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Will that type of lens scratch impact IQ ?

Photopathe

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Hi! Doing maintenance on an old m42 lens (vivitar 28mm f2) i discovered two small but deepish scratches near the center on the front of the second frontal glass element (ie not in contact with the exterior). They are deep enough to be felt with the fingernails.
Will that type of lens scratch impact IQ ?
Will attach a couple pictures.
Thanks!
 

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Cover those pits with black varnish and then forget about them.
 

You call that a scratch? Your lens is fine.
 
If you shoot into the sun you may see some extra stray light or flare, but no effect on image quality.
 
Wot day sez
 
Finding lens damage can be frustrating. However, I doubt it will reduce your IQ.
You may wish to get a confirmation from Mensa, just to be safe.
 
I think that would have zero impact on the pics. I've owned a lot of lenses that had incredibly beat up elements, it's haze and fungus that destroy IQ.

Once had an R 90 Summicron that had a rear element that appeared to be sandblasted on the front facing side of the element. It had a coarse appearance. That lens performed exactly like the pristine one. I think the image may have been focusing PAST that bad part. Just as you can hold a lens up close to a chain link fence and focus past it to your subject.
 
The lens' IQ? Certainly the lens is not smart enough to know the little marks exist...
 
I don't think it will have any significant effect on image quality. My old papa always told me to shoot with the light on my back so I don't think it will have any effect.

AgX said:
Cover those pits with black varnish and then forget about them.
Click to expand...
This trick do work even on lens back element. Have Color Skopar 21 with a scratch that really created blurred areas on the photos. After using black sharpie blur was gone.
 

Without t withouta direct before &after comparison, Tou are unlikely to ever see it but Yes it will impact image quality.
 

So you are saying to only scratch the rear lens, not the front lens?
 
Sirius Glass said:
So you are saying to only scratch the rear lens, not the front lens?
Click to expand...

Why not? Ticktokers do it all the time

Bought a lens from a japanese dealer and it arrived with a scratched/rubbed are on the lens back element. I created some blurred areas on the negative. Painting the rubbed area with a black sharpy removed the blurred area.

Regars
 

We just have to deal with the equipment that we have.
 
If the overall “ quality” of your work is based on “image quality” I.e. lens exactness based on factory standards, then
 
lecarp said:
Finding lens damage can be frustrating. However, I doubt it will reduce your IQ.
Click to expand...

Obstinating on finding lens defect on lenses that in fact are fine, will definitely reduce your IQ until you will never be able to enter Mensa.
 
I have a Cooke Series II 10.4" f4.5 lens that has scratches deep enough to be felt on both front and rear elements, and long enough to measure with a ruler. The lens has no coatings at all, as it was made in ca 1912. I've shot scenes with a light source in the frame and had no noticeable effect from the scratches. You'll be fine.
 
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