Tiny chip or scratch on lens

[Mike410]

Hi there,

I noticed a very small chip or scratch on the centre glass of my EFS 18-55 canon lens.
I think it may be just the coating that has been chipped.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Will this cause a problem for my photos?

Thanks,

Mike

[SusanH1970]

As far as I know, there's no way to fix a scratch or a chip. As for your second question - take a few shots and see what effect there is.

[RolandAA]

I used to be upset about the smallest visible mark on my glass but there is good evidence that it really doesn't make much difference. Here's a link to an eye opening artical about front element damage by Roger Cicala at lensrentals.com. Front element scratches Being in that business he's seen it all.

[OsmosisStudios]

There's no way to fix it, but there's likely little chance of you seeing it either.

[fire-eyes]

Somebody already posted the URL I was thinking of, that in my opinion, shows that the result might not be as bad as you expect. Obviously that is an extreme case.

I suspect that you won't notice, except for once in a great while when a light glints it just right. I certainly would not panic about it. If you really want to get it taken care of, you can probably get the front element replaced. Though this may come close to costing the same as a new lens.

If you already weren't doing so, I strongly suggest the usage of a UV(0), sometimes called a "haze", filter. The lone purpose is to protect the front element. This has repeatedly saved me from anything from minor to major damage. It also has the minor benefit of making some things like skies look better, though it's barely perceptible.

In the worst case, I was in a crowded hallway with my body slung around my back. Someone was rudely pushing themselves through the crowd, and promptly shoved me back against the wall very hard. This crushed the end of the lens, which I stupidly had not put the cap on, against a concrete wall. It put a nasty bend in the rim of the UV(0), which would otherwise have been the rim of the lens (an L!) itself.

[spazoid1965]

Put a UV filter on it before you get another OOPS!

[MJDigitalArt]

Originally Posted by spazoid1965

Put a UV filter on it before you get another OOPS!

Better yet... insure your gear... a UV filter will often cause unwanted relections and refractions when used as a cheap lens protector. This is a common practice, but all it takes is one cherished photo to be ruined by glare...

As for the chip or scratch, depending on how bad it is.. it shouldn't really have a major impact on the photos and the reality is the 18-55 is not really worth fussing over that much, it can be replaced for under $100.. I would take advantage of this opportunity to UPGRADE!

[Mike410]

Thanks for the responses! I guess the debate is whether a UV filter is good or not.
There are supporters of it and non supporters!