topic Re: Scuffed lens in EF & RF Lenses

Scuffed lens

John_SD — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 15:53:17 GMT

I am an outdoor photographer and I am hard on gear. I don't baby my equipment or clean my camera and lens after each shooting day. There is visible dust collecting along the outside of the EVF window. My lenses and camera body are not in pristine condition, often showing light grit in the ridges and knurls of the various rings and dials. I clean my gear maybe once or twice a year. I tell myself that I must change my ways, but so far I haven't. I suppose it is a testament to Canon build quality that it can take this kind of abuse and still function flawlessly.

Yesterday, I took a tumble, the first time in years, as I was taking photos in the backcountry. I was doing some light boulder scrambling and came across a spider, which I was shooting. I slipped and fell forward and scuffed the front of my lens. I practice cowboy medicine -- clean the wound with water, rub some dirt in it, and keep on shooting. The scuff is visible, about the size of your index fingernail, and it doesn't come out with light buffing. Oddly enough, I see no sign of the scuff in my images after the damage. Is it worth taking it in for polishing, or just forget about it? Fortunately, this was the cheap kit lens, which retails for around $400. It's about 3 years old.

Here are some photos after the scuff, which is well off center, and about 1/2" from the right edge as I face the lens.

Re: Scuffed lens

shadowsports — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 16:13:25 GMT

Greetings,

If its just cosmetic, then its a judgment call. I would think a scuff might show up under certain lighting conditions as flare or glare? Maybe not.

You can always send to Canon for evaluation or use this as an excuse to upgrade. This might also be a good time to consider clear lens filters moving forward or CarePaks.

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 16:36:40 GMT

Thanks. I've got a filter on my F4 version of the 24-105mm, but not on the kit lens. I've thought about CarePaks, given my reckless ways.

Re: Scuffed lens

Danny — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:49:29 GMT

Hi, John_SD!

So that the Community can help you better, we need to know exactly which Canon lens model you're using. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, click HERE search our knowledge base or find additional support options HERE.

Thanks and have a great day!

Re: Scuffed lens

wq9nsc — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:56:11 GMT

I agree with Rick that you aren't likely to notice except under certain narrow lighting conditions. I wouldn't try to do anything further to remove the scuff, just shoot a lot with it and see if it is going to cause an issue for you; it probably won't.

I wouldn't bother trying to get a lower cost lens repaired, it would make more sense to spend the money on a new copy or an upgrade. And it is nice to see a camera used rather than sitting as a display piece on a shelf. I do keep a sacrificial clear "filter" on all of my smaller lenses while the big white telephotos are pretty well protected by their very long lens hoods.

Rodger

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:13:54 GMT

I agree with all your points. This was just the kit lens and not worth the cost to have the front element replaced. I called Canon and was given a price range estimate of $149 to $229 for repair. In my view, it's not even worth the cost of the low end. And so far I've not seen the scuff in my photos, which has surprised me. I could probably stamp it out with software if it becomes noticeable. Fortunately, I have a better version (the RF 24-105mm F4 L), which does have a clear filter on it. The kit lens I save(d) for particularly nasty and dirty environments. I'll take that repair money and put it toward another lens. I've been thinking of picking up the RF 85mm F2 Macro lens.

Re: Scuffed lens

ebiggs1 — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:17:47 GMT

" ... so far I've not seen the scuff in my photos, which has surprised me."

I know most people are surprised when something like this happens. I have seen it many times over the past decades of photography. It almost never shows up unless really severe. The reason is because it it OOF. (out of focus) I think people think of light coming in like straight rays or lines if you will but that only happens in diagrams folks draw for examples. Light is in reality more like a fog so it doesn't matter if a small portion of the front element has a spot on it. It still gets to the sensor just fine.

IMHO, I would also choose to not repair it in favor of buying a new lens.

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:45:13 GMT

"IMHO, I would also choose to not repair it in favor of buying a new lens."

Yes, that seems to be the prevailing opinion, and I agree with it. Sinking $149+ into a cheap kit lens for repairs makes no sense. I still can't see the scuff in my photos. Thus, I will direct that money into a better (or different) lens.

I was thinking about the RF 85mm F2 Macro. I know you don't like it as it isn't a true 1:1, but the IQ seems really good. But I have also given consideration to what you had mentioned recently during that discussion. That is, get a lens that covers a focal length my 24-105mm doesn't cover. So I have been looking at the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM. I costs about the same as the 85, but I had rejected it due to the aperature. Maybe I was too hasty? In looking at it again, reviews indicate that its field performance exceeds the sum of its spec sheet performance. What do you think of it.

Re: Scuffed lens

wq9nsc — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 21:19:08 GMT

You will enjoy the macro lens! Of course if you don't put a protective filter on it, the first bug you capture close up is going to spit on your pristine new lens 🤣

Rodger

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:20:35 GMT

No doubt!

Re: Scuffed lens

ebiggs1 — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:17:02 GMT

I have nothing against the 85mm. I have an 85mm and I like it very much. But I have 12 lenses in my bag. My suggestion for you is to get a FL that is out of what you already have as a better way to go than buying something that you do already have. But this only goes until you get a sufficient FL range coverage for what you like to shoot. However, if you feel the 85mm would enhance what you shoot now, I am all in for you.

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:36:39 GMT

"...I have 12 lenses in my bag."

Plus I see 2 older cameras in your tag line. Have you thought of selling some of your lesser-used gear, and making a move to mirrorless. I would imagine you would enjoy it far more than you might think. And by selling off some older gear, you'd have a good chunk of cash to put toward an R6 II or greater, if you had a mind to. I think you would really enjoy mirrorless. I am going to sell some non-camera junk over the next several months to help defray the cost of an R6 II purchase. I hope to get it around the Holidays. That's when I got my RP kit from B&H at a good Holiday sale price. (PS: I love to hijack my own threads.)

Re: Scuffed lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 14:54:09 GMT

I have sold many lenses since I retired some 20 years ago. I started a "hobby" buying lenses, playing with them and testing them and then selling them on. I pretty much hate the reviews you see and read on the ole inner web so I wanted to know myself. Yes a few reviews are good but most are not. I suspect I had over a hundred but I has since lost track and don't remember all of them until somebody mentions one. Then the "ah yes" moment light bulb goes off in my brain. It was a very good time and and very good deal for both me and the person that bought to 'used' lens. All original packing and paper work with a mint lens. I usually sold them at half price. I did, for a while, keep the ones I thought were exceptional. I still have another dozen or so I do need to sell off.

If I were to buy a mirrorless it would be the R3. I have had all the 1 series up to my current 1DX. I am getting up there in years and have sowed down a bit. What I have will do everything I want so far.

BTW, you might ask if there was anything that really stood out in all the lenses and testing? Yes, one big thing, Canon does make the best lenses as a general rule across the line. Number two, Canon has the best customer support in the industry. Some other manufacturers it is poor to non-existent. I would put another major contender we all know in the less than satisfactory category if you are wondering.

Re: Scuffed lens

John_SD — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 18:29:00 GMT

"If I were to buy a mirrorless it would be the R3. I have had all the 1 series up to my current 1DX. I am getting up there in years and have sowed down a bit. What I have will do everything I want so far."

Well, I had a similar discussion along those lines with Bob from Boston, God rest his soul. I still miss his commentary. Anyway, he mentioned once that he would have liked to have gotten a Mark II of some camera (I forget which one), but felt he was getting too old. I disagreed with that notion then, and I disagree with it today. I shared with him my firm belief that it is important to always have something to look forward to in life, regardless of your age. You say you are getting up there in years. That is the perfect reason why you should sell your DSLR brick and heavy old lenses and get a smaller, lighter, pro-level mirrorless like the R3 and a good RF lens or two. Lighten your load. Plus, I think old guys are perfectly cut out for two genres, which both require patience. Street photography, which you could do by sitting at the table or bench and taking photos of passers-by. Or bird photography, which requires infinite patience, as you may have to sit in the blind or in the woods for hours on end waiting for some birds to perch on a limb. No doubt you would also be able to shoot other wildlife as it passes in range. These are just a few examples. But I can see many advantages to lightening your load by going mirrorless. And I think you would enjoy it immensely.

Re: Scuffed lens

Nitro54 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 16:51:13 GMT

The RF 100-400 takes really nice pictures, just don't expect any wide angle out of it.

Re: Scuffed lens

ebiggs1 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 17:33:50 GMT

I appreciate your thoughts but you realize I spent 40 years in photography. I did event photography from Hallmark.

I have done so many weddings I can't remember them all. Senior photos and posters and Yearbook. Thousands! When we went on vacation I took my camera gear, of course, and spent all that time basically taking photos. From hummingbirds to elk, from desserts to blizzards.

My routine now is still my 1DX with the big Siggy Sport 150-600mm on it an my 1D MK IV with the Siggy 120-300mm f2.8 Sport on it. So heavy gear is no problem my friend. Sometimes both at the same time! I guess its all what you get used to. I see folks say they can't handle a big lens like the Sigma C 150-600mm and I think really. I mean really? It so light! But everybody is different.

I get a bigger thrill and contentment from teaching but that, too, soon will pass as mirrorless takes over.