I was offered a used EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for $350.-. It has dust inside the front lens and on the moving lens behind the front, and it had a 1/4" scratch at the edge of the front lens. I think the dust can be removed, but the scratch - can it be fixed? I didn't buy it, but maybe I should have? It's $799.- on B&H.
C100: Question about lens repair (EF-S 17 - 55)
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scorsesefan
Veteran
Might be more of a hassle than it's worth. I picked up a nearly new 17-55 last year on ebay for $450 and on occasion I've seen them go for less than that. Keep an eye out on CL and Ebay...
Doug_EX
Well-known member
Those lenses I known to collect dust. So if there is not too much dust and it doesn't affect the image, leave it there. Does the scratch affects the image? You have a picture of the lens to show us?
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I would never buy a lens with a scratched front element. Not worth it to me to save a couple of bucks. The dust? So far, I am a year into my 17-55 2.8 IS and I shoot mostly at the beach and on boats with wind all of the time. No dust on the inside of the lens that I can see yet?
DannayZay
Well-known member
I bought a refurbished 17-55 4 years ago for ~$1000. Last year I shot a summer camp promo and the inside was filled with dust particles -- didn't affect the image, but drove me bonkers looking at it. I drove it over to Canon last week and they offered to warranty a full inside cleaning. Can't hurt to send it into the factory repair center and negotiate a deal.
cpreston
Veteran
The dust on this lens is a regular issue and fairly easy to clean out. I know there is a video online somewhere. You just pull off the trim with the lens ID writing on it around the front element and then onscrew the front element if I remember right. Scratches are hard to judge. I usually test it by stoppin down the lens, adjust to minimum focus and shine a bright light into the lens. Some scratches are a huge problem despite seeming small while others don't seem to do anything at all to the image.
$400 is not a particularly great price for this lens anymore, though.
$400 is not a particularly great price for this lens anymore, though.
Thank you all for your insight and help. Much appreciated. No pictures of the lens showing the scratch, the guy is local to me and I just drove over to look at it. I'm not really in the market right now, but the lens is on my "to get eventually" list so when I saw it I thought I'd at least take a look. I'll keep looking.