Can a lens with a shattered front element or broken UV filter be repaired?
Asked 11/24/2016
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2 answers
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I opened my bag and found what looked like a shattered front element on a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II. There were many tiny glass shards on the front/next element, and I wasn't sure whether the lens itself was damaged or if only the protective UV filter had shattered.
If the front element really is broken, can the lens usually be repaired, and will image quality return to normal after repair? Is it safe to ship the lens as-is, or should I try to blow off loose glass first?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
28
I have the same lens.
Your front element is not brokenFrom your photo it looks like only a protective filter (UV?) broke. Notice the letters saying "16-35mm". They are printed on the outside of the lens, not behind the front element. It appears the filter mount ring is still attached, making the front of the lens look a little deeper than normal.
All that happened is some pressure got applied to the filter and it shattered, probably protecting the lens in the process. The front element is quite thick in comparison to a filter. If it had shattered there would be large chunks of glass, not a bunch of "micro-shards".
Your lens looks completely intact to me. Put it back on the camera and take some pictures, you'll see it's working fine.
Here's a picture of my lens for comparison:
Originally by user492. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user492
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—if the actual front element is broken, a manufacturer or qualified service center can often replace it, but cost and parts availability depend on the exact lens and its age. For a current or recently discontinued Canon L lens, repair is more likely to be practical than for an older model.
In your specific case, the community strongly suggests the lens element was probably not shattered at all; the broken part was likely the UV/protective filter. The clues were the tiny glass shards and the visible front markings, which are printed on the outside of the lens. A real front element is much thicker and would usually break into larger pieces.
If only the filter broke, the lens itself may be fine. Don’t rub loose shards across the glass. Have it inspected/cleaned if glass may have entered the barrel, especially if the filter ring came apart or jammed into the lens. If the element was replaced properly, image quality should return to normal; if only the filter broke, removing it and cleaning the lens should restore normal use.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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