How To Repair Scratches On Camera Lenses

That feeling when you take the lens cap off to reveal a scratch. How did that get there? When did that happen? Is it going to touch my photos? These are only some of the questions that volition no doubt run through your head should you find yourself in this situation.

Cameras and their lenses are expensive pieces of equipment and then the last affair y'all want to think about is having to supercede your favorite lens just considering in that location'southward a bit of a scratch on it.

Information technology would be much easier if you could just repair it right? But is that even possible?

Luckily, you take several options open to you lot. From sending it to the manufacturer for repair, buying a lens repair kit or opting for a DIY method, you definitely have choices when it comes to getting that lens back into activeness.

Obviously, the right option volition vary depending on your circumstances, the kind of damage the lens has sustained and the make and model of the lens. In some cases your scratched lens may not even demand repairing!

The about important affair to do if you find yourself with a scratched lens is not to panic! Information technology doesn't mean that your lens is no skillful anymore and you have to go out and buy some other one. Instead take a piddling time to investigate exactly what's going on.

It may plough out that its not a scratch at all simply actually just some dirt or an eye lash. However, in the event that it is a scratch that does demand repairing I'll accept you through your different repair options below.

Do camera lens scratches matter?

Photographic camera lens scratches are a big deal to photographers considering they have the potential to affect the image capture process. Depending on where on the lens the scratch is located, how big information technology is and how deep information technology is will depend on what kind of upshot information technology will have.

For example, a minor, surface level scratch found on towards the outside of the lens will likely have very little result on images and and then it probably wouldn't exist worth bothering with repairing it. Well, unless it got larger over time similar when a chipped windscreen on a car turns into a crack.

Larger scratches, on the other hand, take the potential to cause blurring and distortion of an paradigm and may even affect the camera'south ability to focus properly. These kinds of camera lens scratches are also more than likely to exist deeper too which can alter the way that the light scatters. While non an outcome most of the fourth dimension information technology can increment the chances of picking up lens flares, altering dissimilarity and even collecting dust and dirt within them.

In general, it's probably not as bad as you think. For example, equally a glasses wearer my glasses are often muddied, have smudges on them and I even accept a tiny chip in the top left corner. However, mostly I don't notice any of it and it's the same when it comes to your camera lens.

Scratches ordinarily only brand a tiny part of your prototype blurry and when using small apertures well-nigh of the image isn't in focus anyhow then the scratch would blend in with the rest of the image. It's only actually when you get to college apertures, where more of the image is in focus that you might offset to see the imperfections.

However, much like when correcting for sensor grit  problems caused by scratched lenses can be corrected for using editing software. It's therefore of import to practise a flake of testing to figure out if the situation is as bad as you start thought before rushing off to repair it or fifty-fifty purchase a new lens.

Tin camera lens scratches be repaired?

Depending on how bad your photographic camera lens is scratched volition depend on whether it can be repaired or not. However, if your lens is too badly scratched to be repaired that doesn't necessarily mean that your only option is to buy a new lens.

Y'all can, instead opt to replace the front chemical element of the lens. Although its worth noting that this tin be expensive and is not e'er covered under your manufacturer's warranty so it's worth checking if it is and how much it will set y'all back first.

Most of the time replacing the front element is not needed and you tin simply simply put upward with the scratch. However, for those that find themselves in need of a repair simply replacing the front end chemical element is either non worth it or too expensive in that location are a few unlike options yous can use to endeavour and repair the scratch.

Use a Photographic camera Lens Repair Kit

If sending your photographic camera off to a repair store is non an option, and so getting your own repair kit may exist the adjacent all-time option. These kits usually contain a bunch of different tools allowing you lot to get in and repair different aspects of your camera lens.

They tin be a great selection for those experienced photographers who know their way around a camera. Notwithstanding, information technology is worth pointing out that pulling autonomously your camera lens yourself may void whatsoever warranties or guarantees so it's worth checking first.

Rubbing Alcohol Method

Ane of several DIY methods for repairing scratched cameras lenses, it is of import that the rubbing alcohol is diluted before using (1 part booze to 20 parts water). Otherwise information technology will actually crusade more impairment to the lens. Once diluted, dip a clean microfiber cloth into the rubbing booze earlier gently rubbing it over the scratched surface area of the lens. The scratch should start to slowly disappear and once gone y'all tin can take another microfiber cloth and clean the rest of the lens upward ready for taking photos with.

Repair the Camera Lens Scratch with Vaseline

Another DIY method is to use Vaseline. While this has been shown to piece of work quite well on scratched plastic screens such as laptops the jury is notwithstanding out on whether this is the best option for your scratched drinking glass camera lens.

You first need to make clean the lens as you lot would normally using a lens cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. In one case dry you tin can so apply a pocket-sized corporeality of Vaseline to the scratch with a make clean finger. Next have a new, clean microfiber cloth and wipe off the backlog.

This method essentially makes the scratch disappear and so will demand to exist done semi-regular as the Vaseline rubs off over time. It's also worth noting that the oily-ness of the Vaseline may affect the photos you are taking. The upside though is if it doesn't work for y'all it is completely reversible.

Use Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a adequately pop scratched lens DIY pick probably because its known to be slightly abrasive and anybody has some in their abode. Every bit with the other methods you lot need to apply the toothpaste to the scratch (using a cotton bud can work actually well) and gently rub it in. Yous then remove the toothpaste using a make clean microfiber cloth.

It'due south worth noting that in that location is the possibility that as the toothpaste works it could also remove the lens coating besides.

Glass Windscreen Polish

Lots of cars often get chips and scratches acquired by modest stones and other things hitting the windscreen. This has meant that a wide variety of auto windscreen polishing products are on the marketplace and equally both the car windscreen and your photographic camera lens is made from glass it isn't also far-fetched to imagine it working well.

In that location are a few stories circulating on photography forums about people using this technique and it is working well. I particular account tells how they used it to restore and onetime photographic camera lens that was already stripped of its lens coating and found that it brought information technology dorsum to its former celebrity and even gave it a new lens coating!

Other DIY Methods

The cyberspace is an interesting place full of weird and wonderful things and as such there are a couple other DIY methods for repairing scratches out in that location. How viable these are I practice not know, however in the interest of providing you with as must information as possible I merely wanted to apace affect them.

The first is using a new, clean pencil eraser to well, eraser the scratch. I imagine that this will work best with smaller scratches. The second and probably weirdest it a assistant and baking soda combination. Basically, you lot're supposed to add some blistering soda to a piece of banana and and so use to wipe away the scratches. Manifestly, you lot would need to make clean the lens later on.

Here's DialedTechs acme tips:

Prevention Is the Easiest Way to Repair Your Scratched Camera Lens

Yes, it's a little cheesy, only protecting your photographic camera and looking after it is the easiest way overcome this whole saga. Not having a scratch to repair is definitely the easiest way only I am aware that accidents do happen after all. No 1 is perfect.

Using UV filters is a pop way to do this. They protect your lens but don't affect the image in the aforementioned manner a color filter would. You tin can likewise make sure that your camera is secure using the strap and stored away with the lens cap on in a suitable pocketbook or case.

I promise this article was helpful in helping you deal with existing lens scratches and preventing new ones.

Acquire more than camera-care tips whether you're a beginner or an expert hither.

Source: https://www.photodoto.com/guide-to-repairing-camera-lens-scratches/

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