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Cost to replace front element of Fujifilm GF 32-64 mm lens?

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Schlick33

Schlick33

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Hello All,

I did it - I was stupid enough to hit my GF 32-64 mm lens into to corner of the coffee table (while chasing the cat - well, what else to do in Corona times... ;-)). And yes, the frame of the coffee table is made out of metal... and yes, without protection filter... but yes, with the lens hood on - it was just the "perfect" angle.

Questions:
  1. Can the front element of the lens be replaced? Does anyone know what that costs?
  2. If I just leave it (for now) - will the damage become bigger with time? (maybe through moisture?)
  3. Is there another fix? - I assume that any sealing/polishing/etc. makes it worse...
The effect on the image quality is depending on aperture more or less severe - see pictures below. It is most apparent when stopped down between f/16 and f/32. At f/16 the shadow is clearly there, at f/11 it is nearly gone. I don't know how this would look on a bright day with blue sky... I mostly take landscape shots, between f/8 and f/16. Also, at 64 mm it is less obvious, so 32 mm and f/32 is the worst.

Thanks for your input!

Cherrs, Dominik

And here the result:

Picture 1: Little ding in front element of GF 32-64 mm
Picture 1: Little ding in front element of GF 32-64 mm

Picture 2: Close-up of my ding - the glass is clearly damaged
Picture 2: Close-up of my ding - the glass is clearly damaged

View attachment 4582f39feaca4f919ba0a4c1e9f476f0.jpg
Picture 3: Random shot at 32mm and f/32

View attachment 75776227ce6c445f9d8e411a8e7263bf.jpg
Picture 4: Random shot at 32mm and f/16

View attachment f3365f517bd84006aa44ab8403c845fb.jpg
Picture 5: Random shot at 32mm and f/11
 
Solution
Schlick33
bclaff said:
Schlick33 said:
So - good morning! Thank you All, for your inputs.

I start off at "root level" again - since summarizing findings and inputs of a few threads - I hope that's ok.

...
Click to expand...
Excellent summary.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
It took a while: Covid-19 slows shipping down and my lens is still not back from Fujifilm - apparently chilling at Customs at some border...

But I received a cost estimate / Offer for replacing the front lens group: CHF 300 (app. US$ 325) minus 30% rebate for SPS members. That is much less than expected ! :-)

Also, Fujifilm provided a spare GF 32-64 lens free of charge for the time until my lens is fixed and shows up again...! (again, for SPS members)

This is great customer service! thank you, Fujifilm! :-)
Mr Giggles said:
I would recommend you get rid of the cat before spending money on the lens - you dont want a repeat
Click to expand...
LOL - same thought here... I love him, though. We picked him up from a shelter for $50... vs. the lens $2'500-ish... Well, that's a lot of cats! :-)
 
Don’t blame the cat! He wasn’t the one who damaged the lens. That required someone really dumb.

;-)

Forget repairing it. It’s an easy fix in post and at apertures wider than f/11 it will be a non issue. In images with detail more than gray clouds you won’t even see it at f/11 and above.

It will be a frequent reminder to be more careful!

Rich
 
Last edited:
Hi,

What you probably see is a speck of dust on the sensor. Minor marks on the front lens won't show up as dark spots.

So, I would suggest you clean the sensor.

Dust specs typically show up at small apertures and get less visible at small apertures.

Best regards

Erik
 
Erik Kaffehr said:
Hi,

What you probably see is a speck of dust on the sensor. Minor marks on the front lens won't show up as dark spots.

So, I would suggest you clean the sensor.

Dust specs typically show up at small apertures and get less visible at small apertures.
Click to expand...
I agree. I should have looked more closely before my first response.

Rich
 
If pockets are deep, I'm sure Fuji can replace the front element. However, before you do that, may I suggest my favourite web page for perspective on the relative importance of tiny marks on front elements: http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

Long-story short, I'd just use it and see if you notice a problem. If you don't shoot much at f/16, I have a sneaky feeling you might not notice it at all.
 
Rich42 said:
Erik Kaffehr said:
Hi,

What you probably see is a speck of dust on the sensor. Minor marks on the front lens won't show up as dark spots.

So, I would suggest you clean the sensor.

Dust specs typically show up at small apertures and get less visible at small apertures.
Click to expand...
I agree. I should have looked more closely before my first response.

Rich
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response - unfortunately, I am pretty confident that it is not dust on the sensor. The dark spot moves when zooming in and out.

At 32 mm it is as shown in the picture of the original post, from 32 mm to 44 mm it moves more towards the corner, and from 44 mm to 64 mm it moves back and even a little closer to the center of the frame than at 32 mm. All observed at f/32, the spot fades more and more from 32 mm to 64 mm - that is why it is most disturbing at 32 mm.

It's dark here already - I will take some more photos tomorrow into the sky to demonstrate.

If it was dust on the sensor, the spot would not move - or am I missing something?

Also, on my GF 23 mm there is no spot in that corner at f/32.

Best, Dominik
 
Typical minimum lens service fee for Fujifilm service here in the us is $400 - so assume that is your minimum spend.
 
Rich42 said:
Don’t blame the cat! He wasn’t the one who damaged the lens. That required someone really dumb.

;-)
Click to expand...
Yep - I would post here if I recorded my swearing...! 😅
Rich42 said:
Forget repairing it. It’s an easy fix in post and at apertures wider than f/11 it will be a non issue. In images with detail more than gray clouds you won’t even see it at f/11 and above.
Click to expand...
Depending on the cost for having the front element replaced (if this is possible at all), that was my plan. Hence my second question, if the damage would get worse with time of just leaving it as is.
Rich42 said:
It will be a frequent reminder to be more careful!
Click to expand...
👍
Rich42 said:
Rich
Click to expand...
 
Rob de Loe said:
If pockets are deep, I'm sure Fuji can replace the front element. However, before you do that, may I suggest my favourite web page for perspective on the relative importance of tiny marks on front elements: http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

Long-story short, I'd just use it and see if you notice a problem. If you don't shoot much at f/16, I have a sneaky feeling you might not notice it at all.
Click to expand...
That is most likely what I will do, thanks for your response. I guess it depends on how much the replacement of the front element would cost - if possible at all.

Cheers, Dominik.
 
Chris Dodkin said:
Typical minimum lens service fee for Fujifilm service here in the us is $400 - so assume that is your minimum spend.
Click to expand...
Thanks Chris, do you think that's just the basic fee for labor, plus maybe another $200 to $400 for materials... so maybe totals from $600 to $800?
 
Schlick33 said:
...Questions:
  1. Can the front element of the lens be replaced? Does anyone know what that costs?
  2. If I just leave it (for now) - will the damage become bigger with time? (maybe through moisture?)
  3. Is there another fix? - I assume that any sealing/polishing/etc. makes it worse...
The effect on the image quality is depending on aperture more or less severe - see pictures below. It is most apparent when stopped down between f/16 and f/32. At f/16 the shadow is clearly there, at f/11 it is nearly gone. I don't know how this would look on a bright day with blue sky... I mostly take landscape shots, between f/8 and f/16. Also, at 64 mm it is less obvious, so 32 mm and f/32 is the worst.

...

View attachment 4582f39feaca4f919ba0a4c1e9f476f0.jpg
Picture 3: Random shot at 32mm and f/32
Click to expand...
It's interesting to me that this actually shows up.
I think it's going to depend on your usage.
If it shows in normal use then I suppose you'll have to deal with it.
Once you decide that then I think I'd risk some attempt to "polish" after doing the requisite research.

FWIW, the from element is part of a doublet so it's the front two elements that would be replaced; Fujifilm Fujinon GF32-64mm F4 R LM WR

8adde3b80236468994dd43d0e5393f63.jpg.png

--
Bill ( Your trusted source for independent sensor data at PhotonsToPhotos )
 
I don't think the lens defect is causing the black spot. Does it occur with other lenses?

To cut down on flare, I'd suggest dabbing a little black paint on the scar.

Jim
 
JimKasson said:
I don't think the lens defect is causing the black spot. Does it occur with other lenses?

To cut down on flare, I'd suggest dabbing a little black paint on the scar.

Jim
Click to expand...
He did report that it moves when he zooms which strongly suggests that is the lens and not the sensor.

Regards
 
Last edited:
That typically covers diagnostic and repair unless it's catastrophic.

They do reserve the right to swap lenses with a certified replacement if it's not economical to fix.

If you're US based, call them for a quote - (800) 659-3854‬ follow phone prompts for Pro Repair
 
I wonder if it can be filled like when they fix windshields.

Is it possible that some paint from the table was imbedded in the glass? Because usually nicks in the front element will not show up especially lateral like that. But if there was paint then it may be getting magnified

--
https://www.instagram.com/photomat76/
http://www.photomat.org/?m=1
 
Last edited:
I did this on a Fuji XF lens one time and I shot with the lens for years. Every shot will be different in terms if you notice it or not.

Some you won't notice it and some you will. I bet 90% of the time the spot will come right out with an easy correction in post.

Some shots it might ruin. Who knows. Try it for a while. If it bugs you spend the 500 to 600 bucks to fix it.

This is a minor mishap.

It happens.

Did I tell you about the time that I dropped the 100-200 and the entire front element just popped off and rolled down the road?

--
Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139148982@N02/albums
 
Last edited:
If the damage annoys you, even if it has no impact on image quality, get it repaired. You spent the big bucks to get the best system you could find, so don’t let a relatively small cost leave you feeling dissatisfied. Just my 2 cents.
 
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