I have a Goerz 9 1/2 inch lens which works on my 7 X 17 camera, very wide. It has a small chip in the front surface of the front element, is there something that can be done to lessen or polish the imperfection? Thanks Steve SHerman

-- Steve Sherman (StrictlyBW@Cox.net), March 16, 2002

Answers

Does it show on film???

If not don't touch it...

-- Per Volquartz (volquartz@volquartz.com), March 16, 2002.

I wouldn't polish it, but an old trick for reducing flare with deep scratches or nicks is to blacken them with India ink.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), March 17, 2002.

I've not needed to do it myself, but I've seen the India ink trick done...and it does work!! Simply fill the scratch/chip with ink applied with a fine brush.

-- paul owen (paulowen_2000@yahoo.com), March 17, 2002.

I'll third that. If you look through the lens at the chip while pointed at a bright light and the chip appears as a bright spot (not all of them do) and still shows stopped down, then it might affect your negatives. I have two lenses where it might be a problem. I just used a black "Sharpie" marker, they have one with a very fine point, and filled in the chip. Repeat the test, the bright spot is gone, and that black dot on the front element will never show up. It works. If you grind off enough glass to get rid of the chip you're lenses will not perform well. Anything beyond fairly shallow scratches can't be polished off.

-- Kevin Crisp (KRCrisp@aol.com), March 17, 2002.