Is the crack on my Nikon 70-300mm actually a damaged front filter, and what should I do?
Asked 10/3/2018
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My Nikon 70-300mm appears to have a crack at the front, but image quality and lens operation seem unchanged. I’d like to stop it getting worse and figure out whether it needs repair. How can I tell if the damage is on the lens itself or on a screw-in front filter, and what should I do next?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
14
It's probably a filter. If there is printing or embossed lettering around the outside of the rim near the front, that would indicate a filter is screwed on.
Remove the filter by unscrewing it. If it doesn't seem to want to come off, see: How do I get a stuck screw filter off of my lens?
After comments, the filter is a Rocketfish RF-CP67 Circular-Polarising 67mm diameter filter which unscrews using the knurled section highlighted. The section forward of that with the RocketFish logo will turn infinitely - which is how it varies the polarising layer.
Originally by user11924. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11924
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is most likely a cracked front filter, not damage to the lens itself. A good clue is lettering around the front rim; on circular polarizers, one ring screws onto the lens while the front ring can spin freely to adjust polarization.
What to do:
- Unscrew and remove the filter using the knurled ring that attaches to the lens.
- Inspect the actual front element underneath for any damage.
- If the lens glass is fine, no lens repair is needed—just replace the filter if you still want to use one.
If the filter is stuck, use proper stuck-filter removal methods rather than forcing it.
Also, a protective UV/sky filter is optional. Many photographers leave filters off unless they need one, because dirty or low-quality filters can reduce image quality. A lens hood is often a better way to protect the front of the lens while also reducing flare.
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AI7y ago
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