Scratch on lense... would it be noticable in pictures?

A seller is selling a tokina 100mm atx pro d macro lense ($250) but has stated in the desrciption that everything works fine except for a small scratch that occurred while cleaning the lense. I was just curious if it would be noticeable in the pictures or is it just more of a cosmetic issue? it doesnt really effect the picture outcome?
On a side note I also have a canon 85mm 1.8 and if these two lenses are similiar then there isnt really a need for me to consider this lense. I dont use this focal length that much and am saving up for the tokina 11-16 uwa as that would be something I use quite often. But I am interested in what macro lenses have to offer as well.
So any ideas?

If light falls directly on a scratch on a lens, it can cause a flare in an image. The amount of flare would depend on the size and depth of the scratch, angle of the light hitting it, etc.

A true macro lens is quite different from a more conventional lens in that it is designed and optimized for extreme close-up work. Your 85mm lens is not a macro lens and cannot focus anywhere near as close as the Tokina can.

The 100mm focal length is a little bit longer than your 85 - but by only about a 17% increase. Your 85mm lens is a little bit more than a stop faster than the 100mm lens.

By the way - you can stop wasting an extra "e" in the word lens.

SkipD wrote in post #8513541
By the way - you can stop wasting an extra "e" in the word lens.

hahaha, I'll try to rember that!

i got my 70-200L IS for a unbelievable steal just because there was a scratch on the front element. Lets just say i wish the rest of my collection was also bought under similar circumstances because there is NO difference in the image quality. If you feel uncomfortable with the scratch get it fixed, but otherwise its fine. Here is what it looks like

elitejp wrote in post #8513655
hahaha, I'll try to rember that!

Hey - you could use one of them there

Can't be as bad as this one...
http://www.lensrentals​.com …0/front-element-scratches

I have a 17-55 IS that has 3 scratches on it, and after testing under bright sunlight at different angles, I never saw any impacts of the scratches. It works great with the scratches. Now if the scratches were on the back element, it may have been a different story, I would think the closer to the sensor you find this the more noticeable it will be.

DoomMan wrote in post #8517374
i got my 70-200L IS for a unbelievable steal just because there was a scratch on the front element. Lets just say i wish the rest of my collection was also bought under similar circumstances because there is NO difference in the image quality. If you feel uncomfortable with the scratch get it fixed, but otherwise its fine. Here is what it looks like

what kind of a deal did you get on the 70-200 2.8? and where did you find it, looking to upgrade....

You should ask the seller to take some pictures with the lens for you to see if it affects the IQ and he/she better gives you a great deal for it

The scratch as it is now may affect your pictures. You can use a sharpie black marker on the scratch itself - helps prevent the light from scattering too much. Or you can call 18008284040 and ask for the Canon parts department. Tell them which lens you have. You'll need a spanner tool to remove the front element as well as a new front element for the repair.

sued5320 wrote in post #8517405
Can't be as bad as this one...
http://www.lensrentals​.com …0/front-element-scratches

That's wild. I had no idea a lens that damaged could still be used at all.

This lens has noticeable flare wide open. But then it wasn't a very good lens new, either. I paid $1 for it, so what the hell...

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number six wrote in post #8521226
This lens has noticeable flare wide open. But then it wasn't a very good lens new, either. I paid $1 for it, so what the hell...

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forum: Canon Lenses

Vintage of that lens is about 1982! I bought one as my very first wide angle lens, but quickly sold it only because I discovered that 28mm on 135 format was not sufficiently wide for me, and bought a 24mm lens which made me content.

DoomMan wrote in post #8517374
i got my 70-200L IS for a unbelievable steal just because there was a scratch on the front element. Lets just say i wish the rest of my collection was also bought under similar circumstances because there is NO difference in the image quality. If you feel uncomfortable with the scratch get it fixed, but otherwise its fine. Here is what it looks like

Good deal. You can probably get the front element replaced and still make profit if you ever want to sell it

DoomMan wrote in post #8517374
i got my 70-200L IS for a unbelievable steal just because there was a scratch on the front element. Lets just say i wish the rest of my collection was also bought under similar circumstances because there is NO difference in the image quality. If you feel uncomfortable with the scratch get it fixed, but otherwise its fine. Here is what it looks like

Care to share how much you got it?