[Sailor]

In dpreview's assessment of the new DA 15, the author mentions that the test lens was slightly decentered. For whatever reason, I've recently noticed other references to decentering; thus my question to you tech experts out there: how common is minor decentering? Is this something present in most lenses but goes unnoticed and only major decentering considered a flaw? Just curious.

Thanks,

Jer

[timo]

In dpreview's assessment of the new DA 15, the author mentions that the test lens was slightly decentered. For whatever reason, I've recently noticed other references to decentering; thus my question to you tech experts out there: how common is minor decentering? Is this something present in most lenses but goes unnoticed and only major decentering considered a flaw? Just curious.

Thanks,

Jer

The only zoom I have where I can see no decentring at all is (ironically) the kit 18-55. My 12-24 is very soft at extreme left (about the first 10% of the width) at fully wide; the Sigma 17-70 seems to vary a bit according to focal length; my trusty and much-loved FA24-90 is just a tad off on the right at 90mm. I'm surprised the DA15 was decentred - for me avoiding that has been one of the reasons for buying a prime - there is less to go wrong in the assembly process. But I'm sure what you say is right - it often goes unnoticed. Mind you, in these days of pixel-peeping it's probably picked up more than in the film days. I've never noticed a problem in any of the primes I have.

Tim