Is my lens damaged?

Try to use the lens cleaning fluid on a microfiber cloth and see if that helps.

It looks very similar to some marks I had on my 100L macro lens. I'd pretty much decided I would just live with them, but as I had nothing to lose I tried rubbing a lot harder (after first making sure both lens and cloth were 100% free of anything abrasive) and guess what - the marks disappeared.

Please tell us you hadn't been using it to make pornographic videos.
Gotta watch those tight shots.

Hahaa. No I haven't, and it would be challenging to make porn video using a UWA lens.

I haven't been too careful with my lenses. I usually use a lens hood but no UV filter, so they are still exposed to moist and dust in the air.

Dave wrote:

Dave said:

Please tell us you hadn't been using it to make pornographic videos.
Gotta watch those tight shots.

Click to expand...

zerlings said:

I have a 16-35 2.8 which I haven't used for a long time, but I notice there is some stain on the front element. I tried to use a lens cleaning solution and cloth to wipe it out but it didn't go away. Do you think it is scratch or some kind of damage? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Smudges on the front element can be very 'sticky' but with alcohol and a good microfiber cloth this should come off.

Good luck!

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lighthunter80 said:

zerlings said:

I have a 16-35 2.8 which I haven't used for a long time, but I notice there is some stain on the front element. I tried to use a lens cleaning solution and cloth to wipe it out but it didn't go away. Do you think it is scratch or some kind of damage? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Smudges on the front element can be very 'sticky' but with alcohol and a good microfiber cloth this should come off.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

--
we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively.

1Dx4me said:

lighthunter80 said:

zerlings said:

I have a 16-35 2.8 which I haven't used for a long time, but I notice there is some stain on the front element. I tried to use a lens cleaning solution and cloth to wipe it out but it didn't go away. Do you think it is scratch or some kind of damage? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Smudges on the front element can be very 'sticky' but with alcohol and a good microfiber cloth this should come off.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

--
we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively.

Click to expand...

Cleaning alcohol on the glass is no problem.

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1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

i don't know, i just read my 600 f4.0 II and 100400 II manuals, there is nothing about how to clean the lens surface or what to use/not use! so. until i see a definitive answer to use or not to use alcohol on lens surface for cleaning purpose, i'd rather refrain from using alcohol for cleaning my lenses! i'd continue my method of moisten the lens' surface with my breath and then gently cleaning the surface with a soft cloth! it has worked for me very well in the past.

1Dx4me said:

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

i don't know, i just read my 600 f4.0 II and 100400 II manuals, there is nothing about how to clean the lens surface or what to use/not use! so. until i see a definitive answer to use or not to use alcohol on lens surface for cleaning purpose, i'd rather refrain from using alcohol for cleaning my lenses! i'd continue my method of moisten the lens' surface with my breath and then gently cleaning the surface with a soft cloth! it has worked for me very well in the past.

Click to expand...

I'm half-surprised the lens manual doesn't say "send to CPS for cleaning".

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

I had thought that most lens cleaning fluids (for optical lenses, spectacles etc) contained isopropol alcohol - that helps it evaporate quickly

Colin

Andy01 said:

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

I had thought that most lens cleaning fluids (for optical lenses, spectacles etc) contained isopropol alcohol - that helps it evaporate quickly

Click to expand...

I checked a bottle of Eclipse before posting - but other brands could be different of course.

1Dx4me said:

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

i don't know, i just read my 600 f4.0 II and 100400 II manuals, there is nothing about how to clean the lens surface or what to use/not use! so. until i see a definitive answer to use or not to use alcohol on lens surface for cleaning purpose, i'd rather refrain from using alcohol for cleaning my lenses! i'd continue my method of moisten the lens' surface with my breath and then gently cleaning the surface with a soft cloth! it has worked for me very well in the past.

Click to expand...

Here's a video from Canon Service & Support showing lens optics cleaning with isopropyl alcohol.

Canon lens cleaning

Zeiss lens cleaning solution contains isopropyl alcohol & water. I rarely wet clean my lenses, including my EF 800mm lens, when I do I use the Zeiss product and lens tissue paper after blowing and brushing with a soft lens brush.

Cheers,
Doug

--
Bird galleries on PBase
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General photography galleries on PBase

I use detergent in warm water, agitated, dipping cotton wool into it, squeezing till damp and then rubbing. I've done this for 40y. Then I breathe on it and wipe with dry cotton wool.

However I was a pathologist and we used very expensive lenses. A German technician from Leica used to use a lens tissue dipped in acetone, yes, acetone to clean stubborn dirt. It worked a dream. Try it on an old lens first to convince yourself that it doesn't damage the lens surface!

Gearóid Ó Laoi said:

I use detergent in warm water, agitated, dipping cotton wool into it, squeezing till damp and then rubbing. I've done this for 40y. Then I breathe on it and wipe with dry cotton wool.
However I was a pathologist and we used very expensive lenses. A German technician from Leica used to use a lens tissue dipped in acetone, yes, acetone to clean stubborn dirt. It worked a dream. Try it on an old lens first to convince yourself that it doesn't damage the lens surface!

Click to expand...

i wouldn't care if i rubbed sand to clean my lens if it didn't damage it and wasn't harmful. my concern with using insidious (i think) stuff such as any type of alcohol or as you noted "acetone", is the possible damage to fine coating of the lens, especially extra fluorite coating on expensive canon lenses. of course, admittedly, i don't know this for fact and that was my point in my post.. i am really perplexed that canon has no recommendation as what use for cleaning their lenses with.

BTW, i also use your method of lens cleaning!

Doug J said:

1Dx4me said:

Steve Balcombe said:

1Dx4me said:

using alcohol on the lens? i wouldn't dare doing that ;-)

Click to expand...

Eclipse fluid, probably the top brand, contains alcohol (specifically methanol).

Click to expand...

i don't know, i just read my 600 f4.0 II and 100400 II manuals, there is nothing about how to clean the lens surface or what to use/not use! so. until i see a definitive answer to use or not to use alcohol on lens surface for cleaning purpose, i'd rather refrain from using alcohol for cleaning my lenses! i'd continue my method of moisten the lens' surface with my breath and then gently cleaning the surface with a soft cloth! it has worked for me very well in the past.

Click to expand...

Here's a video from Canon Service & Support showing lens optics cleaning with isopropyl alcohol.

Canon lens cleaning

Zeiss lens cleaning solution contains isopropyl alcohol & water. I rarely wet clean my lenses, including my EF 800mm lens, when I do I use the Zeiss product and lens tissue paper after blowing and brushing with a soft lens brush.

Cheers,
Doug

Click to expand...

thanks for the video link, Doug, it was informative. as i already have mentioned in my previous post, i am surprised that canon hasn't suggested anything regarding how and what to use cleaning their lenses with! i did know about zeiss lens cleaning kit for their lenses, which included isopropyl alcohol!

...it looks like the lens coating has been scraped/smudged. It probably will not have a noticeable effect on your photos, but cosmetically it looks awful and will drastically affect resale value of the lens.

After seeing another example of someone doing this with a lens cap, I decided to start using protector filters.

If the coating is damaged, it's too late for this lens. But you may want to consider protector filters for your other lenses. This is no loss if IQ and they are relatively inexpensive.

1Dx4me said:

Gearóid Ó Laoi said:

I use detergent in warm water, agitated, dipping cotton wool into it, squeezing till damp and then rubbing. I've done this for 40y. Then I breathe on it and wipe with dry cotton wool.
However I was a pathologist and we used very expensive lenses. A German technician from Leica used to use a lens tissue dipped in acetone, yes, acetone to clean stubborn dirt. It worked a dream. Try it on an old lens first to convince yourself that it doesn't damage the lens surface!

Click to expand...

i wouldn't care if i rubbed sand to clean my lens if it didn't damage it and wasn't harmful. my concern with using insidious (i think) stuff such as any type of alcohol or as you noted "acetone", is the possible damage to fine coating of the lens, especially extra fluorite coating on expensive canon lenses. of course, admittedly, i don't know this for fact and that was my point in my post.. i am really perplexed that canon has no recommendation as what use for cleaning their lenses with.

BTW, i also use your method of lens cleaning!

Click to expand...

The chap who used the acetone was an expert, a Leica technician and these lenses had expensive coatings as well, top of the range microscope lenses. He dipped the tissue in it and then one quick touch to the lens. I saw it work perfectly a couple of times on persistent goo.

zerlings said:

I have a 16-35 2.8 which I haven't used for a long time, but I notice there is some stain on the front element. I tried to use a lens cleaning solution and cloth to wipe it out but it didn't go away. Do you think it is scratch or some kind of damage? Thanks.

Click to expand...

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Lens Coatings and Cleaning...
I'm sorry to suggest bad news but if this mark continues to grow when rubbed with a Microfiber Lens Cloth (for optical use) then you probably have a problem with the coating wearing off. I might add though that your example looks to be the result of a smear on the lens from hand oils or even food oils. If this is the case, use an inexpensive Lens Cleaning Kit. I see you have done this... and I am surprised that the marks persist. Do NOT use a lens-cleaning PEN if there is one in the kit as they can contain abrasive particles. Your kit should include a bottle of what will seem to be glass cleaning solution (often this is isopropyl alcohol solution), some 'paper' wipes and a microfiber cloth. If you don't know the cause of the smears: Use the microfiber cloth first with CLEAN HANDS (wash to remove oils) and use your breath to fog the glass before very gently wiping. If the marks remain the same then there's probably damage to the coating. You can apply some of the fluid to the "paper" strips and gently wipe it over the lens. Then use the microfiber cloth to clean it away. Be SURE there's no grit on the lens. You have some dirt visible on your outer lens and that's going to scratch your coatings off if you rub the grains of dirt/sand against the glass. The good thing is that even if this is what has happened to you and the coatings have been worn away somehow, it shouldn't affect your photographs. Even a physical scratch on the glass shouldn't show up unless shooting into the sun. If using liquid cleaning fluids on your lenses, be sure to only apply the fluid to the cleaning cloth or it could end up migrating fluid behind the lens element and leaving visible stains inside the lens that you can't reach.
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The coatings that were affected look to be the coatings designed to reduce interior reflections and ghosting which might occur when shooting into bright lights and sunlight. It may not affect your photographs unless deeper scratches are involved.
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Scratches and abrasion to the lens coatings are a lot easier to achieve than some people believe. Some outer elements are made from softer Fluorine although Canon try to avoid doing this without coating the outside of those elements with other, thick protective layer coatings. The most notorious problems affected the EF 24-70mmL II lenses and there are literally hundreds of online threads online complaining about how the lens coatings wore off with minimal contact. I do note though that YOUR particular issue does NOT resemble the issue that I've seen with the 24-70mmL II lenses.
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Sunscreen Vs Lenses...
The one thing that consistently affects optical coatings on lenses is sunscreen. Most sunscreens contain metal particles suspended in an oil-based fluid. The Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide nano-particles are able to rub off the coating through abrasive action and the penetrative oil in the sunscreen fluid is fine enough to lift any baked-on coatings where it forces itself between the glass and the vapor-deposited coating. There's an article that we had running HERE that might be of interest....
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TRHEAD: "What is Happening to My Lens?"
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61295550
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Sunscreen and certain insect repellent sprays containing Deet would have to be the most horrible things you could have come in contact with a lens. If you suspect this could have happened to your own lenses, then you've probably damaged the coatings beyond self repair and will need to consider ignoring the appearance or getting Canon to replace the outer element (which is possible).
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Repairs from Canon
The alternative for you is to send the lens in to Canon to have the outer element replaced. This is more expensive than it used to be... it's about 450% to 500% more than it used to cost about 10 years ago. That's why a lot of us prefer to use a protective UV filter on our expensive lenses because the cost of repair is much higher than it used to be. Hopefully you'll be fine but you can still get the outer element replaced for (presumably) several hundred dollars if needed. Judging my the amount of grit and particles on the outer portion of your lens (where the lens details are printed etc), I think it's safe to say that you have not used a UV/Protective filter on this particular lens. But you can use one after you resolve your issue with the coatings.

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Regards,
Marco Nero.