[Pavel]

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/...-variation
I am frankly not sure what to do about it. My sense is that I would know I have a problem if things were way out of whack. That is fairly rare it seems. For now I will assume that my equipment is fine unless there is a cheap, simple and safe way to check and adjust.

Pavel

[Zig]

Likewise! This should get the DPReview peepers clucking away merily. I just hit my lenses with a hammer if they don't behave.

[Toad]

...and what would you do about it, anyway, if you discovered one of your lenses was faintly sub-optimal. Return it? Would they take it?

Great tool for the obsessive peepers suffering from pixel-envy.

[shuttertalk]

Not good reading for the obsessive compulsive among us!

I've got a couple of thoughts:
1) if you find a good copy, guard it with your life
2) with autofocus, as long as it is consistent, some bodies give you the ability to compensate
3) put your lens through its paces when you first acquire it, if not happy, return / exchange straight away until you get one you're happy with

I like Toad's advice though... for situations when harsh language isn't enough.

[Pavel]

@Julian

put your lens through its paces when you first acquire it

. How? How will I know it is worse than others? The last time I got Matthew to pick for me. The best thing I ever did. My 16-85 is great

Pavel

[NT73]

@Julian

put your lens through its paces when you first acquire it

. How? How will I know it is worse than others? The last time I got Matthew to pick for me. The best thing I ever did. My 16-85 is great

Pavel

Answer ... Give it to Matthew for a 36 month test.

[Pavel]

@NT73

Answer ... Give it to Matthew for a 36 month test.

Good thought - except that he is already "testing" too many cameras/lenses. I would hate to add additional burden when he has to decide which one of his camera/lens combination will get a day out. Like a man with way too many wives.