Just got my 16-70 Zeiss. How to know if it's a good copy?

Miguel_A81 · Dec 22, 2017

Hello!

After doing a lot of reading, reviews, etc, I finally took the plunge and got a SEL1670Z to pair with my a6500.

Hopefully I made the right choice!

So, I got it from Amazon and have some days to return it... Could you guys please help me with some tips or pointers to know if I got a good copy?

First I'll print out the diagram full of figures to know if it's descentered.

Any other tricks I should look out for?

Thanks!

mcslsk · Dec 22, 2017

Don't think that there are as many decentered lenses out there as people sometimes believe there are. Take a couple of images and check the corners. If all are about the same, fine. If one side is noticably less sharp, make sure your camera was really alligned in parallel with your subject and try again. If still unsharp on one side, return.

rjjr · Dec 22, 2017

Go out and take the kind of pictures you bought the lens for and evaluate the images. If it satisfies you, it does.

Lens_Goat · Dec 22, 2017

I'll second what the others have said.

I suspect the copy variation issue is greatly exaggerated. If anything, there is owner variation. Some will be better able to put up with the shortcomings of the lens for the sake of its size, build quality, and the versatility of the focal range. While the IQ isn't exquisite by any stretch of the imagination, the lens does take nice shots in many circumstances.

Take a bunch and if you like what you see then keep it.

--
https://www.flickr.com/gp/137773398@N07/07L61t

JohnNEX · Dec 22, 2017

Miguel_A81 said:
Hello!

After doing a lot of reading, reviews, etc, I finally took the plunge and got a SEL1670Z to pair with my a6500.

Hopefully I made the right choice!

So, I got it from Amazon and have some days to return it... Could you guys please help me with some tips or pointers to know if I got a good copy?

First I'll print out the diagram full of figures to know if it's descentered.

Any other tricks I should look out for?

Thanks!

decentering test should be enough. Remember to get exactly perpendicular to the wall (or whatever). Take shot, flip camera over, take another shot. Not handheld, turn OSS off. Check ISO etc the same between shots. No branches which move in the breeze.

Miguel_A81 · Jan 2, 2018

Thanks everyone for their responses and tips! Sorry I didn't get to thank you before but I was on vacation.

I will try the tests and hope I got a good copy!

hansip87 · Jan 2, 2018

Not answering the question but truthfully, If the lens was sold at half the price, i bet this kind of question doesn't linger too much..

Karafuru · Jan 3, 2018

I got one, mine is good at 16,24,50,70. At 35 left side is slightly softer than right. Good enough to me and probably within spec of a zoom lens if you asked me. Based on pictures floating on the web, I think mine is better than most (in order words average) but not as good as the best copies.

Miguel_A81 · Jan 7, 2018

Okay so... I did some test shots with some plants outside.

I, unfortunately, think that one side is much softer than the other but want to ask you expert guys what do you think?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[ATTACH alt=" 16 mm F4 ISO 200 "normal" orientation"]1872255[/ATTACH]
16 mm F4 ISO 200 "normal" orientation

16 mm F4 ISO 200 upside down

[ATTACH alt=" 16 mm F 5.6 ISO 1000 "normal" orientation"]1872257[/ATTACH]
16 mm F 5.6 ISO 1000 "normal" orientation

16 mm F 5.6 ISO 1000 upside down

mcslsk · Jan 7, 2018

There appears nothing wrong with that lens. You worry too much and should avoid 100% magnification in Lightroom or any other editing software to find your peace.

Miguel_A81 · Jan 8, 2018

mcslsk said:
There appears nothing wrong with that lens. You worry too much and should avoid 100% magnification in Lightroom or any other editing software to find your peace.

Thank you for your opinion, I just want to make sure I'm not throwing away 900 dollars.

mcslsk · Jan 8, 2018

Honestly? I think you do. Wait for the 18135 that will be out next month.

Miguel_A81 · Jan 8, 2018

mcslsk said:
Honestly? I think you do. Wait for the 18135 that will be out next month.

It's amazing how many of us just ask for help (isn't that what these forums are for?) and end up getting life advise and judgemental opinions.

mcslsk · Jan 8, 2018

Well, you don't want to throw your money out the window - and I offered my view. What's wrong with that?

Euell · Jan 8, 2018

Miguel_A81 said:
mcslsk said:

Honestly? I think you do. Wait for the 18135 that will be out next month.

Click to expand...

It's amazing how many of us just ask for help (isn't that what these forums are for?) and end up getting life advise and judgemental opinions.

Regardless, the advice to wait for the reviews on the 18-135 make sense, unless you really want 16mm at the wide end, rather than 18mm. I have had the 16-70, since it was first introduced and am very happy with it. I doubt the 18-135 will be optically superior to the 16-70, but we will have to wait and see. The 16-70 QC issues (decentering) are, I think, exaggerated and bad copies are likely now rare. On the other hand, the lens' center sharpness is very good, but the sharpness across the field is a known weakness. For most photographs this will not be a problem.

liopleurodon · Jan 8, 2018

mcslsk said:
There appears nothing wrong with that lens. You worry too much and should avoid 100% magnification in Lightroom or any other editing software to find your peace.

Or get a 4k monitor so 100% isn't so close

MrCPH · Jan 8, 2018

Euell said:
Miguel_A81 said:

mcslsk said:

Honestly? I think you do. Wait for the 18135 that will be out next month.

Click to expand...

It's amazing how many of us just ask for help (isn't that what these forums are for?) and end up getting life advise and judgemental opinions.

Click to expand...

Regardless, the advice to wait for the reviews on the 18-135 make sense, unless you really want 16mm at the wide end, rather than 18mm. I have had the 16-70, since it was first introduced and am very happy with it. I doubt the 18-135 will be optically superior to the 16-70, but we will have to wait and see. The 16-70 QC issues (decentering) are, I think, exaggerated and bad copies are likely now rare. On the other hand, the lens' center sharpness is very good, but the sharpness across the field is a known weakness. For most photographs this will not be a problem.

I'll second that.

I don't think the 18-135 will reach the IQ of the 16-70 and here we have to remember, that there's a lot more to IQ than just corner sharpness. As I just mentioned in another thread, I see the 18-135 as a longer kit lens but for users looking for more speed, better IQ, extra width, superior IS etc., they will have to move to the 16-70. Still, we'll see what the tests will - eventually - say.

To OP: I see nothing decentered on your lens. Congratulations on your new purchase, may it serve you well for many years to come.

MJFinelli · Jan 8, 2018

I bought one a couple months ago new and had a strange clicking sound at 24mm. Returned it and went with the 18-105.

Karafuru · Jan 8, 2018

Looks fine. I didn't pay full retail for my copy and bought a grey market instead (with warranty, provided I sent it to Japan for the repairs). Alternatives include the upcoming 18-135, the 18-105 and you can also adapt glass. I'll be keeping my 16-70 since it's survived a drop, bumps against rocks, and a little bit of rain. My 16-50 broke itself during a power cycle because the plastic bits jammed the zoom motor...

Just got my 16-70 Zeiss. How to know if it's a good copy?

Member

mcslsk

Guest

Veteran Member

Leading Member

Veteran Member

Member

Forum Enthusiast

Forum Enthusiast

Member

Attachments

mcslsk

Guest

Member

mcslsk

Guest

Member

mcslsk

Guest

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Leading Member

Forum Enthusiast

Keyboard shortcuts