Optical adjustment of a lens

gilbouk

gilbouk

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,527
Name
Gil
Edit My Images
Yes
My 70-200mm hasn’t been the sharpest and after some side by side tests against a friends it is noticeably soft particularly for further away subjects. It’s definitely the lens and not technique

I’ve read that optical adjustment is a precision art and requires specialist equipment and knowledge. Has anybody used repair agents, or would Canon be my best bet. Any idea of rough cost?

I read this interesting article, although a bit old now.

www.lensrentals.com

Optically Adjusting a Lens

I write a lot about the fact that every copy of a lens is slightly different than every other copy. Now don't get me wrong: I'm talking slight differences that are barely detectable, not good or bad. Even when things appear to be in the "bad lens" area, they usually aren't. The majority of the [...]
www.lensrentals.com
 
Last edited:
gilbouk said:
My 70-200mm hasn’t been the sharpest and after some side by side tests against a friends it is noticeably soft particularly for further away subjects. It’s definitely the lens and not technique

I’ve read that optical adjustment is a precision art and requires specialist equipment and knowledge. Has anybody used repair agents, or would Canon be my best bet. Any idea of rough cost?

I read this interesting article, although a bit old now.

www.lensrentals.com

Optically Adjusting a Lens

I write a lot about the fact that every copy of a lens is slightly different than every other copy. Now don't get me wrong: I'm talking slight differences that are barely detectable, not good or bad. Even when things appear to be in the "bad lens" area, they usually aren't. The majority of the [...]
www.lensrentals.com
Click to expand...
If you look elsewhere on Roger Cicala’s site at the kind of equipment he’s got you will definitely give up any idea of a diy solution :). He has better kit than many manufacturers.
 
Could it be a case of the lens front-focusing or back-focusing, and if so, does your camera body support AF micro adjustment? There is quite a bit online about DIY AF micro adjustment, including making a DIY "target". You could use a target and a ruler on the slant to test for back/front focusing. Whatever you do can be reversed, so no damage done.
 
weybourne said:
Could it be a case of the lens front-focusing or back-focusing, and if so, does your camera body support AF micro adjustment? There is quite a bit online about DIY AF micro adjustment, including making a DIY "target". You could use a target and a ruler on the slant to test for back/front focusing. Whatever you do can be reversed, so no damage done.
Click to expand...
Yes I would try this first
If it doesn’t work Canon at Elstree do a first class job , they set my kit up for me was perfect afterwards
 
weybourne said:
Could it be a case of the lens front-focusing or back-focusing, and if so, does your camera body support AF micro adjustment? There is quite a bit online about DIY AF micro adjustment, including making a DIY "target". You could use a target and a ruler on the slant to test for back/front focusing. Whatever you do can be reversed, so no damage done.
Click to expand...
I wish it was - as that would be easier to sort. Unfortunately it's just soft :-(. I'm suspecting a decentred front element or something. Wish I'd noticed it when I purchased it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top