Originally posted by Class A The LensTip experience could be just coincidence. I believe user @wlachan would confirm that he has seen as many ill-assembled MIJ 31/1.8s as he has seen sub-par AIV copies.
We love to think that the premium we pay for a 31/1.8 is justified by a superior built and "hand-made" assembly quality but sadly the 31/1.8 is prone to be misaligned, the lens barrel often wobbles a bit, and sometimes the lens even disassembles itself due to improperly applied thread locks.
I don't want to diss the FA Ltd, not at all, but we have to free ourselves from this illusion of mythical quality possessed by MIJ copies.
Well put Class A. Aren't most lenses hand-assembled anyway? It's ironic how Apple doesn't promote the fact that all of their iPod/Pad/Phone products are assembled by hand, as if the notion would be appalling, but when high-priced lenses are marketed, "assembled by hand" is intended to be a mark of the highest quality.