Things to consider when you buy a new lens?

[yrh0413]

Guys, I know this may be a dumb topic but I'm sure it will serve as a good guideline for most of us.

How do you test a lens before buying it? I know most of us will check thoroughly on its cosmetic defects, check for dust and fungus on the lens elements, check if it autofocus smoothly, check if all switches and buttons on the lens are working... but do we have to check if the lens focuses properly? Do you bring a focus test chart and perform focus check on every focal length?

Another question is: Let's say you placed an order at a shop for a lens in which the shop has to specially order for you (especially K-mounts). The lens arrived and the shop called you to pick it up. You went there, tested the new lens kaw kaw, then found out it has back/front focusing issues... what should you do? Accept the new lens and send them together to Shriro for calibration? Or is it possible to reject that lens in order to get a good copy? If so, how many times will the shop allow you to swap lens? (let's say you're so "sui"... get 5 lemons in a row!)

Does the shop even allow you to exchange or wait for a good copy? I mean... the shop purposely order the lens for you and is it really "purchase by luck"? If sui got a lemon then we have to live with it?

I'd sent some enquiries to Shashinki.com and got their reply. Apparently they do not practice 1 to 1 exchange policy but if you're not satisfied with your purchase, you may send it back to Shashinki and they will send it back to Japan for further inspection. Do our local shops practice this too?

I'd raised this issue as I might be getting a new lens end of this month, and I don't wish to have focus problems *again* as what I'm currently facing with my DA 12-24.

[silentshutter]

i think if you didn't pay the down payment for the the item, you can just tell them it's a bad copy and you don't want it. but how do you know if a lens is as sharp as it should be?

there's no guarantee that lenses doesn't suffer from defect but the manufacturer does formulate a certain level of QC to ensure the reliability of their product. nothing is perfect, unless you do a custom order handmade lens, then the quality will probably be more easily controlled.

nothing is perfect. don't think too much!

[sh4hr1n]

If you test the lens at the shop, you have the right to reject the lens if you're not satisfied (with valid reasons). If you pay and bring back the lens, then the lens is yours to keep and if any problems encountered, you will have to send it to the service centre yourself or via the shop.

[sabahan]

According to consumer law in malaysia,if you found that the item you bought proof to be unusable in a week time,you can ask for a new unit or refund.

[firefly]

According to consumer law in malaysia,if you found that the item you bought proof to be unusable in a week time,you can ask for a new unit or refund.

which consumer law? mind sharing your sources?

[khoking]

In Japan, when I bought a lens for my customer from my supplier and the lens is defective (back/front focus, scratch, coating defect, big dust...etc.), I will then return the lens and ask for a new unit/replacement.

This can be done in Japan easily, as the manufacturers (Sigma, Tamron, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc.) all have the return and exchange ONE to ONE policy within 7 days of purchase.

As a consumer, if you can test the lens in shop and found the lens to be defective, I would suggest you NOT to buy or pay for it. For special order item, I would suggest you to talk to the shop owner first, ask for their policy and make it clear before hand.

If I have a shop and customers come to my shop to test and planning to buy a lens and found out the lens to be defective, for sure I will not ask the customer to buy that defective lens. At the moment I can't practice this for my Malaysia or oversea customers, as Japan only has 7 days return period, and by the time my customer received the lens, it is already over the grace period. This is why I always test and check the lens myself to minimize the risk and defective copies till the minimum.

For your information, I have just returned a Tokina AT-X 116 today to my supplier in Japan that I found some weird pattern on the front glass coating (you will only see the defect when you shine a torch light to the lens, under normal light you can't notice it). I always put myself in my customer's shoe, if I can't accept the defect, I don't think my customer will, and I set my own expectation high. :)

[yrh0413]

thanks for the info KK. :)

anyone has experience with local purchase? does the shopkeeper "forces" you to accept the lens you'd ordered even though it is not up to your expectation?

[ionStorm]

If you made a special order, and you rejected it, you are at a loss because you've paid a non-refundable deposit...at least, that's what most shops make you do.

Oh yes, and do bring the test focus chart. Not only to test whether the lens is defective...but to test how the lens performs on your own body.

[yrh0413]

That means I need to accept the lens even if its a lemon? geez... :( now i understand the benefit of getting a used copy

[ipy]

......This is why I always test and check the lens myself to minimize the risk and defective copies till the minimum.

For your information, I have just returned a Tokina AT-X 116 today to my supplier in Japan that I found some weird pattern on the front glass coating (you will only see the defect when you shine a torch light to the lens, under normal light you can't notice it). I always put myself in my customer's shoe, if I can't accept the defect, I don't think my customer will, and I set my own expectation high. :)

IMO, every good dealer should be doing this & not let the customer find this out him/herself :-).