When is lens damage not worth repairing?
Asked 1/23/2012
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2 answers
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I dropped a lens and had it repaired, and it made me wonder: what kinds of lens damage are effectively beyond repair, or at least not worth repairing compared with buying another used lens?
I'm especially curious about fungus/mold. If mold damages lens elements, can those elements simply be replaced, or is that often considered uneconomical or impossible in practice?
I'm trying to understand the cost-effectiveness of prevention, such as storing lenses in a dry box or dehumidifier case.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
4
Since lens replacement parts exist and there are people who know how to disassemble and assemble lenses you can say that theoretically there is no damage that can't be fixed -
However in the real world there are kinds of damage that the manufacturers won't fix and even more kinds of damage where the cost of fixing would be more than the cost of replacing the lens.
Everything below this line is second hand information because I've never personally sent a lens to be fixed, I don't guaranty this information is correct and I will gladly edit or remove this answer if someone that has more experience or official information answers.
I've heard from multiple people who tried to get mold damage fixed and the companies just returned the lens as "can't fix", so I believe it's highly likely companies will not fix mold damage.
I've also heard of cases where lens companies won't replace broken inner elements, I don't know if this is a general thing or specific to some lens models.
And finally I've been told that the front element is always replaceable and that it's one of the cheapest things to fix in a lens - I've only heard this from one source (as part of a "why you shouldn't use a protective filter" speech) so I don't consider this information reliable.
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In theory, almost any lens can be repaired if parts, tools, and skilled labor are available. In practice, the real limit is usually economics, not physics.
Damage that affects optical elements or their alignment can require extensive disassembly, precise reassembly, and factory-level calibration. That can make repair cost more than the lens is worth, especially for inexpensive kit or older used lenses. By contrast, expensive professional lenses are more often worth repairing.
Fungus/mold is similar: sometimes it can be cleaned, but if it has etched or permanently damaged coatings or glass, repair may be declined or become uneconomical. A small amount of fungus often causes only reduced contrast or extra flare rather than total failure.
So the practical answer is: yes, some damage is effectively “unrepairable” because the manufacturer won’t service it, parts aren’t available, or the repair cost exceeds replacement value.
For prevention, keeping lenses dry is worthwhile if you live in a humid environment. Regular use and exposure to daylight can help discourage fungus, but once fungus is established, prevention is usually easier and cheaper than repair.
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