PhilnDebra wrote in article <19970930141301.KAA18061@ladder02.news.aol.com>...

> I recently bought a used Nikkor 55mm Micro lens used in a "mint" condition.
> I have found a lot of specs (dust?) in the lens itself. There are no obvious
> defects on the front element. Is this acceptable? Won't this dust that I can
> see clearly with my own eyes affect my final image? If dust is an acceptable
> part of an older used lense, how much dust is too much? And no, I have not
> completed shooting with this lense yet..Thank you so much in advance for you input.

A few dust particles are OK, and are not that uncommon even in new lenses.
A "lot" may (or may not), under strong back-light conditions (only), reduce image
brilliance slightly (no other problem is likely to result from the presence of the dust).
Hope This Helps
David Ruether - http://www.fcinet.com/ruether