dust in lense!!

Hi all,

Just bought a used Nikon 18-70mm off of ebay with some dust in the lense itself. Being a newbie i complained it was not in "mint" shap as advertised but needed repair. Of course I have not put in on my brank spanking new D80, cause why take a chance dusting the camera sensor on a lense I wouldn't keep?

Anyway I was told this common and does not affect picture quality. But the dust is apparant in the lense, without shining a light through it. Wish I could take a photo of it, how ironic!!

Anyone have experience with dust in their lenses?

A few specs of dust in the lens is nothing to worry about. It is very unlikely to effect image quality.

And worrying about the dust from inside the lens getting on the sensor, is even more silly. You WILL get dust on your sensor no matter what you do. Most likely you already have a few dosen dust specs on your sensor.

Fortunately cleaning dust off of the sensor is very easy, so it is nothing to really worry about.

I clean my sensor before every important shoot, or once a day during a dive trip. That is how fast dust accumulates on the sensor. And I still end up having to photoshop out the occasional dust spec.

Of course I have not put in on my brank spanking new D80, cause why take a chance dusting the camera sensor on a lense I wouldn't keep?

If the dust is on the outside of the glass at the mouting side, then clean it off. If its really inside lens, it will not get on your sensor!

I have seen dust inside a lens before, usually tiny specks, still visible without a torch. Not on a nice new nikkor though. I did (and still do) have dust inside my old nikonos 15mm lens and never noticed problems.

It will probably be ok. Personally though, and I'm anal about these things, I'd do my best to send it back to the ebay seller. Depends on the seller and the item description though, you may get stuck with it. Give it a try on your camera and see if you can notice any problems (find a camera test chart online). I doubt it. Cheers,

Chris

The only time dust in the lens really matters is on heavily backlit subjects; and with the 18-70 you refer to, the dust will be the least of your worries if it's that heavily backlit. <shrugs> I wouldn't worry about it.

If anyone on this forum defines one end of the scale, it would be me. I beat the cr@p out of my gear, send the lenses into NPS only when they jam up and won't focus/stop down for a couple of weeks, use UV filters that look like a dirty windshield and clean said filters with a lick of the tounge and a rub of the shirt. My bodies are the definition of "press corps ugly" with dings, dents and rubber flapping in the breeze.

And they still generate good images. Don't worry about it.

All the best, James

If anyone on this forum defines one end of the scale, it would be me. I beat the cr@p out of my gear, send the lenses into NPS only when they jam up and won't focus/stop down for a couple of weeks, use UV filters that look like a dirty windshield and clean said filters with a lick of the tounge and a rub of the shirt. My bodies are the definition of "press corps ugly" with dings, dents and rubber flapping in the breeze.

 

And they still generate good images. Don't worry about it.

I for one am truly inspired!

Paul C

don't worry about the dust...you'll be hard-pressed to spot any dust specs in the photos due to dust in the lens.

well, if you're really worried, then just pop the lens into the washing machine for a quick spin...guaranteed dust-free and smelling like freshly washed clothes. Not sure if you can use the lens anymore, though.

The only time dust in the lens really matters is on heavily backlit subjects; and with the 18-70 you refer to, the dust will be the least of your worries if it's that heavily backlit. <shrugs> I wouldn't worry about it.

 

If anyone on this forum defines one end of the scale, it would be me. I beat the cr@p out of my gear, send the lenses into NPS only when they jam up and won't focus/stop down for a couple of weeks, use UV filters that look like a dirty windshield and clean said filters with a lick of the tounge and a rub of the shirt. My bodies are the definition of "press corps ugly" with dings, dents and rubber flapping in the breeze.

 

And they still generate good images. Don't worry about it.

All the best, James

I'm just to the right of you on the scale. When you hear the dust shifting around as you mount the lens like sand in a plastic container, it is time to send it in for a cleaning.

I only breathe on the filters and rub on cotton shirts. I have standards.