So I ordered a 16-35L II and it came today, but decentered element...

And I had to send it back. I didn't feel like going through the "repair process" with the lens, so I requested a refund instead of an exchange or repair.

I wonder how common it is for this lens to have decentering issues. The right side was the sharper side, and when it was in focus the left side would be soft and get very jittery (like shutter-speed slow jittery) as soon as you crossed the center-line of the image. I also noticed strong highlight ghosting (smearing effect of the highlight) when I accidentally overexposed something in the bottom left corner.

Anyone else with similar issues?

Off-topic, I noticed that my Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 is a comparably sharp lens (compared to the sharper side of the 16-35L II) and actually holds the corners better at f/4 (although they are soggy with both lenses)...and now that I have had this experience, I would see no reason to switch based on optical benefits alone.

Any samples? I can't say for sure I'd know a decentered element if it bit me...

I shipped it away, but took samples to find the issue in the first place.

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Thank You for posting these. Very educational. Sorry you got a bum lens.

If you think it is "bad" do you really need someone here telling you to send it in? Sorry to hear about your lens, return it.

I was wondering how common it is for this lens. The samples were posted by request. The extra info about the sigma 10-20 being comparable is something I thought certain persons looking for ideas about future lens purchases might be able to use to their benefit.

I've had a decentered element before, in my first Sigma 10-20. Same issue.

As mentioned above, I have already shipped this 16-35L II back.

gasrocks wrote in post #9387624
If you think it is "bad" do you really need someone here telling you to send it in? Sorry to hear about your lens, return it.

I don't think he was asking what he should do with it, he just asked if other people had similar issues.

Out of all the complaints I've heard, decentering is probably the least common by far. I've had no decentering issues with any lens I've ever owned.

Mr. Clean wrote in post #9388114
Out of all the complaints I've heard, decentering is probably the least common by far. I've had no decentering issues with any lens I've ever owned.

me neither but it could be we just don't look hard enough .

ed rader

The only lens problem I have had is with my Tamron 28-75 when I first bought it. Halation at 75/2.8. I sent it in and it came back working GREAT.

I could have exchanged it but it was sooo sharp wide open I was afraid I would get a lens that had no halation but was not quite as sharp.

It also seemed to focus faster and more more accurately after it was repaired.

I'm very happy with it since I've had it (about 1.5 yrs).

My 17-40 might have a decentered element. I need to do some testing since it is not obvious but I did see signs in a few shots that suggested it might have a problem on the left side. It's still on warranty but not much longer, I think, so I should take of that in the next couple of weeks.

I had a 50L that was totally FUBAR. Nothing sharp anywhere in the entire frame could be created under any circumstances. I sent it back because I was leery of the focus shift and I was trying to see if I could live with that.

If I let Canon solve the FUBAR issue then the lens would have been mine permanently. As it turned out (from the 2nd 50L I tried) the focus shift was a problem for me so this was the right move.

Decentered though.....I have not had that in the 14 lenses I've owned.

I have read about this issue with this particular lens before, but considering how many people have this lens and how many times you actually see someone complain of the issue, it must not be terribly common.

...So I bought a Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye and Canon 50mm f/1.4 with the money instead. I must be having a early-mid-life crisis.

Naw, thats when you buy the Canon 800mmL =)

There was a guy from Ireland (can't remember whether it was Ulster or the Republic) who posted similar shots from this lens around a year to 18 months ago but I can't locate the thread right now.

So, not unique but uncommon non-the-less.

Bob