chipped lense... at DVinfo.net

Patrick Smith · July 31st, 2005, 11:22 AM

Well i'm not sure. but i got a stone/pebble sized chip in my wide angle.. anyone know how i could get this fixed, or where to take it?

Chris Hurd · July 31st, 2005, 11:27 AM

You must send the camera to an authorized factory service center for lens replacement.

Make and model?

Boyd Ostroff · July 31st, 2005, 01:29 PM

It sounds like you have a chip in a wide angle adaptor lens, not the camera itself, right? I have a sony wide angle lens for my VX-2000, and maybe a week after buying it I clamped it on the roof of my car to shoot some footage driving through the woods.

Sure enough, it was chipped by some piece of gravel or whatever. It's really too bad that sony doesn't provide filter threads so you can protect these lenses (but also pretty stupid of me to try this trick ;-)

Anyway, I was upset about this until I experimented around. The chip is only noticeable at the wide end of the zoom range when focussed on a close object. When you get 6 feet away or so it falls out of focus and vanishes. Of course the size, shape and position of the chip on your lens might be different, and you don't say what kind of camera (smaller chip sizes have more depth of field and would make this more of a problem).

How much did the lens cost? Where did you get it? You could ask for an estimate from the manufacturer, but unless it's an expensive lens I bet it won't be worth fixing.

Let us know how it works out for you, I'm sure this is a commom problem.

Chris Hurd · July 31st, 2005, 01:32 PM

Thanks Boyd, my mistake in not noticing that this regards a WA adapter.

Steve McDonald · August 5th, 2005, 03:10 AM

Unless this WA lens is in the $250.-plus range, sending it in for a factory replacement of the outer glass may not be
worth the cost. A problem is, that the more expensive these lenses are, the more it costs for repairs. Most local camera shops don't do lens repairs, but you might get lucky
and find some old-fashioned camera wizard around town, who could fit a new piece of the proper glass on it. I've taken a few lenses apart and fixed them or removed floaters, but you have to have a very clean environment for such work.

I always rig up my add-on lenses with some sort of protective filter holder on the outer end, even if they lack mounting threads. I make sure it doesn't infringe into the active zone and cause vignetting. I go through the junk bins at old camera shops and usually find something that can be made to fit. If not, then I get more creative and adaptive with assorted materials.

July 31st, 2005, 11:22 AM	#1
Patrick Smith Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 208	chipped lense... Well i'm not sure. but i got a stone/pebble sized chip in my wide angle.. anyone know how i could get this fixed, or where to take it? __________________ patricksmith04@hotmail.com

July 31st, 2005, 11:27 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	You must send the camera to an authorized factory service center for lens replacement. Make and model? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 31st, 2005, 01:32 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Thanks Boyd, my mistake in not noticing that this regards a WA adapter. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 5th, 2005, 03:10 AM	#5
Steve McDonald Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 366	Unless this WA lens is in the $250.-plus range, sending it in for a factory replacement of the outer glass may not be worth the cost. A problem is, that the more expensive these lenses are, the more it costs for repairs. Most local camera shops don't do lens repairs, but you might get lucky and find some old-fashioned camera wizard around town, who could fit a new piece of the proper glass on it. I've taken a few lenses apart and fixed them or removed floaters, but you have to have a very clean environment for such work. I always rig up my add-on lenses with some sort of protective filter holder on the outer end, even if they lack mounting threads. I make sure it doesn't infringe into the active zone and cause vignetting. I go through the junk bins at old camera shops and usually find something that can be made to fit. If not, then I get more creative and adaptive with assorted materials. __________________ Steve McDonald

July 31st, 2005, 01:29 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	It sounds like you have a chip in a wide angle adaptor lens, not the camera itself, right? I have a sony wide angle lens for my VX-2000, and maybe a week after buying it I clamped it on the roof of my car to shoot some footage driving through the woods. Sure enough, it was chipped by some piece of gravel or whatever. It's really too bad that sony doesn't provide filter threads so you can protect these lenses (but also pretty stupid of me to try this trick ;-) Anyway, I was upset about this until I experimented around. The chip is only noticeable at the wide end of the zoom range when focussed on a close object. When you get 6 feet away or so it falls out of focus and vanishes. Of course the size, shape and position of the chip on your lens might be different, and you don't say what kind of camera (smaller chip sizes have more depth of field and would make this more of a problem). How much did the lens cost? Where did you get it? You could ask for an estimate from the manufacturer, but unless it's an expensive lens I bet it won't be worth fixing. Let us know how it works out for you, I'm sure this is a commom problem.