Nikkor Ai-s F2.8 20mm... What should I do with it?

[molested_cow]

The rear element of my Ais F2.0 20mm is in quite a bad shape. Looks like the coating is badly worn off. I checked with two places and both said they can't find a replacement part because the lens is old.

I found another F2.8 20mm online and bought a replacement. Now I have this not so perfect lens that I don't know what to do with.

I am thinking about two options:

1. Sell it as-is for parts and see how much I can fetch for it.
2. Keep it until I can find another as-is to replace this rear element.

I've had this lens for a long time, which was passed down from my dad. It's a great lens and I love it, that's why I didn't hesitate to get a replacement.

Here's the rear element damage.

Here's the front, which is in excellent condition. I always use UV filter to protect the front element.

The lens works fine mechanically other than the damage rear element, which creates blurry/soft images.

Here's what it looks like now:

Here's how it was at its prime:

 

[Garbz]

You call that bad shape? The resulting images still look perfectly reasonable for a lens from it's era. I'd keep it. Have a look at how much the new f/1.4G 20mm costs and you'll realise why.

Unless you never use it I think it's one of those lenses that unless you have a replacement for it already is worth keeping in your kit.

 

[molested_cow]

The images look a lot softer at full resolution. It's quite painful to look at them because they make you feel like you just woke up and still struggling to see things in focus.

 

[Garbz]

Well that would depend on your scanning resolution now wouldn't it How do the images look when viewed in a way so the entire image fits on your monitor is the question.