<p>Price vs. quality.   You're unlikely to see any significant degradation in the final image if those are scratches.  <strong>However,</strong>  that is not how you should make your purchase decision.  You want to inspect the entire body for any evidence of dents, bends, etc. which indicate rough usage, not to mention misalignment of the optical elements. </p>

<p>If you can't try out the 'scope in person, make sure there's a 100% refund guarantee before having it shipped to you. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T18:43:06.247Z
Does misalignment in refractor telescopes exist? If, how can I detect it? Is it common? Could it be fixed?
Vitor Z.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T19:52:45.670Z
@VitorZ. if the barrel is bent, then it's misaligned :-) .  Otherwise unlikely that optical elements have shifted.  But if you focus at infinity and the images are more elliptical than circular, that suggests some misalignment.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T18:31:44.033Z
2020-01-08T18:31:44.033Z
Carl Witthoft
<p>I found an used Skywatcher 70mm telescope for buying, but its lenses are a little suspect about harming. In one photo, it looks clearly a scratch, but in the another, it is not visible. Could it be an optical illusion or is it really a harm? If it's a scratch, should I discard the possibility of buying?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h3VDf.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h3VDf.jpg" alt="Lens apparently dirty and harmed, with a visible line crossing the glass"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MoPIF.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MoPIF.jpg" alt="The same lens, apparently clear and perfect"></a></p>

<p>Pointing where I think there are scratches:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X0TVj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X0TVj.jpg" alt="scratch img1"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/moChw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/moChw.jpg" alt="scratch img2"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T16:49:59.900Z
Could you point out where you see the scratch?
usernumber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T17:22:44.977Z
I added to the post the same two images with some indication, hope it help
Vitor Z.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-08T17:45:15.070Z
The big ones at the top seems to be just a reflection, not a scratch.
usernumber
<telescope><telescope-lens><refractor-telescope>
Verifying refractor lens about scratches
Vitor Z.
# Verifying refractor lens about scratches

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-08)

I found an used Skywatcher 70mm telescope for buying, but its lenses are a little suspect about harming. In one photo, it looks clearly a scratch, but in the another, it is not visible. Could it be an optical illusion or is it really a harm? If it's a scratch, should I discard the possibility of buying?

[![Lens apparently dirty and harmed, with a visible line crossing the glass](https://i.sstatic.net/h3VDf.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h3VDf.jpg)

[![The same lens, apparently clear and perfect](https://i.sstatic.net/MoPIF.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/MoPIF.jpg)

Pointing where I think there are scratches:
[![scratch img1](https://i.sstatic.net/X0TVj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/X0TVj.jpg)

[![scratch img2](https://i.sstatic.net/moChw.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/moChw.jpg)

**Tags:** telescope, telescope-lens, refractor-telescope

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you point out where you see the scratch?  
> **username_0**: I added to the post the same two images with some indication, hope it help  
> **username_1**: The big ones at the top seems to be just a reflection, not a scratch.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-08. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Price vs. quality. You're unlikely to see any significant degradation in the final image if those are scratches. **However,** that is not how you should make your purchase decision. You want to inspect the entire body for any evidence of dents, bends, etc. which indicate rough usage, not to mention misalignment of the optical elements.

If you can't try out the 'scope in person, make sure there's a 100% refund guarantee before having it shipped to you.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does misalignment in refractor telescopes exist? If, how can I detect it? Is it common? Could it be fixed?  
> **username_2**: @VitorZ. if the barrel is bent, then it's misaligned :-) .  Otherwise unlikely that optical elements have shifted.  But if you focus at infinity and the images are more elliptical than circular, that suggests some misalignment.  

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