Originally posted by EsBee 
One of my most used lenses lately, Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F3.5-5.6, is almost no more :-(
I bought this used from a forum member more than a year ago. I've used it on *ist DS, K-x, K20D and recently, barely but also on a K-7.
May be my copy is an exception but this lens has played a lot more on my tiny K-x (I know, its a mismatch size-wise) than the other bodies but I finally paid the price for not getting a 72mm filter for it. What I thought was a small smudge on the front element today has turned out to be a missing chunk of the lens in a corner, probably about half an inch in length already.
But I am surprised it still hasn't shown up on any photos yet.
And it has gotten bigger, I think. I've taken tons of photos since I noticed the condition of the lens knowing that the time is probably near for my Tammy. I am just hoping to give this awesome walkabout lens a fitting farewell when the curtain falls completely.
You would be absolutely amazed at the damage glass can take and still make good images. When I was much, much younger, I worked at a camera shop that catered to pros. Many of them routinely used lenses that most "enthusiasts" would turn away in disgust. I've mentioned in other threads that I had a Canon FD 85 1.8 that made me more money than any other single lens, and it has... oh, I'm guessing 40 or 50 3-4mm scratches on the front; probably the result of being dropped into a camera bag, glass down, on a dirty botton - then bouncing around during a car ride.
There was one fellow that shot sports that had a 400 f4 lens that had a dime sized chip in the edge of the front element. I mean a *chip*, too, not just a separation - there was glass
missing. He used it to shoot professional NFL promo images every Sunday, and it paid his bills almost by itself.
When I see damage like that, I'm sad, but if it's not your back element, it's probably only going to affect flare control. It affects resale value more than anything.
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