Lens scratch – Will it affect photos

[cacti]

Just purchased a vintage medium format camera and the lens has a light scratch on the outermost glass.

Should I just return the camera, or shoot a roll and see how it looks? Do you think this will affect the shots?

 

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day mate

Answer - most unlikely
Over the yrs many people have done tests to see how much scratching is needed to really bugger-up a lens, and it's a lot more than a single scratch. Chase it up on U-tube or similar

Phil

 

[PhotoHobbyist]

I've got a camera with multiple scratches going across the lens in the same direction. If I take pics of things on the ground, it makes no difference. If I take pics with a light source in the frame, it causes loss of contrast and some color in the areas of the scratches though you can't see the scratches in the picture. I would return the lens.

 

[cgw]

Likely not. Your best insurance might be a suitable lens hood.

 

[480sparky]

The worst that will happen is, if you are shooting directly into a bright light (such as the sun), you might have a bit less contrast. Easily fixed in post.

 

[cacti]

Thanks, all.