Worried about dust in your lens?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by colincurry

I went into a local shop to enquire about a small amount of dust in my 100-400. The helpful and honest person i spoke said that it would cost around £100 to have the lens serviced but that I should not bother. He likened it to the situation where you have squashed insects on a car windscreen or headlamps when these are ignored with no effect on the overall image in our eyes.

But like the dust and muck on your windscreen, the image contrast goes down with a dirty lens!

Jim

[Meta menardi]

Just done all my lenses, now I have no more concerns.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by DavyG

Did you clean your Bigma yourself Graham or did you have someone do it for you?

If you did it yourself, how difficult was it?

Dave

Not at all difficult. The Bigma end lens is held on by a number of small screws. It's just remove the screws carefully, and watch out for some shims as you separate the end cap from the main lens body.
You have to be careful how you handle the lens, especially if you've touched the shims as they have grease on them. The fixing screws are offset, and the shims have matching offset holes.
Clean the lens, replace the shims, making sure you've got the offset holes lined up correctly. Replace the end cap and re tighten. Job done.

[DavyG]

Thanks for the information Graham.

I hope I don't have to use it though!

Dave

[Fwuffy]

That link's done the rounds, but it's a good reminder to those that get obsessed about dust on the lens, dust in the lens... I moderate a forum where people will only buy a *new* lens after scrutnising several copies of the lens to pick the one with the least/no dust inside...