When you are into photography, there is a chance that you may end up getting a camera lens scratch, especially if you are not using a camera lens hood. If the scratch on the camera lens is a minor one, you can easily fix it by yourself.

In this guide, I will share the 9 best ways to fix camera lens scratches. I have tried these methods, and they worked for me.

CAUTION: You can try these methods at your own risk. There is always a risk of damaging your front lens glass if you don’t do it properly. If you don’t want to take the risk, you can give your lens to an authorized service centre to fix the scratch.

1. Use a Lens Pen with a Carbon Tip

Lens cleaning pen for cleaning lens glass

Sometimes, the lens scratch will be a very minor one. You can easily remove it with the help of a lens pen. 

The lens pen will come with a carbon tip at one end and a brush at the other end.

PROCEDURE:

1.1 First, you need to use the lens cleaning brush to remove all the dust present in the front glass of the lens. It is to ensure that the use of carbon tips does not cause any further scratches because of the presence of dirt. 

1.2 After that, you can use the carbon tip on the scratch. Move the carbon tip over the scratch multiple times in a circular fashion. 

1.3 Repeat this process multiple times.

2. Use Alcohol

Camera lens cleaning with lens cleaning microfiber cloth

Before using alcohol, make sure that the lens front element is glass and not plastic. If it is plastic, you will end up damaging the plastic front element. 

You can get rubbing alcohol from any medical store. This method is effective only for small scratches.

PROCEDURE:

2.1 Put few drops of Ethyl alcohol [Rubbing Alcohol] on top of the lens cleaning cloth. 

2.2 Start rubbing the lens front glass with this cloth. Apply gentle pressure while rubbing. 

2.3 Repeat this process multiple times and see if you are able to remove the lens scratch.

3. Apply Toothpaste 

The toothpaste method helped me fix a small scratch on my Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. This method is very effective for minor scratches.

PROCEDURE:

3.1 Take cotton buds and wrap one end of it with a microfiber cloth.

3.2 Put some toothpaste on the microfiber cloth attached to the cotton bud.

3.3 Start rubbing on the scratch with gentle pressure using this toothpaste on the microfiber cloth.

READ MORE : Best Ways to Protect Lens From Scratches

4. Baking Soda and Water Mixture

Many photographers would have already used the famous baking soda and water mixture to remove camera lens scratches. I have tried it on one of my UV filter glasses and it worked.

This mixture will not work for big and deep scratches.

PROCEDURE:

4.1 Mix baking soda with water in equal quantities and make it into a paste.

4.2 Apply this paste on the scratched area of the lens using a microfiber cloth.

4.3 Gently rub the paste circularly using the microfiber cloth for a couple of minutes.

4.4 Clean the glass with a dry microfiber cloth.

4.5 Check if the scratch is still there. If yes, repeat the process for a couple more times.

5. Buffing with Microfiber cloth

Camera Lens Cleaning Cloth

If it is a nano or micro scratch, you can easily fix it by just buffing it with a microfiber cloth. But make sure to use a good-quality microfiber cloth. 

You don’t need any additional solution or paste while buffing for such scratches. 

Ensure that there are no dust particles in the microfiber cloth while rubbing.

6. Use Lens Repair Kit

You can also consider investing in a lens repair kit that comes with a solution that can fix minor scratches. 

It is always good to check the reviews of the lens repair kit that you are going to buy. 

Go for it only if they are effective for your type of lens and scratch.

PROCEDURE

6.1 Brush off the dust from the front end of the camera lens using a lens cleaning brush.

6.2 Spray some lens repair cleaning solution on the microfiber cloth.

6.3 Gently rub on the lens glass for 2-3 minutes and see if the scratches are going.

7. Use Pencil Eraser (Rubber)

If the scratch is very minor, you can use the pencil eraser rubber to fix it.

PROCEDURE

7.1 Clean the front end of the camera lens using a lens cleaning brush. It is to remove the dust particles.

7.2 Start rubbing on the lens scratch using the pencil eraser.

7.3 Continue rubbing gently for 5 minutes and see if the scratch is disappearing.

8. Optical Eye Glass Cleaner Spray

You can also use optical eyeglass spray to fix lens scratches. Make sure that the front element of your lens is glass. If it is plastic, it can damage your lens.

PROCEDURE

8.1 Clean the front end of the camera lens using a lens cleaning brush. It is to remove the dust particles.

8.2 Spray some eyeglass cleaner spray on the microfiber cloth.

8.3 Gently rub on the lens glass for a couple of minutes and see if the scratches are going.

9. Take the Camera Lens to the Authorized Service Centre

It is always best to take your camera lens to an authorized service center to fix the camera lens scratch, especially if it is an expensive lens.

These centers will have appropriate machines, tools, and jigs to fix the scratch without damaging your lens. But you will have to pay them to fix it

Does Camera Lens Scratch Affect Image Quality?

Scratch on the camera lens can affect the image quality. It actually depends on the amount of scratch. 

If the scratch is a minor one, there will not be any impact on the picture quality. Also, for bigger scratches, the effect will be noticeable only when you take large photo prints or do a heavy cropping.

Wide-Angle Vs Telephoto Lens – Which has more Effect on Scratches?

The scratches will be more noticeable in the case of a wide-angle lens when compared with a telephoto lens. 

If you have a zoom lens, the scratches will be more visible on the lower focal lengths than the higher ones.

How much does camera lens scratch repair cost?

The cost of fixing a camera lens scratch will differ for different types of lenses. Also, the cost will vary for different camera brands.

You can always check with the authorized service center to know the exact cost.

Is It OK to remove the camera lens scratch by yourself?

If it is a very expensive camera lens, I don’t recommend you remove the scratch by yourself. It is always good to take the lens to the service centre and get the scratch fixed. 

If you are a DIY person, you can always give it a try.

Is it Possible to Fix Broken Glass on a Camera lens?

Yes, it is possible to fix the broken glass on a camera lens. You need to take the lens to an authorized service center. They can fix it. You cannot do it by yourself.

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