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The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

Started Jan 11, 2015 | Questions
mig81
mig81 New Member • Posts: 6
The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

I knew this day would come eventually: I have somehow managed to plant a few small scratches on my 8-15mm f/4L fisheye. I've tried a couple of home remedies: gentle lens cleaner, the "pencil eraser" trick, and the scratches are still there. They don't seem to have any effect on picture quality, but I've paid something like CAD $1,300 for this damn lens, so this is just p!ssing me off.

Do you guys think I should just suck it up and not do anything about the scratches, or should I try to get Canon to do something to the lens?

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 mig81's gear list:mig81's gear list
Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM +11 more
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schmegg Veteran Member • Posts: 5,768
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...
1

mig81 wrote:

Do you guys think I should just suck it up and not do anything about the scratches, or should I try to get Canon to do something to the lens?

Your choice of course, but if it's not affecting your images I'd just ignore it.

A replacement front element might not be too expensive - I'd expect the labour component to be fairly cheap as I'd expect it to be a fairly trivial repair. But I really have no idea how much it might be and I may be way off target - perhaps lens elements such as this one are horribly expensive!

You could call Canon and try to get them to give you an indication of the repair cost I guess. Or, a trusted local repairer might be able to give you a better idea perhaps. If it really bothers you or is affecting your images, that is.

dgumshu
dgumshu Veteran Member • Posts: 4,623
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

I feel for you... That hurts just to look at it.

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Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 OM-1 +52 more
MitchAlsup Veteran Member • Posts: 5,518
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

Expect::

1/3 of whole lens cost minimum

to

1/2 of whole lens cost maximum

{labor plus lens} to replace just the front element.

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Mitch

fredlord
fredlord Veteran Member • Posts: 3,303
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

You could sell it with full disclosure and get a new one for less money.

I have a 24-105 with a bright mark on the front element. Not in that class.

I also have the 17 TS-E and I guard it as best I can against such happenings. So far, so good, knock on wood.

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Fred Lord

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Canon EOS R5 Canon EOS R7 Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye +13 more
COYQ Senior Member • Posts: 2,121
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

Just ignore it. What's the point in paying for repairs if the lens still works fine?

hotdog321
hotdog321 Forum Pro • Posts: 21,141
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...
1

This looks like the standard abrasion these bulbous front elements gather. If it is an actual scratch, a bit of carbon black rubbed on the scratch can help minimize flare. If it is just the multicoating, leave it alone. If you rub it too hard it will simply spread.

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 hotdog321's gear list:hotdog321's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +3 more
mig81
OP mig81 New Member • Posts: 6
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

Yep, that's the conclusion I came to, eventually. 

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 mig81's gear list:mig81's gear list
Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM +11 more
mig81
OP mig81 New Member • Posts: 6
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

Good to know. Now, here's a noob question for you: Where does one buy carbon black?

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 mig81's gear list:mig81's gear list
Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM +11 more
fredlord
fredlord Veteran Member • Posts: 3,303
Re: The perennial scratched-fisheye problem...

mig81 wrote:

Good to know. Now, here's a noob question for you: Where does one buy carbon black?

Amazon, where else?

http://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Carbon-Black-Pigment-30ml/dp/B002W64420/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421720362&sr=8-2&keywords=carbon+black+powder

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Fred Lord

 fredlord's gear list:fredlord's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon EOS R7 Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye +13 more
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