I shot with canon but never owned a body that had that option. I sent in 3 lenses for adjustment. 85 1.2, 24-70mm, and 50mm 1.4. Two of those are very expensive lenses and should not have needed it.
I've never needed to adjust any of my Nikon brand lenses on my bodies. That includes lenses I own or have owned. 17-35, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200VR, 24 1.4, 35 f2, 50mm 1.4, 85mm D and now G, 105VR. I would say I'm very happy with the QC of their lenses.
Nikon isn't perfect with their lenses either, and honestly I can't figure out why. The pro f2.8 stuff is pretty much hand-made and tested; I guess they just get them to 'within spec' and let 'em go
Unless I am mis-reading your post, You are missing the point of the micro-focus AF adjustment option.
Both Nikon and Canon have it there to fine tune the exact system (individual body + individual lenses) you are using for optimum results. This used be something only very well heeled professional and advanced amateurs could afford to do and is no different than having exposure bias adjustment on cameras.
They probably added the AF fine tuning feature knowing that many Canon folks are switching to Nikon.
Canon users have been caught up with AF issues for years (as I was once a Canon user), and just knowing that this is available on Nikon bodies would probably entice a few Canon owners to switch.
The AF adjustment starting appearing on Canon with the Mark III and when they had all the AF issues with that camera their response was to Micro Adjust each lens. I was in the Canon camp at that time, but never did any AF adjustments. Having switched to Nikon, my lenses are spot on. I have a few of my friends that are still using Canon, the Mark IV and they have had to Micro Adjust every lens. In Fact one shooter told me that he was only getting 40 percent of images in focus until the micro adjust. Know his rate is at 80-90 percent. Big improvement. But he still wishes he could switch.
my 70-300 and 24-70 were spot on out of the box. the only problem I had when I was using nikon is with Sigma 50 1.4, finally 3rd copy was pretty good. This is not Nikon's fault but Sigma's QC was well known for this lens.
Have never found the need to use the micro-adjust feature. Not saying that I'll never need it and I am glad it is there. For some reason, my Nikkor lenses have no need for it!
tested all my lens out on a astronomy chart I used for my telescopes,, found the 70-200 needed a tad of help and when the 1.7TC was on it a tad more was required,,
could have lived with them as they were but when ya start looking at the corners and center on a good chart at 200X I could see areas of improvement the small adjustments provided,, figured why not have them at there max sharpness,,
