Scratch on lens...

[R gould]

Would'nt worry about it,I have a 80/200 zoom, got o scratch on the front element,using a lens hood I can see no detremint ,Richard

[sandermarijn]

This lens came with a chip out of the front element, as well as some cleaning marks. I painted the chip with a water-resistant black marker. All is well

I think the consensus is that the rear element matters, not the front.

[Whiteymorange]

I suppose these days you could use acrylic paint as, being water based, you could easily remove it and try again if you messed it up.

Any attempt to polish or buff the lens will scrap it, I'm sure.

Excellent advice, with one caveat: Water based is not the same as water soluable. Acrylic paint is liquid plastic and in not easily removed after drying. I have used permanent marker, which will wipe away with alcohol.

[Dorothy Blum Cooper]

Thank you guys again...some great advice in here. Will let you know how it turns out (test shot). Hoping I won't need a fix, but will heed the suggestions.

[steven_e007]

Excellent advice, with one caveat: Water based is not the same as water soluable. Acrylic paint is liquid plastic and in not easily removed after drying. I have used permanent marker, which will wipe away with alcohol.

Yes, quite so. I was thinking more that you could repeat the operation if you 'missed' the scratch and splodged paint in the wrong place - but yes, once it is dry, acrylic is fairly permanent. That is ideally want you ant, otherwise it would come off when you cleaned the lens, but certainly as a test, something temporary would be better. Personally I think a few shots with scratch covered and a few shots without would prove if there is any point doing a more permanent repair... and my hunch is there won't be.

[domaz]

Excellent advice, with one caveat: Water based is not the same as water soluable. Acrylic paint is liquid plastic and in not easily removed after drying. I have used permanent marker, which will wipe away with alcohol.

Isn't permanent marker a mild solvent that could strip away coatings. It sure smells like a solvent.