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Archive 2018 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

xpfloyd
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Sorry another one of these threads but Im pulling my hair out here trying to test and decide if my new 16-35 GM is ok. Centering seems ok at 16, 24 and 35 (not perfect but nothing horrible just a slight variation between corners). However im unsure about the performance at 35mm. I appreciate that 35mm is the lenses weak point but this seems pretty bad to me especially for the price.

Here are the crops all tripod mounted, IBIS off and focus on centre at infinity. Lens profile added but nothing else

16mm

_DSC0898-Edit.jpg by xpfloyd, on Flickr

24mm

_DSC0893-Edit.jpg by xpfloyd, on Flickr

35mm

_DSC0888-Edit.jpg by xpfloyd, on Flickr

Full image at 16mm (excuse the location but I didnt have much time)

_DSC0900.jpg by xpfloyd, on Flickr

Do you think this is ok or should I be returning? (Returns process is a PITA here)

Thanks

Jan 30, 2018 at 03:53 PM

smpetty
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

The corners look pretty bad at 24mm and at 35mm at 2.8, don't get a lot better at 35 when stopping down.

I had very similar results with the 16-35 GM that I bought... so I returned it and went with primes instead. The lens is far too expensive for such deficiencies, IMO.

Good luck.

Jan 30, 2018 at 04:11 PM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Kind of what I was thinking too. Just seems too far off to be worth the £1600 I paid. Annoying!

Jan 30, 2018 at 04:16 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

This lens is not that great after 24mm towards the corners, despite what reviewers say. Just my opinion based on 4 copies tested.
Still impressive for this zoom range.

Jan 30, 2018 at 04:28 PM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Fred Miranda wrote:
This lens is not that great after 24mm towards the corners, despite what reviewers say. Just my opinion based on 4 copies tested.
Well I trust your opinion Fred and that of others here and the more I look at the crops I’m not even convinced the midfield is looking ok? Maybe I’m expexting too much after shooting primes mainly and being spoiled by a good cv15/lox21 combo

Jan 30, 2018 at 04:41 PM

Etherton
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

xpfloyd wrote:
Maybe I’m expexting too much after shooting primes mainly and being spoiled by a good cv15/lox21 combo

For the price you paid, I'd expect prime quality. Just my opinion here. I almost convinced myself to buy this lens but opted for either the Loxia 21mm or Batis 25mm.

Jan 30, 2018 at 05:01 PM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Ive requested a return from the seller. Not sure if I will risk a second copy

Jan 30, 2018 at 05:07 PM

Viramati
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Well I must have been exceptionally lucky. I have just been looking at my images at different focal lengths and apertures and my copy is showing really exceptional sharpness right into the corners throughout the whole range. Even at 35mm it is damn good especially when stopped down. I have been very impressed by this lens and it knocks the socks off my old 16-35/f4 and is so good at 21mm that I sold my Loxia.

Jan 30, 2018 at 05:08 PM

Surfnsun
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Definitely not up to what I'd expect for the cost of entry...

Jan 30, 2018 at 05:48 PM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Thanks everyone. Seller has accepted the return. I just need to decide if I’m risking another copy

Jan 31, 2018 at 01:21 AM

Viramati
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

xpfloyd wrote:
Thanks everyone. Seller has accepted the return. I just need to decide if I’m risking another copy
The way I deal with this problem of lens variation is to have a good relationship with a camera store in my area (in my case LCE in London) and I buy all my equipment from them. I go in and they let me go out with the lens to do some tests I also have my laptop with me so I then download the images and carefully inspect them for any obvious faults. While not extensive this will let me pick up any major issues. So far I have been fairly lucky but when I originally bought the FE16-35/f4 I had to try 2 to get a decent one and I tried 3 copies of the Batis 18 and they were all weak towards the edges. Another approach (though more difficult with Sony) is to send the lens in to be calibrated which I did with my Loxia 21 and it came back perfect. The other advantage of dealing with one store and knowing the manager is that I get good deals when buying and selling equipment. I see that you are in Glasgow and they have a Calumet store (now part of WEX) who should be good to deal with in this respect

Jan 31, 2018 at 03:24 AM

muffinman
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

I would have thought focusing centrally would give you these results. Try focusing no more than a third into frame and post.

Jan 31, 2018 at 04:53 AM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

Viramati wrote:
The way I deal with this problem of lens variation is to have a good relationship with a camera store in my area (in my case LCE in London) and I buy all my equipment from them. I go in and they let me go out with the lens to do some tests I also have my laptop with me so I then download the images and carefully inspect them for any obvious faults. While not extensive this will let me pick up any major issues. So far I have been fairly lucky but when I originally bought the FE16-35/f4...Show more →

Grey market price = £1600 vs LCE/Wex/etc = £2300. Thats the reason I dont purchase from in the stores, The difference puts it outwith my budget

Jan 31, 2018 at 11:50 AM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

muffinman wrote:
I would have thought focusing centrally would give you these results. Try focusing no more than a third into frame and post.

Focussing in the mid field would help if there is field curvature, regardless though the crops are poor compared to other peoples crops that I have seen so its going back

Jan 31, 2018 at 11:52 AM

echelonphoto
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

That scene is a little far away....you could be suffering from atmospheric diffraction

Jan 31, 2018 at 03:30 PM

xpfloyd
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 16-35 GM - Does it look OK?

echelonphoto wrote:
That scene is a little far away....you could be suffering from atmospheric diffraction

This was my second set of testing. Initially I had a much closer scene and thought the issues might have been dof issues so ended up choosing a scene with a bit of distance the second time. Perhaps should have found something a tad closer. Doesn’t matter now though as the lens has been shipped

Jan 31, 2018 at 05:42 PM


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