Help with Lens

[Jsqrd34]

I am looking to buy a Canon 50mm 1.4 prime lens. I have found a used one but he says there are some small spots on the front element but it does not affect image quality. Can anyone tell me what that means and if it is a bad lens?

[OsmosisStudios]

Unless it's got some MASSIVE issues, you wont see anything. See this.

[dcclark]

Most things which commonly happen to the front elements of lenses don't affect image quality at all. Scratches, smears, and drops of water barely show up unless they are VERY large.

Every one of my lenses has at least a smear on it (multicoated lenses smear very easily). None of them matter at all.

The only cases where they might matter are:
- Being stopped down very far, say, f/20 or more, so that little light enters the sensor. Then, very small variations in brightness will show up (such as those in smears).
- Using an ultrawide or fisheye. These have such small focal lengths that almost everything is in focus. But even on my 10mm ultrawide, the frontmost scratches don't show up!

[inkista]

Just be sure the spots aren't fungus...