Scratch on filters, how bad will it show on end product?

Army35mm · Feb 1, 2017

How bad will a scratch show up on my end product? I'm shooting a 50mm 1.4 with a Nikon FE.

I had been exploring some abandonments in Seoul, I knocked my brand new y2 filter along the corner of a brick wall while climbing a balcony, and ended up shooting 3 rolls of kentmere 400 before I realized it had a pretty deep scratch on the filter, about 15mm long.

It's impossible to really see, but I'm still using the stock K focusing screen, so it's hard to see anything anyways.

What do ya'll think? And Is there any place to bulk order cheap filters? I feel like I'll probably burn through a lot of them with what I'm doing.

MattKing · Feb 1, 2017

It will add flare, so in conditions where flare is a problem, it will accentuate that problem.

Mostly though, it will reduce the re-sale value for the filter.

HiHoSilver · Feb 1, 2017

Matt, Thank you again. 'Did likewise & didn't know what to expect of it. 'Very much appreciate your good help.

AgX · Feb 1, 2017

Paint the scratch over and any problem (if actually of visible effect in the photograph at all) will vanish.

BrianShaw · Feb 1, 2017

Hood?? If so, probably no noticeable effect.

Army35mm · Feb 2, 2017

Brianshaw, I've got a hood on order. For some reason it's hard to find any affordable hoods here in South Korea. They all start around 30 bucks. Ordered a couple different cheapos from Amazon. Thanks for the tip.

AgX, paint it over with what exactly?

shutterfinger · Feb 2, 2017

Back in the early days of photograph scratches, nicks, or dings in the glass were painted with black paint or India ink or similar that was available. Paint only the scratch not the surrounding undamaged surface.
Scratches on the rear are more likely to show up in the photo than ones in the front unless the scratches in the front are severe.

bdial · Feb 2, 2017

Here is a good example of how much you may need to worry (i.e. as mentioned, don't worry).

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches/

R.Gould · Feb 2, 2017

Wouldn't worry about a scratch, a lot of my filters have slight scratchs on them and no noticiable effects on the negatives,

mgb74 · Feb 2, 2017

Army35mm said:
Brianshaw, I've got a hood on order. For some reason it's hard to find any affordable hoods here in South Korea. They all start around 30 bucks. Ordered a couple different cheapos from Amazon. Thanks for the tip.

AgX, paint it over with what exactly?

I've had good success with "generic" hoods ordered from ebay sellers in China. Especially metal screw in ones, but even plastic petal shaped hoods have been OK. Cheap enough to order a couple from different sellers and decide what's best. In one case it was poorly packaged and arrived broken. After emailing the seller, he refunded my purchase price.

I would use a very fine point black Sharpie.

Army35mm · Feb 2, 2017

So, tl;Dr don't trip over this?

narsuitus · Feb 2, 2017

Army35mm said:
...Is there any place to bulk order cheap filters? I feel like I'll probably burn through a lot of them with what I'm doing.

To save money, instead of buying glass filters, I buy resin (plastic) filters and/or polyester (also called gelatin or acetate) filters.

Filters and Holders by Narsuitus, on Flickr

mgb74 · Feb 2, 2017

My first thought was, since you probably have an APO address, just order some inexpensive filters from B&H. But in looking, I was surprised how expensive even cheap filters have gotten.

Are you looking for 52mm filters? Yellow only or others?

Army35mm · Feb 2, 2017

Yellow mostly, I do urban exploration stuff, so I've really been knocking my camera around on stuff when crawling/jumping/climbing through the abandonments out here. Honestly if this isn't so bad, I'll probably be okay for a while.

ac12 · Feb 2, 2017

I think you need a carry case.
Yes it is nice to be able to have fast access to the camera, but it sounds like your situation asks for general protection of the camera.

RichardJack · Feb 2, 2017

Throw that filter away! I wish I still had a very well written article from the "Shutterbug" magazine in the 1980's. It confirmed what I thought all along. Using filters unless for special effects or color correction can be detrimental to image quality. They introduce flair and other unwanted aberrations. The best lens protector is a metal shade. Of course in your case you probably wanted to darken the sky for more dramatic effects. Nikon lenses have very good coatings (the newer ones), if you want to get the most from your lenses buy top of the line filters and if you scratch one, throw it away unless it's a diffuser.

Stephen Schoof · Feb 2, 2017

From the picture of the damaged filter, I would guess that you might notice the scratch in a final image taken with a 50mm if you were shooting at f16 or 22, focused close, shooting subject matter conducive to showing up flare or loss of resolution, and looking specifically for signs of the flaw under magnification. It would also be more obvious if you used it on a wide angle lens. At least that has been my experience with such things.

So I don't think you need to lose sleep over the rolls you've already shot, but you might take a couple frames at the most extreme settings you're likely to use (small aperture, etc) just to be sure it's not an issue.

flavio81 · Feb 2, 2017

RichardJack said:
Throw that filter away! I wish I still had a very well written article from the "Shutterbug" magazine in the 1980's. It confirmed what I thought all along. Using filters unless for special effects or color correction can be detrimental to image quality. They introduce flair and other unwanted aberrations. The best lens protector is a metal shade. Of course in your case you probably wanted to darken the sky for more dramatic effects. Nikon lenses have very good coatings (the newer ones), if you want to get the most from your lenses buy top of the line filters and if you scratch one, throw it away unless it's a diffuser.

I agree. I almost never use "protection" (UV, sky) filters. The cap is there to protect the lens.

Leigh B · Feb 2, 2017

flavio81 said:
I almost never use "protection" (UV, sky) filters. The cap is there to protect the lens.

That method of protecting the lens while making an exposure yields very boring photos.
Lenses can pick up dust and dirt and droppings during an exposure as well as when idle.

I ALWAYS install a protective filter when I first acquire a lens, and it never comes off unless it needs to be cleaned.
It's much easier and more convenient to clean a filter than a lens from element, and eliminates the need to do that.

- Leigh

Larry Bullis · Feb 3, 2017

shutterfinger said:
Back in the early days of photograph scratches, nicks, or dings in the glass were painted with black paint or India ink or similar that was available. Paint only the scratch not the surrounding undamaged surface.
Scratches on the rear are more likely to show up in the photo than ones in the front unless the scratches in the front are severe.

My guess is that painted or not it will produce a visible smudge which will become more prominent the farther down you stop. The trick of painting the scratch is great, but that would be for a scratch on the lens itself. A lens gets no focus at all on it's own surface. You may be right about the rear being worse. But the filter is different. Being in front of the lens, it will show.

Leigh B · Feb 3, 2017

bowzart said:
My guess is that painted or not it will produce a visible smudge which will become more prominent the farther down you stop.

If you put a toy right up against the filter front, how far down would you have to stop to focus on it?

- Leigh

trythis · Feb 3, 2017

http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

This artical is a fun read on a the subject. I have been looking for bargain lenses ever since. I am way worse at photography than my crappiest lens is capable.

BrianShaw · Feb 3, 2017

Leigh B said:
If you put a toy right up against the filter front, how far down would you have to stop to focus on it?

- Leigh

Socraleigh.

Larry Bullis · Feb 3, 2017

Leigh B said:
If you put a toy right up against the filter front, how far down would you have to stop to focus on it?

- Leigh

You would be unable to focus on it at all. First, depth of field is one thing; focus is another. Increasing apparent sharpness by stopping down works by limiting the dimension of the circle of confusion, not by affecting the focus. Second, you will be trying to focus a distance that is shorter than the focal length of the lens. Won't work.

RichardJack · Feb 3, 2017

Leigh,
The camera stores must love you. When I was a camera salesman we were told to always push a filter on the customer. If your lens needed one it would of came with one. Some of my big Nikon telephotos do come with a UV attached, which is only there to protect the expensive front element. I'll use a polarizer now and then or a UV if it is raining. It's a matter of personal choice, I know my images are better without one.
http://pbase.com/rick_jack
Rick

Scratch on filters, how bad will it show on end product?

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