lens scratch (Page 2): For peace of mind I would contact Sony. It could be that replacing that one element isn't too expensive. Of course if your pictures are not being degraded, just...

Bill_de Loc: US

Quaking Aspen wrote:

I have a Sony RX10 and I discovwered to my chagrin that it has a large scratch
on its primary lens. does anyone know if this scratch might interfer with the autofocus?
(email address removed)

For peace of mind I would contact Sony. It could be that replacing that one element isn't too expensive.

Of course if your pictures are not being degraded, just go with it.

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Quaking Aspen wrote:

I have a Sony RX10 and I discovwered to my chagrin that it has a large scratch
on its primary lens. does anyone know if this scratch might interfer with the autofocus?
(email address removed)

Lens scratches vary in intensity and size. The nice thing with digital is that you can find out for yourself quite easily by taking some images.
At first brush most surface scratches on the outer element will not cause any issues. In backlite images you may find some diffraction.
Again, like I said, you can find your answer quite easily with a few images.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

billnikon wrote:

Lens scratches vary in intensity and size. The nice thing with digital is that you can find out for yourself quite easily by taking some images.
At first brush most surface scratches on the outer element will not cause any issues. In backlite images you may find some diffraction.
Again, like I said, you can find your answer quite easily with a few images.

An interesting trade off may be to use a filter over the front element. You could use a Rainbow/Spot filter to provide some interesting effect. When using a UV or ND filter you can smear a little white petroleum ointment on the edges. This too will create an interesting effect and cause a vignetting. Most likely taking away any diffraction caused by a scratch if any.

DanCulleton

Minor scratches on the front element of a lens may just focus out. Test it and let us know.

roger

We know that anything on the lens has to change things. One dust spot or one scratch. But the point that a lot of the commenters have made, and it's very true, that we mere human may not be able to detect the spot nor the scratch. Try the lens and see is the best answer. If it doesn't show or bother you, carry on!

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

RichKenn wrote:

I once scratched a very good lens and carefully painted over the scratch so it just blocked light rather than detracting it. I used the lens for years. All you can do is test the lens yourself.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have the RX10iv. I have a deep scratch at approximately the mid 10-O clock position, it is 1.5mm long. It does not affect the photos if I shoot wide open or stopped down no more than 5.6. It is worst when shooting with the sun shining directly on the scratch. It shows up all the time stopped way down. Then it showed up as a white UFO. If the sun is not shining on it, then it shows up as a gray UFO. I either take it out of shots in PP or I just turn the camera over and the scratch is. lost in the foreground. The focus is not affected. I checked with Sony about replacing the front element. They don't do that, the replace the whole lens unit. Cost is somewhere at or above $400. I decided to not fix it but to just upgrade to the RX10v whenever it comes out.

leftj Loc: Texas

Quaking Aspen wrote:

I have a Sony RX10 and I discovwered to my chagrin that it has a large scratch
on its primary lens. does anyone know if this scratch might interfer with the autofocus?
(email address removed)

Why not take some pics and find out for yourself.

Mau

You can put a matchstick glued to the lens and then focus at a distance, landscape, for example and you wouldn't be able to tell the matchstick was there.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"I once scratched a very good lens and carefully painted over the scratch so it just blocked light rather than detracting it..." Thank you RichKenn, you beat me to it...

SOP for many years... i.e. (back in the day) many an optic has been remediated with the aforementioned methodology... And it still is a very practical cost effective solution, had an Ai-s 75-150mm Nikkor with a very small conchoidal (circular) fracture that when carefully filled in with flat black paint vanished from all images taken with same... fabulous lens btw...

Note: Mineraloids like obsidian (volcanic glass) will always fracture in a conchoidal pattern.
So will the entire family of cryptocrystalline quartz minerals: chalcedony, agate, flint, chert, and jasper.

btw, Native Americans used this unique property to craft their cryptocrystalline quartz arrowheads...
Which can cut like a surgeon's scaple...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Scratches really don't matter.

http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches

Inside-
http://photographylife.com/what-to-do-with-dust-inside-lens

srg

Quaking Aspen wrote:

I have a Sony RX10 and I discovwered to my chagrin that it has a large scratch
on its primary lens. does anyone know if this scratch might interfer with the autofocus?
(email address removed)

Wiping tears of gratitude, not just for removing your email but for informing us about it.

terrys1943 Loc: Illinois

Scratches on a zoom lens will be the most (if at all) apparent at the shortest focal length of the lens and at the smallest aperture setting, especially for close-up photos. Using a lens shade will also minimize any flare affect if shooting near any light sources. Like others have suggested, use it and see what happens. You probably will not notice any problems under most conditions.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Quaking Aspen wrote:

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely put a clear filter on any future lenses. I think that this camera will become my walkabout camera and another that I haven't decided on will become my closer tohome . M

Which brings me to the question of full frame vs cheaper crop sensor and mirrorless vs non mirrorless (???). budget around 3k

In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) FF vs crop - it depends on what you mostly shoot. Does getting "closer" to your subject and zooms with greater range help more than the slightly lower noise of FF? For wildlife, macro, or anything at a distance (concert, sports) the crop helps. For landscape and very low light (i.e. astronomy) FF is better.

Also, crop tends to be smaller, lighter and cheaper and have more lens choices. For wide angles, there are lenses for crop that go wider than lenses for FF. I use crop and have never looked back.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Quaking Aspen wrote:

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely put a clear filter on any future lenses. I think that this camera will become my walkabout camera and another that I haven't decided on will become my closer tohome . M

Which brings me to the question of full frame vs cheaper crop sensor and mirrorless vs non mirrorless (???). budget around 3k

OOOPs