Where do you go to "test" your lenses?

[Mum2J&M]

I'm about to make a $1,000 purchase on a new lens and have no where nearby to go to check these lenses out before purchasing. I am researching where I can go. Many of the camera shops only have maybe one of the lenses I'm interested in, if any. Do any of you order without seeing/holding? I don't really like this idea. I know you can send the stuff back, but when considering a number of different lenses, this gets pretty ridiculous. :rolleyes: If they order them in so you can see them, do they expect you to buy one from them, lol? I don't want to order here, but rather, order online once I know what I want.

[cosworth]

Planet Earth. On non-rainy days with all my camera gear in tow taking pictures of anything I want.

Yu can mearurebate until you go blue in the face. Or shoot, learn the lens and be happy. If there IS a problem, it will present itself.

Testing right out of the box sucks. Get out there nad enjoy the lens.

[PetKal]

Every new lens I test on a few dozen standard targets in my neighbourhood. No test charts, cereal boxes and such. However, should a question arise from those "real world" test shots, then I'd start taking a closer look under more controlled conditions.
Below you can see a couple of my standard 'real life' test shots. In addition to sharpness, I'd look at overall IQ...colours, distortions, asymmetries, bokeh etc.

[nicksan]

Same here.
I'll take it out for a spin on everyday subjects.
If I like the results, then it's a keeper...

[wimg]

I'll shoot a few objects with high contrast (tree branches against the sky or something similar) to check CAs and the like, some brick wall shots, a few close-ups and a few shots of objects further away, and if they look allright, I'll take it.

When I find a flaw, like decentering, I'll try another copy, if available.

The lens taken home gets tested a little more throroughly, on similar subjects, and when happy, I put the box away somewhere, and the lens in the bag.

If I do find a problem, twice so far, I do very thoruogh checks, on brick walls, newspapers, etc., at different focal settings, aperture settings, and slightly changed focus settings up and down from the sharpest focus setting, to see where the aberration is and what it is, and to make sure it is not user error.

Once determined it is a faulty lens, I'll exchange the lens for another copy.

So far, this happened twice to me, and I can assure you that the first decentering problem I encountered, almost drove me nuts. The thing is that decentering may cause a single corner to be fuzzy, while the remainder of the image is tack sharp. You just don't believe what you are seeing. And often this only disappears very, very slowly when closing the apertures, if at all. At least that is what I now understand.

HTH, kind regards, Wim

[lostdoggy]

OOOOOHH!!! I got the answer for this one!!!

Rent before buying. There is online rental outfit that will serve your curiosity.

[liquefied]

Planet Earth. On non-rainy days with all my camera gear in tow taking pictures of anything I want.

Yu can mearurebate until you go blue in the face. Or shoot, learn the lens and be happy. If there IS a problem, it will present itself.

Testing right out of the box sucks. Get out there nad enjoy the lens.

WORD. Just go take some freakin' photos!

[cdifoto]

Wal-Mart.

[Mum2J&M]

Ok - I obviously know how to TAKE pictures, just not where to find the actual lens BEFORE I am able to buy it. I guess that is the question, right? What actual stores do you go to to FIND the lens before you are actually able to take the pics to test it with, lol.

[Mum2J&M]

Hmmm... maybe I should rent that 17-55 IS this weekend. Can't buy until next week anyway. Good idea. Thanks for that.

[cosworth]

WORD. Just go take some freakin' photos!

I do this in between typing lessons.

[saturnin]

lol walmark

[wimg]

Ok - I obviously know how to TAKE pictures, just not where to find the actual lens BEFORE I am able to buy it. I guess that is the question, right? What actual stores do you go to to FIND the lens before you are actually able to take the pics to test it with, lol.

I visit a few stores where they sell Canon photo gear...

Specialized camera stores over here always allow you to go outside and shoot with a new lens, at least the ones I visit do. They'll let me go for a few hours even, if I like. And return policy now they know me is quite flexible too :).

Kind regards, Wim

[cdifoto]

Ok - I obviously know how to TAKE pictures, just not where to find the actual lens BEFORE I am able to buy it. I guess that is the question, right? What actual stores do you go to to FIND the lens before you are actually able to take the pics to test it with, lol.

I'm not paranoid enough to try to cherry pick. I'll buy a lens from, say, B&H since it's usually cheaper online. Then I'll shoot with it. Then if I find problems with my everyday shooting, I measurebate it. I know I have at least a 1 year warranty so if there's a problem I'll send it to the manufacturer.

Having said that, I have yet to actually send a lens in to the manufacturer.

[cosworth]

If you are going to go ans waste their time and then go buy online somewhere, you owe itto the person's and owner's time your wasting to actually give them a chance to match the onlineprice you are going to pursue.

And make sure it's a reputable offer. Don't walk into your local shop and say I can buy a new 5d for $1500 from this place in Spanish Harlem. If they can meet and/or beat an amazom or BH price them you should buy from them. If not, consider shipping and the hassle if you don't like it or if the lens/body/accessory give you trouble later on. Saving that last $20 could be wiped out in one fell swoop with a return shippign charge or a simple billing oversight on your prat.

Support your local brick and mortar, but don't get hosed.

[crn3371]

If you have several different lenses in mind, but are not sure which one you want, then your best bet is to find a local shop that carries a wide selection of lenses and go in and give them a test drive. As far as testing several examples of the same lens in order to pick the best copy, don't waste your time. Unless there was an extreme defect in the lens, you couldn't judge the sharpness, and focusing of a lens in the camera store. Percentage wise, the amount of bad copies is miniscule. I agree with Jason, don't go in and waste the time and effort of your local store if you have no intent on buying from them. At least give them a fair chance at making a sale. I'll even pay a little more than the online price (within reason) to patronize my local shop.

[Pasukun]

local camera stores.
Fortunately, I have a decent size local camera store near by.

[ed rader]

I'm about to make a $1,000 purchase on a new lens and have no where nearby to go to check these lenses out before purchasing. I am researching where I can go. Many of the camera shops only have maybe one of the lenses I'm interested in, if any. Do any of you order without seeing/holding? I don't really like this idea. I know you can send the stuff back, but when considering a number of different lenses, this gets pretty ridiculous. :rolleyes: If they order them in so you can see them, do they expect you to buy one from them, lol? I don't want to order here, but rather, order online once I know what I want.

i rented the 17-40L and the 24-70L before buying them....also the 85 1.8.

i "tested" the 70-200L f4 IS in the store and went back and bought it the next day.

i also rented the 100-400L but did not buy it.

but i've bought plenty of other lenses off the internet based only on what i have read and pictures i've seen.

when i get a lens i "test" it in my back yard, the park or the zoo if it's a long lens.

i've never shot a test chart or newspapers, can't read an MTF chart and pay little attention to lens tests except for the last paragraph that says "conclusion".

ed rader

[minhi]

i have to agree with cosworth, please don't waste your local shops time if you're not gonna buy from them. and don't try to argue that they should PM to the last dollar, if they have to charge an extra 10% so that people can come in and test lens (like you want to do), then be happy to pay it! support your local stores whenever possible or they will all disappear.

unlike some chain stores there are still local camera shops that service photographers. my local one is with 10-15% of BH, once you subtract shipping (even with local taxes) it becomes less then 10% on the lower priced items. The high priced stuff the gap widens, but like cosworth says wouldn't you rather return a $1000 lens at a local shop then ship it back?

[ed rader]

i have to agree with cosworth, please don't waste your local shops time if you're not gonna buy from them. and don't try to argue that they should PM to the last dollar, if they have to charge an extra 10% so that people can come in and test lens (like you want to do), then be happy to pay it! support your local stores whenever possible or they will all disappear.

unlike some chain stores there are still local camera shops that service photographers. my local one is with 10-15% of BH, once you subtract shipping (even with local taxes) it becomes less then 10% on the lower priced items. The high priced stuff the gap widens, but like cosworth says wouldn't you rather return a $1000 lens at a local shop then ship it back?

stores disappear when they can't compete. for whatever reason. the only reason i'd buy locally is if the price were close to what i can get on the net or i have to have it now.

when i bought my 70-200L f4 IS the first guy i talked to would not let me see the lens. he said there were no open boxes.

i said there are two boxes on the shelf behind you. he said they were sealed and he would not open them.

another salesman came over and opened a box for me. when i asked him about returns on a bad copy he said he would have to be convinced the lens was bad before he would exchange it.

i'm loyal to some local merchants to a point but not these guys :evil: .

ed rader

[Mark_Cohran]

I use my local pro shop to check out lenses. Sometimes they can beat or meet B&H's price (and I always consider shipping as part of the overall price). I've spent quite a bit of money there over the years, and I will probably continue to do so. That said, I don't mind at all to check/test out a lens there but buy it online if the shop can't come within at least 10% of the online price. Since I've shopped there for a number of years, I know a couple of the salesmen pretty well, and they work with me on pricing and special orders.

Nonetheless, I buy from B&H quite often and I've never had an issue with the lenses I've purchased from them, and I have every confidence that should I make a purchase and find a lens not to be to my satisfaction, I will be able to easily obtain an exchange or refund.

Mark

[kitacanon]

I sell my used gear at the local photo shop so they do make money from my patronage...kinda...I don't buy there, but they get 25% from selling my gear...I test a lot of pix out my front door lots of variety of textures and tones...first shots from my 35/F:2...oops...it's my 50/1.87MKI...

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6670/50i24usmjey3.jpg

[jdizzle]

Ok - I obviously know how to TAKE pictures, just not where to find the actual lens BEFORE I am able to buy it. I guess that is the question, right? What actual stores do you go to to FIND the lens before you are actually able to take the pics to test it with, lol.
Hi Mum2J&M! I can probably help you in making a decision in some lenses. I am very local to you and depending on what you are looking for I can be some assistance. I live in Apex and Cary is right next door :) . I own mostly L glass and my buddy has some EF-S lenses to hopefully lead you to your decision. Send me a PM. Peace!

[jdizzle]

Wal-Mart.
LOL! What a wise guy! Haha!

[jdizzle]

Hmmm... maybe I should rent that 17-55 IS this weekend. Can't buy until next week anyway. Good idea. Thanks for that.

Hey Mum! My buddy has that 17-55 you speak of and he loves it. It's a very
good lens for good low light situations plus it has IS for those shaky hands :) .

[Big WIll]

around your house??? haha! just go everywhere, walk to the park, walk to the pub... Keep shooting :)Or use it for an event! You still have your usual kit if it goes wrong! :P

[kitacanon]

I went to try some of my Nikkors on a D200 at a mall shop and security guards STOPPED ME from taking pix in the mall...