference. Only you can sort this out :)

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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4 years 2 months ago #672644 by effron

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: G'day Sean

Is it possible for you to shoot some test images to confirm the seller's claims?

Shoot towards a bright light - place the lens at an angle to the light such that this tiny crack is in the light and see whether it throws refractions across the image itself


That makes too much sense, to test it....../s of course.

Why so serious?
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4 years 2 months ago #672645 by effron
Also, I still own an old 200 f/4 lens I bought for ten bucks from a dude that showed me a fair sized chip on the front element. I shot an entire roll of film from every light angle and aperture and found NOTHING in the processed images to suggest any defects. 
Like stated above by ozzie, you need to test it, with digital, its a few minutes of time, no?

Why so serious?
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4 years 2 months ago #672803 by Ted Baker
You might get some funny business if you are pointing the camera directly at light.


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4 years 2 months ago #672817 by Nikon Shooter

Ted Baker wrote: You might get some funny business if you are pointing the camera directly at light.


This is the very first consequence and it is
possibly not easy to correct!

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #673007 by effron

Ted Baker wrote: You might get some funny business if you are pointing the camera directly at light.


Maybe, maybe not...but I didn't use the lens to photograph the sun.

Why so serious?
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