How to Test a Used Lens
Used lenses are available for virtually all single lens reflex cameras, digital and film, so it makes sense to expand your lens collection with used items. They tend to be significantly cheaper. They also tend to be significantly heavier if you are buying lenses designed for film cameras and plan to use them on digital cameras. The key to finding a suitable used lens is to know what to look for when testing them.
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Instructions
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Make a visual inspection of the lens. Pick up the lens and look through it while aiming it near a light source. Do not point it directly at a bright light source because it could damage your eyes. While peering through the lens, look for dust particles, hairs and particularly scratches or chips. In most cases, you will be able to see any of these problems with a visual inspection. You can remove dust and lint if you feel confident in your ability to disassemble and reassemble the lens. If you do not have such skills, avoid buying the lens. Any scratches or chips in the glass may render any photos shot with the lens unusable.
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Close and open the aperture ring on the lens while looking through it. Make certain it opens and closes smoothly and that all the leaves are intact. You will not be able to control exposure levels with a lens that has a faulty aperture ring.
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Attach the used lens to your camera and look through the viewfinder. Try the focus ring. Check to make sure it moves smoothly and that it focuses the image appropriately. Even a good-looking used lens may have lens element problems that prevent you from focusing accurately. Try the lens with close objects, medium distance and far objects to make certain it focuses properly.
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Shoot a test roll or two of film--or 30 to 40 digital images--through the lens for a thorough test. Only when you examine the final images as prints, slides or on a computer screen will you know how well the lens works.
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Tips & Warnings
Just because a lens looks battered on the outside does not mean it will fail to produce great photos. Test even the ugliest lens; if it passes, you will likely have found a bargain.
References
- Photo Credit lens image by Stanisa Martinovic from Fotolia.com
