This resource is meant for all to read and gain knowledge of how to test their cameras, flashes, and lenses before making a purchase. As such, feel free to post the steps taken, and add useful links, if it should be needed. For the sake of all consumers and shoppers, please refraim from going OT in here. Your information posted willl be updated in this first post...
Lens testing:- Focusing is most important:
When testing out a new lens, put it to Auto Focus and test it out for any focusing problems.
The
test chart over here can be used to determine if there are any back/front focusing issues.
Focus on something near, and something far to see how fast and accurate it switches from min. focusing distance to infinity.
- Build:
Test the zoom ring and the focusing ring to ensure they are well damped, not too loose or too tight.
Set it to the smallest aperture and press the DOF button, look inside to see if the blades work perfectly.
Keep changing the aperture sizes while applying the DOF button to ensure they are well oiled.
- Dust and fungus:
Open both ends, look through it under bright lighting at either ends. Dust should be common, black specks too.
Ensure that they are not too large and do not affect image quality.
Breath onto the lens and onto the filter, it should fog up with mist and indicate if it has been attacked by fungus before.
Ensure that you bring a cloth and blower to clean and dry it afterwards.
Camera/Lens testing:- Resolution and clarity:
Print
this image file onto a high quality A4 sheet.
Take a photo of it at 90 degrees while it's well lit and examine it on a monitor, checking the edges and lines.
Camera testing:- Working condition:
Ensure all the buttons work, fiddle around. Do a burst to check the buffer. Ensure it reads the CF card properly without error.
- Cleanliness:
Open the front cover, turn it upside down and look inside. The viewfinder and mirror should be clean, free of smudges and dust.
Flash testing:Bring a full set of charged batteries and load it into the camera. Test the following functions:
- Manual power: 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64
- Strobo functoin (if any): 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 4 Hz, 10 Hz
- Zoom: flash head must move when switching between 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm
- EV: mount on camera and test flash compensation -2EV, 0EV and +2EV
For All:Always check the screws of the equipment you are getting. If they are in pristine condition, it means it was never repaired. If you notice much scratch marks around the areas of the screws, or that the screw was not properly inserted or tightened, it means the repair work was shoddy.
