How much dust is too much?

eddyc · 26 Jan 2012 at 21:56

I just bought a second hand lens from the auction site and it was listed as being in "very good condition".

It has arrived and does look to be in a reasonable state externally but examining the inside it looks like there is a fair amount of dust.

I managed to take a photo which illustrates it fairly well:

What do you guys think? Will this affect image quality? Should I send it back?

I'm new to SLR so I don't know how much I need to worry about this kind of thing.

ElDude · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:46

Personally, unless it's cheap to get cleaned, and depending on how much you paid for it, I'd send it back.

eddyc · 26 Jan 2012 at 22:57

Paid £45 + P&P.

Yes, beginning to think I am going to send it back. No point putting up with a dusty lens if I can get another that isn't.

Guitarman0 · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:02

Personally I would send it back. Judging by the picture that doesn't look like 'very good condition' to me. Make sure you take loads of photos before you send it of the lens and of your packaging so the seller (if they are at all dodgy) can't smash the lens and blame it on you

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:08

£45 prob isn't worth doing much about other than maybe some compressed air for a couple of quid. It doesn't affect quality massively. Probably the major under performing feature would be the quality of the optics anyway for a £45 lens.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:29

Spent £35 on a M42 fit Jupiter 37A 135mm dated 1981 and it barely has a spot of dust inside it. That lens is in a shocking state to be honest.

eddyc · 26 Jan 2012 at 23:30

Back it goes to the seller I reckon. Just got to find another.

That model is actually supposed to be pretty good. It is a SMC Pentax-a 50mm 1.7. Cheap but pretty decent is the reputation. Hope I can find a clean one.

Thanks for all the advice

Purgatory · 27 Jan 2012 at 01:37

Looks like you have a little solar system in that lens. I would send it back unless you want to spend time cleaning it yourself or paying someone to do it. Depends how much you really want that lens and how rare they are really. It is advertised as "very good condition" no it's not true, it should have been advertised as you showed in that picture and clearly letting the buyer understand he/she has to at some point clean the lens.

Columbo · 27 Jan 2012 at 09:37

To see how much dust shows on a shot just take a pic of a white piece of paper at the smallest aperture. (f22+)

Any dust spots in the shot will be very obvious.

eddyc · 27 Jan 2012 at 10:08

ManCuBuS said:
To see how much dust shows on a shot just take a pic of a white piece of paper at the smallest aperture. (f22+)

Any dust spots in the shot will be very obvious.

That's a good test to know. I'll have a try, thanks.

sbi5ar · 27 Jan 2012 at 11:27

The answer the question in the thread title...

That! is too much dust.

eddyc · 27 Jan 2012 at 11:38

sbi5ar said:
The answer the question in the thread title...

That! is too much dust.

I'm convinced. Sending back.

Threepwood · 27 Jan 2012 at 12:34

Why not ask for a partial refund towards getting it cleaned?

neil_g · 27 Jan 2012 at 15:31

does it actually show up in a shot (and dont confuse it with sensor blobs)?

eddyc · 27 Jan 2012 at 15:36

Not really had a chance to test it properly yet (it is always dark when I am at home during the week

).

I have found another one from a seller that I trust much more (from a dedicated pentax obsessives forum) so I think I am just going to get that and send the old one back. Not worth the bother of trying to check images etc - also will affect resale value.