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Is this lens Decentered?!

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AlireaPhotography

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Hi,
I ran some tests to see if my new Nikon lens is decentered. I focused on the center (same subject), then moved to manual focus and then moved lens around until the same subject is placed on every corner in the image. For some reason I always get sharper results on the bottom left corner. I ran the test maybe 10 times with different subjects and I see same result. Down, left corner looks always sharper. Should I return/exchange or something is wrong?!

Lens is nikkor 14-24 f2.8 s and camera is nikon z7II. All pictures take at F2.8 and focused on infinity.

3c900620f85547bd8f046b8b53268f83.jpg.png
 
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I’d say it’s acceptable. In my experience the corners are never exactly the same. I had a 14-30 Z lens that was very bad in one corner. Much worse than you show. With yours, I’m sure Nikon would say it’s in spec if you sent it back.
 
These seem fine for extreme corners on an F/2.8 zoom wide open shot with a 45MP imager. No lens can be perfectly assembled and all will show slight variations in corner sharpness. And especially for a zoom even if it appeared perfectly symmetrical at one focal length it wouldn’t at another.
 
dtc25 said:
I’d say it’s acceptable. In my experience the corners are never exactly the same. I had a 14-30 Z lens that was very bad in one corner. Much worse than you show. With yours, I’m sure Nikon would say it’s in spec if you sent it back.
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Yeah it is acceptable to some extend as it is really far on the edge... I am wondering if there is any lens that has all corners as good as mine in one corner... that would be a super sharp and special lens. but yeah I also think it is in acceptable range for variation in sharpness.
Interesting is that I often see this in wide angle lenses. Almost never seen this for a telephoto lens that a corner becomes clearly sharper/softer than others.
 
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kenw said:
These seem fine for extreme corners on an F/2.8 zoom wide open shot with a 45MP imager. No lens can be perfectly assembled and all will show slight variations in corner sharpness. And especially for a zoom even if it appeared perfectly symmetrical at one focal length it wouldn’t at another.
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True. I am wondering why I see more sample variations with wide angle lenses than telephoto lens.
 
AlireaPhotography said:
kenw said:
These seem fine for extreme corners on an F/2.8 zoom wide open shot with a 45MP imager. No lens can be perfectly assembled and all will show slight variations in corner sharpness. And especially for a zoom even if it appeared perfectly symmetrical at one focal length it wouldn’t at another.
Click to expand...
True. I am wondering why I see more sample variations with wide angle lenses than telephoto lens.
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Going out on a limb here, I'd say because of the angle of entry into the lens. That is, how much is the light bent for a wide angle versus a telephoto, to get onto the sensor. So variances on the edge of a wide angle lens are probably much more sensitive than on a telephoto.
 
Barleyman said:
AlireaPhotography said:
kenw said:
These seem fine for extreme corners on an F/2.8 zoom wide open shot with a 45MP imager. No lens can be perfectly assembled and all will show slight variations in corner sharpness. And especially for a zoom even if it appeared perfectly symmetrical at one focal length it wouldn’t at another.
Click to expand...
True. I am wondering why I see more sample variations with wide angle lenses than telephoto lens.
Click to expand...
Going out on a limb here, I'd say because of the angle of entry into the lens. That is, how much is the light bent for a wide angle versus a telephoto, to get onto the sensor. So variances on the edge of a wide angle lens are probably much more sensitive than on a telephoto.
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That makes sense actually.
 
RedFox88 said:
Isn’t off center a more appropriate term?
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The term “decentered” means that one or more elements in the lens isn’t aligned with the optical axis. This can result in one edge of the field being less sharp than the other. It’s a lens assembly quality control issue.

In reality a lens element being tilted can produce a similar result. And in fact simply the entire lens itself being tilted due to an improperly shimmed mount can also produce a similar result.

On forums and most photography articles on-line all these effects that can cause one edge or corner of the field to be soft have all been lumped under the term “decentered” even though it usually isn’t clear whether decentering or tilt is the actual culprit. Regardless of the root cause the effect seen is the same and is undesirable if too visibly obvious.

--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list
 
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It's this an common occurrence? I've just ordered this lens yesterday. Now I'm scared... I hope mine it's not decentered more than those example photos.
 
Morgenstern George said:
It's this an common occurrence? I've just ordered this lens yesterday. Now I'm scared...
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Why be "scared"?

It is common to complete a lens test under reasonably controlled conditions when receiving a lens, or if equipment receives a significant impact.

If anything is obviously wrong most retailers promptly exchange a defective new product for another one.
 
I didn't encounter decentered lenses, but I have an question. Shooting at f. 11 does eliminate the decentered out of focus area?
 
Morgenstern George said:
It's this an common occurrence? I've just ordered this lens yesterday. Now I'm scared... I hope mine it's not decentered more than those example photos.
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There is no reason to be scared. My lens is perfectly fine and I am a bit too sensitive but this is in a very far edge at f2.8.... I cannot expect to see an ultra wide angle lens which has perfect sharpness in that far corner... test lens, if you are ok, and look normal don't try to check every pixel. It is near impossible to find an ultra wide lens with perfect sharpness in corners at f2.8
 
AlireaPhotography said:
Morgenstern George said:
It's this an common occurrence? I've just ordered this lens yesterday. Now I'm scared... I hope mine it's not decentered more than those example photos.
Click to expand...
There is no reason to be scared. My lens is perfectly fine and I am a bit too sensitive but this is in a very far edge at f2.8.... I cannot expect to see an ultra wide angle lens which has perfect sharpness in that far corner... test lens, if you are ok, and look normal don't try to check every pixel. It is near impossible to find an ultra wide lens with perfect sharpness in corners at f2.8
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
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