Please help! Is my 600mm Nikkor infected? Send back?

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

Your expertise is urgently needed. I traded one of my lenses for a 600/5.6 AI-s Nikkor. The lens is a little bit rough on the outside but still ok but the optics were supposed to perfectly fine. The seller is a reputable dealer.

The lens takes very sharp and clear pictures.There are no scratches on the glass and the aperture works smoothly and there is no oil on the blades. The edges of the blades shows some marks from use which is understandable for an old lens. The glass seems to be clear and there is no evidence of spider web type fungus but what worries me is that from a certain angle, if tilted just right towards the sky, you can see a few spots on the surface of one of the glass elements. The spots are dark but one or two have a very clear spot in the the middle of the spot, just like the coating would be missing from that part.

When examined closely you can barely see a circular pattern, they look like wipe marks to me.

This lens has been serviced by Nikon in Finland at some point. I know this because I talked to the previous owner (who is not the dealer with whom I made the deal), but he was of the impression that the lens is fine and he only thought that Nikon had done some basic service. We didn't talk about the spots though, as I just noticed them.

What do you think. Should I be worried, should I return the lens? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, this is an old lens after all. Thanks in advance!

Please click on the pictures twice to see them 1600px wide.

100% crop

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Looks fine to me, out of many, many damaged lenses, I've only found one where the damage on the front hurt the IQ and that had a scratch the size of the grand canyon.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

Thanks for the answer. What worries me is that what if this is the beginning of more trouble? The lens takes wonderful images now, but will it do so after a few years or will the coatings possibly deteriorate?

I'm sure you are right though.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I really doubt there's going to be any deterioration, I doubt that's fungus, it looks in great shape to me and those tiny spots are not a problem I'm sure.

I'd put some packets of silica gel in the case with it anyways, just to be safe.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Value is less than if not there, if it is fungus and you store it properly , humidity less than 60% no caps on lens just uv filter on front to get enough light it will not grow ever, if grow you can order clean from technician. Matter only how much you paid and want to keep it or not.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

I really wouldn't worry about it Smile

Old lenses are never going to be perfect, and even new ones have dust in sometimes. I always thought those marks were an indication that a bit of dust has got inside and moisture has at some point clung to it before drying out, or a bit of oil got free somehow.

Depends how much you feel you paid for it (by means of trade) and whether you feel the condition merits what you paid. I wouldn't be concerned personally unless I'd paid top dollar.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

Thanks everyone. I've decided to keep the lens, I think I was just being paranoid. Those small spots won't make any difference and all and I don't think they will grow either.

The lens performs great, I think. These were shot at f8 from my balcony, against the light. I was just checking the sharpness of the lens, nothing artsy. You can see the rain falling on the first 100% crop. As always, you need to click on a picture twice to see the full size image.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

That's excellent IQ considering the weather conditions, definitely you need to keep this lens.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

A picture from this misty morning that I feel has a slightly different feel to it. Do you like it?

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I like it, but I'd boost the contrast a little.

Also, is it a crop? I'd like a little more looking room to the left so the bird with it's beak close to the water wasn't so close to the edge of the frame.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

It's not a crop, I'm sorry to say. I would have liked a litte more space to the left
as well. Framing with a 600mm is extremely difficoult, I didn't expect it to be so hard. I already boosted the contrast a little bit but I'll try a little more. Thanks!