Differences in optical quality due to manufacturing tolerences

[GaryLH]

Pretty good read from the lens rental blog today. Talks about the effects of manufacturing tolerences to the perceived optical quality, why one reviewer may say x is better then y and another review would say the opposite.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/09/there-is-no-perfect-lens

Lots of interesting info here, including some things I did not realize could still be done to a lens to adjust optical quality after it leaves the factory. Looks like lensrental really works hard to give a good rental experience... I have never used them, but after reading this, if I have occasion, I just might.

Gary

 

[willie_901]

One of the benefits we should be receiving from more expensive lenses is superior manufacturing tolerances and rigorous quality control procedures. Both of these cost money.

 

[Jack Conrad]

You're right. That was a good read. It makes me realize, if there is that much
variation in factory tolerances, imagine the immeasurable variations in the field.

 

[john_s]

I have wondered about lenses for sale by well known dealers (e.g. Leica) that are second hand but pretty much mint, at a price not much lower than current new price. Have they been tested and then returned because they were not quite up to scratch?

 

[lam]

Somewhere out there, there is one guy who has only the sharpest lenses of each. Someone who has over 1000 feedbacks on RFF....

 

[skibeerr]

Stop !!! ......down.

 

[Graham Line]

Now, if we can just iron out the variations in quality in photographers . . .

 

[Aristophanes]

Now, if we can just iron out the variations in quality in photographers . . .

try and squint

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Thank you for sharing the article, Roger's articles are always interesting and I've certainly spent some time perusing his site on a few occasions. It's a very interesting topic, but incredibly complex, and one that's not easy to find solid information about online, at least, to get you started. I have a copy of Lens Design Fundamentals by Rudolf Kingslake, and even the fundamentals are far from simple.
Cheers
Brett

 

[redisburning]

Roger Cicala is such a badass I sometimes have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

sometimes you win the grind lottery.

btw this is why it's good to buy lenses from makers who can and will adjust individual copies. Leica, for example, will adjust your lenses with floating lens groups, and I know Zeiss will do an awful lot.

although I do seem to remember a thread where an owner of a rare Canadian made lens was told specifically never to send it to Solms for service...