Scratch on new lens

If you don't need it ASAP, it is fine to return. But after a week's use, even a new lens can get some dirt or scratch. So, it's up to you. I take really good care of my gear, but you can't avoid some things.

Kuma wrote in post #7507867
Heck yea return it. B&H was always very good about that sort of thing. I imagine if you contact them right away and explain your situation they would take care of you.

From my experience with B&H, yes it is easy to return an item but too bad that most probably the lens will be resold to the next customer and end up with the one who does not examine his lenses with a flashlight
On multiple occasions I received obviously used items and in case of 17-55/2.8 IS a largely misused one.
When returning the lens make sure you request a return label. Once some person at B&H told me to pay for the shipment of a damaged merchandise so they would compensate it later bur they never did in full.

DBJ wrote in post #7506467
Hello everyone, i just received a new lens today and i found a fine scratch about an inch long along the outside edge of the front element. It was really hard to spot, only found it after using a flashlight to examine the lens.

I'm sure it's not going to affect IQ really, but would you guys keep it or return it?

If i do return it to B&H, do they refund the cost of shipping the item back to them? Their website says no, but does this apply to damaged or defective items as well? Thanks.

form wrote in post #7506866
... If it's used and the scratch wasn't disclosed, that's misrepresentation or dishonesty by omission. Will it affect image quality? Doubtful. But the other two are very important.

What kind of dishonesty you are talking about ? I ( and I am sure most other consumers ) never examine my gear with a flashlight. So why not to assume that the seller simply could not know about it ?

I found the flashlight thing interesting as well, but this is not a debate about new vs. used equipment from B&H. Let's give the OP the advice he/she needs.

I would really try and clean it first.

I was going to say that depending on the lens I would either ignore it or return it. On a 70-200 F2.8, I wouldn't give a crap, but being its on a Tokina 11-16mm I would sure send it back.
Two reasons I would with a UWA and not a telephoto
1) F Stop range. I am going to be using much smaller F stop on a UWA than a telephoto. Pretty rare occurance to hit even F8 on my 70-200, but not so rare on a WA. And the narrow F is when the scratch will start to show.
2) Flare. You are already dealing with a lens range that is hard to control flaring, even a tiny scratch is going to make things worse.

DDCSD wrote in post #7508088
I would really try and clean it first.

I did try on a small portion of the scratch, it didn't affect it, so i'm fairly sure it is a scratch.

I know the flashlight viewing is pretty neurotic but i'm really not that obsessed over my gear, i still use a 50mm 2.5 and 100-300 5.6 from 1988 that have plenty of dust in the glass. I do check my newest lenses as precisely as i can though and i understand that even new glass can have certain deviations from perfection.

I wasn't leaning towards returning it, but after reading some comments, i guess i shouldn't have to settle for marked lenses new. Just called B&H and they're emailing me the prepaid return labels. Awesome customer support from B&H. Thanks for all the input.

Just borrowing a spot in your thread , Can someone direct me to the thread where there were shots taken from a lens that was totally cracked , I searched all over .

I would call B & H and ask them for an exchange. Don't try to "clean" it unless directed to by them and be sure to get the spelling of the person who suggests it as well as what cleaning materials to use.

A scratch on the lens could cause light to diffract in a way that can ruin a nice image. Be sure to put a quality filter on the front of your replacemnt lens.

dpds68 wrote in post #7511078
Just borrowing a spot in your thread , Can someone direct me to the thread where there were shots taken from a lens that was totally cracked , I searched all over .

Here is the website:
http://www.lensrentals​.com …0/front-element-scratches

Thank you Derek .


I hope that the OP also takes a look .

I think you made the right decision in returning it. The reality is that although it probably wouldn't make the slightest difference to the image quality you'd always have it in the back of your mind that it was scratched. It's bad enough when you damage something yourself, but it's not quite the same when it arrives like that.

I've seen that website before and i know the image quality wouldn't be affected, but it is a new lens and B&H has been more than helpful in addressing the issue.

DBJ wrote in post #7511580
I've seen that website before and i know the image quality wouldn't be affected, but it is a new lens and B&H has been more than helpful in addressing the issue.

Oh, I would definitely return it once I made sure it wasn't a scratch (as you did). I wouldn't accept a lens that is supposed to be new that has a scratch.

And yes, B&H has first rate customer service. I had a defective set of Skyports last year, and they handled it beautifully.

I was just searching about new lens' with scratches and stumbled upon this thread. Funny since i just received an 85 1.8 from BH today with a 2 inch scratch along the outer edge of the front element.

I guess I'll be calling them as well...