Nikon 28mm 2.8 AIs Rear Element Scratch Help

I purchased a Nikon 28mm 2.8 AIs MF lens from a seller on amazon. He purchased the lens new from BH in 2013 and

included the receipt. He paid 499 plus tax. The buy it now was 299 so I thought it was a good deal for a 3 year old LN

lens. Unpacked it day and it looks great, then when I examine the rear element through a flashlight I notice a small spot.

Gently run my finger over it and I can feel it. I tried to clean it, doesn't rub off. Looks like a scratch. Although its not a line,

more of an oval type shape. Maybe he dropped it, who knows. Anyway I'm furious.

Should I return it?

Or would that spot not show up on images?

Its not in the center of the glass, its very close to the perimeter.

Its hard to see looking straight through, have to angle the lens so the light catches it. wish I could photo it.

<p>If this was not disclosed in the description, I would return it. It probably won't affect images, but you will take a bath if you ever resell it. Good chance he wasn't aware of the defect--don't assume it's a crooked seller.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

I know I am trying to make myself feel better here, but I checked KEH.

The same lens as BGN will have blemishes and marks on glass and is $299

EXC is $399 and says "may have blemishes and marks on glass

So I probably paid way below what KEH would sell it for since its only 3 years old.

But I am still annoyed

Here are some photos, the mark is not visible straight through, only on an angle. And straight through that

part of the glass seems to be blacked out by the front element.<div></div>

<p>Why not just try it out and see if it affects your photos. If it does, return it, if not and you can live with an imperfect lens, keep and use it. If you would like to keep it, I would, however, contact the seller and if the defect wasn't included in the description ask for some compensation. If the seller refuses, my inclination would be to return it.</p>

<p>I am with Stephen, </p>

Generally speaking, flaws on the rear element of a wide angle is highly undersirable. See how small that element is? A

little flaw is occupying a relatively large percentage of the area.

 

I would say don't bother to figure out whether it affects your image, because that is hard to determine. Even if you have

another brand new sample of that lens for a side-by-side comparison, you will keep wondering whether there is a problem

and under what conditions the problem will appear, e.g. sun inside the frame.

 

I think you are better off returning that lens:

 

1. When you sell it, you should definitely disclose this issue. It will affect resale value and make it difficult to sell.

2. This may keep annoying you. It is not worth losing any sleep over it.

 

An optically flawless version of this lens shouldn't be hard to find.

I'm not are if its even a chip, or just the coating that torn off. Its an odd looking mark. Who knows maybe it

can be cleaned off? I'm afraid to rub to hard on it. Perhaps I should just ask for a discount and keep it as

some have said. With the exception that mark the lens looks new, as ts only 3 years old and sells for $539

new today at B&H.

The seller responded to me and was surprised he didn't see the mark. But as I said, looking straight through its not visible, only looking at it from the side on an angle can it be seen

<p>The metal blocks at the mount look more used than my lens after 20+ years of use. Lens caps on when not in use, though.<br>

A wipe with a dedicated premoistened lens cleaning pad is the best bet to find out the nature of the flaw. No hard rubbig for lens surfaces, wiping only.<br>

Test your item to see if it is worth the cost.</p>

 

<p>Return it. If he didn't disclose the damage and said it was like new, you didn't get what you paid for. Even if it doesn't affect the images, if you want to sell it yourself later on it will go for less because of this.</p>

<p>When damage occurs on lens front elements, its not uncommon for there not to be issues with the final image, but the rear lens element is the last surface that the light image leaves before its projected onto the film plane. Therefore there must be some sort of image issue because of this. In my view the rear element damage is the deciding factor. Get another one.</p>

<p>Is the area affected where I highlighted below? That seems to be a rather large area, relative to the small rear element for a wide angle.</p>

<p>I would definitely return that lens. These old lenses are not difficult to find. If it were a rare lens, an option would be to get it repaired, but in this case the repair cost wouldn't make much sense.</p><div></div>

<p>I had an AIS 28/2.8 with a spot like the one highlighted above. It was inside the rear element and looked like a light oil spot. Like yours it was invisible when looking directly through the lens, but from certain angles it would catch the light. I suspect this lens may be slightly prone to this problem from use or even during assembly. I don't recall it ever showed up or affected any pictures. It's one of those cosmetic things you prefer not to be there but doesn't really make much practical difference.</p>

<p>I am with Shun 200%. I have been down this road ind it is a road better avoided.</p>

<p>-O</p>

<p>It is a little hard to tell in the picture, as it isn't in focus. The focus is on the reflections off the anti-reflection coating.</p>

<p>I would guess, though not from the picture, that it is just the coating that is not right. That is, light goes through the spot fine, but with a little more reflection. The coating is good enough that just a tiny bit of reflection shows up.</p>

<p>It does not seem like something that would happen with dropping, but it is hard to say.</p>

<p>You might try to figure out which part of the image that would be in. Since the image is rectangular, and the lens circular, it might be completely out of view. </p>

<p>But I suspect it will bother you no matter how little difference it makes to the image. If so, you should return it.</p>

<p>Scratch on the rear element is the worst thing can happened to a lens ! It definitely affect the projected image. And this is a big stain/scratch. You must return it and get another one .</p>

<p>I would also return it if it was not mentioned that there is a scratch on the rear element.<br>

BTW This looks like someonehas tried to open upthe lens using the wrong tool to me, and did not succeed, </p>

<p>Unfortunately everyone here is right ,if this was not disclosed you must return it, unless you and the buyer can agree to a mutual price , the problem is you need to consider a re-sale in the future and as every one will agree a scratch on your rear element will not effect the images as much as you think, but do test it on a digital camera shoot a white wall and blow up the image 200 % or more and you will be hard to see the effect , i have seen rear element chips and scratches from your image it is so hard to tell ,but you said you needed a flash light to see it so it may not be all that bad , test it be happy with the results and then ask for the discount or return it and find yourself much happier with perfections at a reasonable price</p>

<p>With the exception that you can "feel" it , i am prone to say <a href="/photodb/user?user_id=141496">Roland Vink</a> is correct ,from my experiece working on lenes ,it appears to be oil on the inner side or the rear element , and a considerable easy fix , but not for the price you paid would i suggest cleaning it yourself .</p>