1960 Summicron rear element spots. Will it hurt my photos

[kknox]

I just received a like new 1960 summicron lens. It has about a dozen small spots on the rear element in the center area of the lens. There is no haze or fungus. just wondering if these will show up in my photos. They look like they are in the coating in the rear element. Everything else is perfect. Thank's in advance.

[elshaneo]

If you could take a photo of the rear element, that would help us more ;-)

My guess is that it's lens seperation, it will affect output image I would say.

[kknox]

They dont show up in the photos iI took. They look like there has been grease spots at one time that maybe did coating damage. They are very small but in the center of the lens.

[elshaneo]

In that case, don't worry about it. Use your lens and enjoy ;-)

[WalterM]

run a test roll through it

[kknox]

I will, just thought someone might have seen this before on a lens. Thank's

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have an olympus 85mm f2 for the OM-system with weird spots and blotches in the coating of the rear element too. It isn't fungus or scratches and it doesn't affect images.

[bmattock]

Damage is damage. It affects images. The only question is to what degree it affects them. It may affect them in such a way as to be undetectable to the human eye. If you use it and it doesn't bother you, then use it. Some people lay awake at night fretting over damage to lenses that causes no image degradation that they can see, but the fact that it is there makes their lives miserable. Don't be like those people.

[kknox]

Thank's everyone. Took a quick roll. Can not see any spots on the pics at all. Looks like a keeper.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Originally Posted by kknox

Thank's everyone. Took a quick roll. Can not see any spots on the pics at all. Looks like a keeper.

You'll never see spots on the images no matter how bad the lens looks. The effect would be a reduction in sharpness and increase in flare from a badly damaged lens, but even then you'll not see the spots on the film.