Soft copy/Sharp copy.

[laidbackman]

I am a newcomer to DSLR after giving up the film SLR some time ago.
What has realy surprised me after getting back into it is the apparent lottery of buying a decent "copy" of whatever particular lens you buy.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but after spending the kind of money that the L series lens.command, or any canon lens for that matter, I would expect their QC to ensure every lens that leaves the factory is pin sharp and perfect. A lot of lens are advertised on this forum as "sharp copys"..........they should all be sharp!!!.
Just as well this is not the case in all consumer products!!!.

[Double Negative]

Most lenses ARE sharp. It's the users that are generally soft.

That's not to say bonafide bum copies don't surface from time to time. It's a matter of statistics.

[neil_r]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

Most lenses ARE sharp. It's the users that are generally soft.

Aint that the truth !

[liza]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

Most lenses ARE sharp. It's the users that are generally soft.

I'm of the same opinion. Some of these lenses take a bit of getting used to, and the new owners can be a bit impatient for magazine-quality results as soon as they mount the lens on their camera. That's not to say there aren't a few bad copies out there, but not as many as people report.

[Madweasel]

Originally Posted by liza

I'm of the same opinion. Some of these lenses take a bit of getting used to, and the new owners can be a bit impatient for magazine-quality results as soon as they mount the lens on their camera. That's not to say there aren't a few bad copies out there, but not as many as people report.

I agree. It's very disappointing for beginners to realise that there's more to this game than putting an expensive lens on.

[blam]

simply said, you'll see more people post about bad copies then good copies so it looks like there are more bad copies out.

if everyone posted every time they get a good copy there would be a landslide of good copy threads.

[dkangel]

But some of us are unlucky like me. I have sent in three different lenses bought from three different companies and all of them had issues and had to be fixed and/or calibrated.

[Double Negative]

Originally Posted by dkangel

But some of us are unlucky like me. I have sent in three different lenses bought from three different companies and all of them had issues and had to be fixed and/or calibrated.

See, that's the weird thing.

I've bought five new L lenses and one used - every one of them is spot on.

[liza]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

See, that's the weird thing.

I've bought five new L lenses and one used - every one of them is spot on.

Same here. I've never had a problem with any of my lenses new or used. And I have a lot of them.

[thekid24]

Most lenses ARE sharp. It's the users that are generally soft.

That should be made a sticky so there is a place to send the pixel-peepers

[SuzyView]

I still think some lenses don't produce as many sharp images as others. For instance, my old 80-200 I got years ago was worthless to me. Nothing was sharp. Now, my 24-70, it's an amazing lens. I have to say 90% of the not sharp shots are me being stupid or shaking. The shots that are sharp really are spectacular. And the 70-200 f4 and 70-200 2.8 IS I just got are amazingly sharp. Have to do major goofing up to ruin pictures taken with either lens.

[Double Negative]

Originally Posted by liza

Same here. I've never had a problem with any of my lenses new or used. And I have a lot of them.

Oh yeah, forgot about the 35mm f/2.0 and 50mm f/1.8 Mk I - both of those were sharp, too. Both used.

So - that makes 8 out of 8 for me.

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

Most lenses ARE sharp. It's the users that are generally soft.

I would say this is correct 99.5% of the time.

[dave kadolph]

Isn't it odd you hear a lot about soft copies but never see anything but sharp lenses for sale?

[Uhland]

I think on the internet and especially on this forum people like to fault the user more so than the lens. There are soft/bad copies of lenses out there. If you think you have one test it out thoroughly yourself. That's the only way to tell. If you have one you will know it.

If you are very novice at post processing and the basic functions of a camera try not to be fooled by peoples "example" shots of some lenses. I can post process point and shoot photos to rival most peoples L lens shots.
Only look at the 100% crops for examples of lenses and even on them I have been seeing a lot of sharpening and moderate post processing done to them. Why someone would post process a image meant to be an example goes beyond me but some do.