> LOL, I'm consistently amazed at the lengths
> people will go to in order to "test" a piece
> of equipment under unreasonable and unrealistic
> conditions.
I don't think it's unreasonable to check a lens
for even illumination. It's not usually obvious
for small prints, and some people aren't very
picky about the quality of their pictures, but
some of us notice such flaws.
For some scenes, uneven illumination is enough
to make the difference in whether I put the picture
on the wall or put it in the trash.
>> Subject: 80-200 f 2.8 ED lens with tripod collar
>> I own a copy of this lens, and in some ways, it
>> is a disappointment. The sharpness is adequate
>> for a lens of its caliber, but the problem with
>> it is un-evenness of exposure across the frame.
The AIS 80-200mm/f4 was similar. It's just one of
the trade-offs you have to accept to get the extra
convenience of a zoom. It's also why the 180mm/f2.8
continues to sell so well -- long after zooms have
buried such long-time favorites as the 135mm/f2.8.
-Don
