Need some advice...

ratsalad · 16th September 2014, 15:15

I have a Nikon lens that has a (in camera terms) large spec of dust on one of the elements, it is affecting my pictures, I guess the easy way would be to 'Photoshop' the blemish out but it's annoying the hell out of me to the point that I avoid using it, which is a shame really as i love the lens in all other respects.

Is it worth getting it professionally cleaned? what sort of price would I be looking at for such a service?

Is it worth trying to clean it myself? I've read many warnings on Google saying don't try it but I have to ask.

The Lens is a Nikon 35mm AF-S Nikkor 1:1.8G DX

This picture was taken from the camera side of the lens, the black spot is the foreign body.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated

Rocket · 16th September 2014, 15:47

I tried cleaning one myself, never again. Luckily it was a £15 ebay special. Hardest part was getting it back together with no dust inside. I also needed to make up special gadgets to take the lens apart.

ratsalad · 16th September 2014, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket

I tried cleaning one myself, never again. Luckily it was a £15 ebay special. Hardest part was getting it back together with no dust.

This one cost me the best part of £100 (cheap in camera terms but still expensive to me) dunno whether to risk it myself tbh, but I have a feeling the cost of professional cleaning is going to be at least that again.

Rocket · 16th September 2014, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratsalad

This one cost me the best part of £100 (cheap in camera terms but still expensive to me) dunno whether to risk it myself tbh, but I have a feeling the cost of professional cleaning is going to be at least that again.

Lets see if others can offer more advice on costs/success rate. My only useful input is I will not be trying it again. Who knows we may have a professional lens cleaner in our midst.

ratsalad · 16th September 2014, 16:00

We can hope

Gate Keeper · 16th September 2014, 16:09

have you tried a can of compressed air, an air duster? you can sometimes find them in pc world or tesco

ratsalad · 16th September 2014, 16:11

Not sure that would work, it's on one of the internal elements, thanks for the suggestion though

Kev75 · 16th September 2014, 16:19

Hi John.

Try googling for instructions on dismantling/cleaning etc.

Kev

Gate Keeper · 16th September 2014, 16:21

apologies for not understanding correctly. in that case it is best to have the lens cleaned by a professional. i once had allowed sand into a minolta and it was successfully restored by a specialist at jessops in the old days

clf · 16th September 2014, 16:28

I wouldnt recommend dismantling it, unless you have very good tools, and possibly calibration equipment. Compressed air would be a no no for me too, as the propellant could leave marks inside the glass.

Unfortunately too, I wouldnt suggest sending it for repair either, as, whilst it may not cost as much as a new lens, it could come close to replacement cost.

I would try tapping it gently, and hopefully it will drop eventually.

An alternative would to sell it as spares or repair on ebay, I would imagine you should get up to 50 pounds, maybe even a little more for it! This plus the potential cost of repair, should get you another lens, that hasnt been opened up. (I was always wary of a lens that had been opened and repaired).

In the meantime I would have thought you could still use it at full aperture without affecting the images.

16th September 2014, 15:15	#1
ratsalad Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Contemporary SE,Tourer - Auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Coventry Posts: 1,007 Thanks: 280 Thanked 106 Times in 95 Posts	Need some advice... I have a Nikon lens that has a (in camera terms) large spec of dust on one of the elements, it is affecting my pictures, I guess the easy way would be to 'Photoshop' the blemish out but it's annoying the hell out of me to the point that I avoid using it, which is a shame really as i love the lens in all other respects. Is it worth getting it professionally cleaned? what sort of price would I be looking at for such a service? Is it worth trying to clean it myself? I've read many warnings on Google saying don't try it but I have to ask. The Lens is a Nikon 35mm AF-S Nikkor 1:1.8G DX This picture was taken from the camera side of the lens, the black spot is the foreign body. Any help would be gratefully appreciated __________________ John. Membership Number: 001 607 Past Rover cars: P6 3500S, SD1 3.5, 2 x SD1 2.6, 2 x 820 Si. Current: Rover 75 Contemporary SE CDTi Tourer, Auto. https://s20.postimg.cc/g20qde31p/Rover75.jpg

16th September 2014, 15:47	#2
Rocket Posted a thing or two ROVER 75 CONNOISSEUR SE HIGHLINE TOURER MANUAL 2.5 V6 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Midhurst Posts: 1,680 Thanks: 679 Thanked 735 Times in 530 Posts	I tried cleaning one myself, never again. Luckily it was a £15 ebay special. Hardest part was getting it back together with no dust inside. I also needed to make up special gadgets to take the lens apart. __________________ Paul http://www.paulstickley.com/ Last edited by Rocket; 16th September 2014 at 15:53..

16th September 2014, 16:00	#5
ratsalad Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Contemporary SE,Tourer - Auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Coventry Posts: 1,007 Thanks: 280 Thanked 106 Times in 95 Posts	We can hope __________________ John. Membership Number: 001 607 Past Rover cars: P6 3500S, SD1 3.5, 2 x SD1 2.6, 2 x 820 Si. Current: Rover 75 Contemporary SE CDTi Tourer, Auto. https://s20.postimg.cc/g20qde31p/Rover75.jpg

16th September 2014, 16:11	#7
ratsalad Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Contemporary SE,Tourer - Auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Coventry Posts: 1,007 Thanks: 280 Thanked 106 Times in 95 Posts	Not sure that would work, it's on one of the internal elements, thanks for the suggestion though __________________ John. Membership Number: 001 607 Past Rover cars: P6 3500S, SD1 3.5, 2 x SD1 2.6, 2 x 820 Si. Current: Rover 75 Contemporary SE CDTi Tourer, Auto. https://s20.postimg.cc/g20qde31p/Rover75.jpg

16th September 2014, 16:19	#8
Kev75 Avid contributor Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Nantwich Posts: 151 Thanks: 260 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	lens Hi John. Try googling for instructions on dismantling/cleaning etc. Kev

16th September 2014, 16:09	#6
Gate Keeper This is my second home 4X4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nairobi Posts: 20,071 Thanks: 8,286 Thanked 7,017 Times in 4,160 Posts	have you tried a can of compressed air, an air duster? you can sometimes find them in pc world or tesco

16th September 2014, 16:21	#9
Gate Keeper This is my second home 4X4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nairobi Posts: 20,071 Thanks: 8,286 Thanked 7,017 Times in 4,160 Posts	apologies for not understanding correctly. in that case it is best to have the lens cleaned by a professional. i once had allowed sand into a minolta and it was successfully restored by a specialist at jessops in the old days

16th September 2014, 16:28	#10
clf This is my second home MG ZT CDTi Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: carrick Posts: 7,859 Thanks: 3,494 Thanked 2,657 Times in 1,973 Posts	I wouldnt recommend dismantling it, unless you have very good tools, and possibly calibration equipment. Compressed air would be a no no for me too, as the propellant could leave marks inside the glass. Unfortunately too, I wouldnt suggest sending it for repair either, as, whilst it may not cost as much as a new lens, it could come close to replacement cost. I would try tapping it gently, and hopefully it will drop eventually. An alternative would to sell it as spares or repair on ebay, I would imagine you should get up to 50 pounds, maybe even a little more for it! This plus the potential cost of repair, should get you another lens, that hasnt been opened up. (I was always wary of a lens that had been opened and repaired). In the meantime I would have thought you could still use it at full aperture without affecting the images. __________________ It is not gloss primer .............. it is duct tape silver!