Dust in lens
 

How does dust get into a lens and would you expect a new lens ( 1 month old) to have it?
I have a new lens ( 1 month old tilt and shift) that has a small amount of dust visible. The photographs I made with it do not show the dust and look fine. Its under warranty so hopefully is not classed as usage rather than fault.
Any ideas if this is one of those things or is the lens faulty? I only viewed it when looking closely and don't know if it was there when I purchased it or not.

Karen

It's possible it was there from manufacture, but it's pretty unlikely.

Tilt/shift lenses are more prone to internal dust thanks to the extra moving parts of the lens case. I must admit that I'd expect a Canon TS-E to be better sealed than that...

Thanks, Chris. As its only been used once I think I will give canon a ring and see what they say!

Karen

I have a Nikkor 55-200mm VR which is only a few months old and only been used a few times. It took has a small spec of dust near the outisde of the rear element. Probably not enough to cause any probelms but, still very annoying, considering its a new lens that doesn't get much use, so I totally hear what you're saying Karen!

Zooms are notorious for pulling dust into the camera or lens itself. Until I had my 24-105L repaired due to the dreaded error 01, I had a small fleck of dust just inside the front element sitting on the black plastic rim of the next element. It never harmed images and dust being dust, and often microscopic, there is little that can be done to prevent it, not even the best weather sealing in the world can prevent it from going where it wants to. Unless it becomes a problem with the images - usually by distorting light as it hits the lens, I would live with it, or if it bothers you that much get it cleaned. My 24-105 came back as if brand new, so worth spending a few bob to have them serviced from time to time.