I just bought a Nikon 28-105mm lens from B+H for $119 that was rated an "8+", which is defined as the item showing some wear or finish marks. Well, when the lens came, I discovered several long faint scratches on the front element, and one short deep one. Needless to say I was furious, but I decided to test it out during the day and found no problems with my images. Then last night I took it out to do some long exposures, to see if there would be any problems with flaring. So my question is about the following image: http://i36./29dtyq9.jpg is this sort of flaring normal for this lens? Or is it caused by the scratches? It's an 8'' exposure at f/5
Here's another shot where the lens wasn't pointed at such a bright light, http://i35./4in1cp.jpg That flaring seems normal and is actually much more timid than what my other lenses produce.
So yeah, I'm just a bit confused. I suppose the flare in the first image could be just because I'm pointing it at such a bright light? I just want to be sure. I only have a few more days before I can make a return on this lens.
You will never be happy with this lens, thinking about the scratches each time you use it. I have the same lens, and they are a steal on todays market. Return it, and find another. Check KEH.
Fishinfool wrote:
You will never be happy with this lens, thinking about the scratches each time you use it. I have the same lens, and they are a steal on todays market. Return it, and find another. Check KEH.
Send it back - surely that should be an "amen" decision.
Slight wear on the paint work is one thing - marks on the front element are quite another - and completely unacceptable on an 8+ grading.
Yeah, I'd say the flare is indicative of the scratches. Flare by it's nature is symmetric if the glass is defect free. This asymmetric flare tells you that the scratches are affecting the path of light passing through the front element.
However, if no specular light is in the shot, you'll likely not see any difference in a non-scratched vs scratched lens, as in your second shot.
Can someone who owns this lens (Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5) post some of their long exposures here? I'd like to see how this lens deals with night lights scratch-free.
Or could it be that the unobtrusive flare of the first image is caused by the scratches? To clear things up, I like the minimal flare from the first image much better than the starbursts produced by the Sigma lens and might change my mind about returning if it a scratch-free 28-105mm produced flares like the Sigma.
