How to test used fuji 18-55 before buying

El Chubasco · Apr 1, 2014

Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

Keit ll · Apr 1, 2014

You should ask the buyer specific questions about the OIS & consider the answers. If the lens subsequently appears to be defective it should be grounds for returning it.

karlreed · Apr 1, 2014

I don't have any Fuji gear, but, have "tested" OIS on quite a few lenses from Nikon FF (My platform), Nikon 1, Nikon DX, Panasonic LX-7 and Sony RX-100 mkI.

I'd expect to be able to get tack-sharp images, hand held (with care), down to 1/3 at 18mm, and, 1/10 at 55mm.

To test, just set the shutter speed, hold the camera carefully, and, shoot. Pick a target with some fine print about 3m away, the further away, the greater the impact of movement.

Here are some shots with a D700 and Nikon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 VR, if you get any results comparable to these, I think you can assume the lens works ok.. I think 1/5 at 300mm is not too shabby, btw.

One will need to use slower speeds as the target distance increases because, the frequency of angular movement does not change relative to the camera, the amplitude relative to the target does.

VR OFF 1/4 f5.6 28mm iso 640

VR ON 1/4 f5.6 28mm iso 640

VR OFF 1/2 f5.6 300mm iso 640

VR ON 1/2 f5.6 300mm iso 640

VR OFF 1/5 f5.6 300mm iso 1600

VR ON 1/5 f5.6 300mm iso 1600

I hope these help..

--
karl reed

tamras29 · Apr 2, 2014

El Chubasco said:
Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

Forgive my not answering your question directly, but I see from your gear list you have the same as I do, an X100 and EM-5 with selection of lenses. Are you thinking of therefore trading in your m4/3 gear for Fuji X gear? I am thinking the same but am not happy with the 18-55 as a walkabout, just not wide enough. Rumours of a 16-50 on the horizon may make the switch sweeter.

karlreed · Apr 2, 2014

tamras29 said:
El Chubasco said:

Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

Click to expand...

Forgive my not answering your question directly, but I see from your gear list you have the same as I do, an X100 and EM-5 with selection of lenses. Are you thinking of therefore trading in your m4/3 gear for Fuji X gear? I am thinking the same but am not happy with the 18-55 as a walkabout, just not wide enough. Rumours of a 16-50 on the horizon may make the switch sweeter.

There is already a 16-50, however, it seems to be a lower cost kit lens. I don't think 2mm at the wide end makes that much difference. An XF 10-24mm f4 R ois is available in Australia, however, its not that cheap..

MarcosV · Apr 2, 2014

El Chubasco said:
Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

Are you meeting the seller in person? Meet somewhere public like a coffee shop and go at a time when there's enough light to properly evaluate the lens.

Does the lens comes with the box and all of the accessories? Is the warranty card intact? Is the seller the original owner? Is the lens beyond the warranty period? You want to avoid stuff that might have been stolen or badly handled.

Google for general articles on "evaluate used lens." Excellent tips for how to examine the lens for fungus, testing at different apertures, etc.

OIS typically works or it doesn't, so I'd would go with taking two shots with it on and off. When on, you'll hear it and it might take a second or two to stabilize.

For me, the idea is that if I am stuck with a lens that needs repairs, I need to be able to send it in to Fujifilm to get the repairs --- so the maximum penalty for buying a defective lens is the additional cost for those repairs.

I would also take into consideration the current sale that's about to end in a few days. I wonder how long it'll take for used prices to jump back up a bit.

tamras29 · Apr 2, 2014

karlreed said:
tamras29 said:

El Chubasco said:

Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

Click to expand...

Forgive my not answering your question directly, but I see from your gear list you have the same as I do, an X100 and EM-5 with selection of lenses. Are you thinking of therefore trading in your m4/3 gear for Fuji X gear? I am thinking the same but am not happy with the 18-55 as a walkabout, just not wide enough. Rumours of a 16-50 on the horizon may make the switch sweeter.

Click to expand...

There is already a 16-50, however, it seems to be a lower cost kit lens. I don't think 2mm at the wide end makes that much difference. An XF 10-24mm f4 R ois is available in Australia, however, its not that cheap..

Lmendy · Apr 2, 2014

If I buy used equipment, I stick with ebay and Amazon. If you buy a lens on ebay you are assured that if does not work properly, ebay will back up your return (unless the item is listed "as is"). Ebay relies upon the the description of condition from the buyer. If the buyer says it is excellent, very good etc that implies that the item is in good working condition. If you have a valid reason to return, ebay will back you up and cover the payment. They will then deal with the seller.

El Chubasco · Apr 2, 2014

tamras29 said:
El Chubasco said:

Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

Click to expand...

Forgive my not answering your question directly, but I see from your gear list you have the same as I do, an X100 and EM-5 with selection of lenses. Are you thinking of therefore trading in your m4/3 gear for Fuji X gear? I am thinking the same but am not happy with the 18-55 as a walkabout, just not wide enough. Rumours of a 16-50 on the horizon may make the switch sweeter.

I don't know yet. I just got a xpro1 and I want to test if that would work for me. I love m4/3 because it's very responsive, so far the xpro has felt a bit slow but, on the other hand, really enjoyable to use.

I might just keep both, one as toy and one for my research work where precision is very important.

jyhfeei · Apr 2, 2014

El Chubasco said:
Hi.

I am asking here for advice. I am thinking to buy an used 18-55mm through craigslists but I would like to test it before I buy it. Any recommendations on how to test it? How does one check that OIS is working properly? What is the slowest speed hand-held to get sharp results at 55mm?, How to check sharpness, focus speed? What should I expect? I only own the 35mm and I know that both lenses are not similar.

I will appreciate your comments.

In general, if the optics of the 18-55 are aligned and undamaged, the lens should be pretty sharp. If this is sharp enough, this is your call. To check if there is a sharpness/centering issue with of that particular copy, you could use Photozone's DIY centering sanity check.

http://forum.photozone.de/index.php?/topic/830-do-it-yourself-centering-sanity-check/

Also, the OIS firmware for the 18-55 was recently updated. I would make sure that the lens firmware is up to date. Then test the OIS as suggested by others.

OldDigiman · Apr 2, 2014

Even easier method to check quickly decentering using a star chart with dot center, you can do this hand held with magnified live view.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/201...entered-lens-an-old-technique-gets-a-makeover

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How to test used fuji 18-55 before buying

El Chubasco

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Keit ll

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karlreed

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tamras29

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karlreed

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MarcosV

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tamras29

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Lmendy

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El Chubasco

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jyhfeei

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OldDigiman

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