Anyone ever tried to "fill" a scratch on a lens?

Does Canon use any of those techniques when you send a lens in with slight scratches on the front and or back element?

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2773311
Does Canon use any of those techniques when you send a lens in with slight scratches on the front and or back element?

I don't know first hand, but everything I hear is that Canon ALWAYS replaces lens elements, they never repair them.

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2773702
I don't know first hand, but everything I hear is that Canon ALWAYS replaces lens elements, they never repair them.

So how could it be so cheap for like a 24-70L like one poster said? Maybe for like a 85 1.8 (58mm), I could understand, but not 24-70L.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2773809
So how could it be so cheap for like a 24-70L like one poster said? Maybe for like a 85 1.8 (58mm), I could understand, but not 24-70L.

Again, my opinions on this are only "seat of the pants" but the figures I've heard are $100 $200. That seems reasonable to me... not too high, not too cheap. I think you have to remember, Canon uses automated production for these lenses, limited human interaction. I believe only the larger primes (i.e. 500mm) are done by hand. For that reason cost of the individual lens element can potentially be pretty reasonable.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2773809
So how could it be so cheap for like a 24-70L like one poster said? Maybe for like a 85 1.8 (58mm), I could understand, but not 24-70L.

When your lens goes to Canon for repair they classify the damage so to speak.
Level - A, B, C ,D

Level D would be you went swimming with your lens in the ocean. Level A, you broke the MF/AF switch. All others fall in the middle.

So depending on how they rate your repair you pay a flat rate so to speak. Canon doesn't have time to charge you by the hour to fix your lens. They fix too many for this.

They will do an estimate for free, it only costs you the shipping. Give it a try, if you have a scratched element or some cosmetic damage, give it a shot.

University of Texas McDonald Observatory....some years ago an employee (or could have been a grad student), went beserk, gunned some coworkers and then turned the gun down the tube of one of the huge scopes, firing several shots into the massive mirror, the irreplaceable one that has to cool for a year before they can start the several year grinding process. The solution was black paint and mapping out in software. No significant loss of IQ.

Chuck

Glenn NK wrote in post #2755714
I dont' fill scratches in my UV filters - I just buy a new one.

I like it...subtle burn.

toothpaste and paper?

MrChad wrote in post #2774601
When your lens goes to Canon for repair they classify the damage so to speak.
Level - A, B, C ,D

Level D would be you went swimming with your lens in the ocean. Level A, you broke the MF/AF switch. All others fall in the middle.

So depending on how they rate your repair you pay a flat rate so to speak. Canon doesn't have time to charge you by the hour to fix your lens. They fix too many for this.

They will do an estimate for free, it only costs you the shipping. Give it a try, if you have a scratched element or some cosmetic damage, give it a shot.

Yeah, I can drop my stuff off, the Canon one isn't too far away. I will think about it I guess, i have a few nicks on my body for example.

I have a 70-200 2.8 with a few nicks in the front element. They don't make a bit of difference in IQ nor do they show up in any of my photos.
I did ask Canon how much it would be to replace the element and they quoted me $377 for the glass alone.

lummy wrote in post #2779156
I have a 70-200 2.8 with a few nicks in the front element. They don't make a bit of difference in IQ nor do they show up in any of my photos.
I did ask Canon how much it would be to replace the element and they quoted me $377 for the glass alone.

To be fair, the 70-200 2.8 should have a lot more glass then the 24-70 2.8 I'd think.

they're the same filter size, 77mm. I can see the 70-200 being thicker tho. There's probably some flourite in the 70-200 too

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2775165
Yeah, I can drop my stuff off, the Canon one isn't too far away. I will think about it I guess, i have a few nicks on my body for example.

They don't usually fix cosmetic damage alone. My 24-70L got dropped, they fixed the damaged filter ring, but not the scratch on the body -- doesn't bother me a bit.

If nothing else you can state the lens was serviced by Canon on XX of XX when you sell the lens. That alone should help add piece of mind to a buyer.

lummy wrote in post #2779156
I have a 70-200 2.8 with a few nicks in the front element. They don't make a bit of difference in IQ nor do they show up in any of my photos.
I did ask Canon how much it would be to replace the element and they quoted me $377 for the glass alone.

That price most likely also included installation as Canon doesn't differentiate between parts and labor in their service estimates for lens repair work.

MrChad wrote in post #2781532
They don't usually fix cosmetic damage alone. My 24-70L got dropped, they fixed the damaged filter ring, but not the scratch on the body -- doesn't bother me a bit.

If nothing else you can state the lens was serviced by Canon on XX of XX when you sell the lens. That alone should help add piece of mind to a buyer.

Probably. I`ll have my friend drop his 70-200 off so we can know how much a repair would be anyway.