Nikon 105mm Lens Quality

[ubique]

Hi,

I am looking at buying a 2nd hand 105mm lens and noticed on the photo that there is a gold/yellow mark on the ring beneath the screws. Should I be concerned by this?

Thx

[dakwegmo]

That's brassing, and occurs because of the repeated metal on metal contact of putting a lens on and taking it off a camera body. It's fairly normal on a well used lens, and shouldn't effect it's usefulness.As with buying anything used you have to be cautious, but I don't think this alone is cause for concern.

[OsmosisStudios]

More specifically:
The mounting ring on good lenses is metal; chromed brass to be precise. Chrome plating is a fairly common process of plating a metal (brass) with another metal either for look or durability.

What's happened here is that the chrome layer has been rubbed off; I've never seen it that bad. It could be that the camera was dropped with the lens on it (causing an impact or shearing) or that the mount plates from the lens and body didn't align properly. I'd test it on a body before buying if you can, to see if it binds or is very very tight to screw on.

Of course, depending on how much less than new the lens is priced, you could just have the plate changed by Nikon if it is a problem

[sk66]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

More specifically:
I've never seen it that bad.

Ha! That's nothing. I have/had lenses much worse.

The biggest issue with brassing is once the chrome plating has been broken thru it can tend to "flake", and brass wears much more easily. Both of these facts can lead to an increase in getting "stuff" in the camera body/lens. Not a major issue if you do basic maintenance regularly.

[ubique]

Thank you both for your insight on this. Just to be sure before I buy - is there a way to determine if the glass inside the lens are misaligned due to a knock or damage?