Month: January 2013

Testing the focus point, Bokeh, and filter threads with this shot. There won’t be charts and graphs in my testing. I’m just shooting still life, and portraits now. It handled the Canon 500D filter beautifully, and it went on the lens front without a problem.  The focus seems to be dead on, and I’m really liking the smooth Bokeh.

I bought this lens used. I’m getting a little braver with my used lens purchases you see, this was my first private purchase. My 2 previous used lens purchases were from a store. Although this purchase was a bit scarier I have a cushion. It was purchased from a friend of friend, and I do have a short window that the seller is allowing me test it and return it if it’s not as described.

If you’ve never purchased a used lens before you might want to start with a store like I did. When you venture into purchasing from a private seller there are some things you should ask upfront, and look for when you get the lens.

You’ll want to know the condition of the lens, why it’s being sold, has it ever been serviced, if so why? Does it come with the original caps, hood, packaging, and booklet?

Work out the price, shipping method, and terms, and find out about the return policy.

Once you get the lens look for cosmetic blemishes, look for scratches on the front and rear elements, scratches on the rear element are bad, small blemishes on the front element won’t hurt picture quality, make sure the blades don’t stick, look through the lens with a flashlight make sure there isn’t dust, and fungus,  or oil on the blades and look through both front and rear with the flashlight.

Make sure the switches work with ease,  looking at the rubber around the zoom ring, and focus ring  make sure it is secure and in good condition, and turns smoothly. Put a filter on it to make sure the threads are in good shape.  When you’re handling the lens there shouldn’t be anything rattling. The mount will most likely have some scratches or wear from mounting and removing it from a camera, but it should be solid and the pins should look clean.

When you get it on the camera make sure it doesn’t squeak, or make any unusual noises, gauge response and handling when zooming, and acquiring focus. Take both Auto-focus and Manual photos.  Take a variety of photos at all apertures, indoors and out. Then look at your photos and examine the quality of the photos.

I still need to get outdoors and shoot a landscape or two, and do some night photography to see how it handles flare, and lights to complete my tests, but so far I’m really liking what I’m seeing. It has handled everything I’ve shot very well.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 24-70 f2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor| SB600