Quote from: MGrayson on February 26, 2025, 06:39:09 AM... If every unit were tested before shipping, this would be much less of a problem. ...

Yes, absolutely. But is that not something I would expect at that price? None of my "old" (Zeiss) Hasselblad lenses are de-centered. QA is part of product quality. A de-centered lens leaving the factory is a no go for a precision product.

Quote from: Georg Kovalcik on February 28, 2025, 01:52:10 AM

Quote from: MGrayson on February 26, 2025, 06:39:09 AM... If every unit were tested before shipping, this would be much less of a problem. ...

Yes, absolutely. But is that not something I would expect at that price? None of my "old" (Zeiss) Hasselblad lenses are de-centered. QA is part of product quality. A de-centered lens leaving the factory is a no go for a precision product.

Yes, I very much would expect it! Alas for reality.

Now I see what you mean by "slightly". I do realize how the manufacturing process and related tolerances can affect lenses, but one would hope that at this price level and quality, any variations between samples would be imperceptible. At least I would hope so:)

Quote from: flash on February 27, 2025, 10:10:49 AM

Quote from: acg69 on February 26, 2025, 05:13:59 AMThis is interesting... Why would one copy of the lens be better than another? Surely one must be faulty then and for the kind of money paid, this is unacceptable. Also, what do you mean by "slightly better" - in what respect? Thanks:)

Quote from: flash on October 31, 2024, 09:04:42 AM

Quote from: sanglier on October 31, 2024, 08:36:47 AMFor my part, I would have bought  the Earth Explorer X2D, but I already have the 55 mm.

I already had the 55mm. The one in the kit is slightly better than my original, well used, copy, for some reason. I do mean slightly. But it's there.

I was going to sell a body and the 55 (I have three now) but K has said she wants to try it. So I've set her up with a small kit. 28, 38, 55, and the older 90. I know she likes the files but I reckon it's 50/50 if she'll keep the camera. Possibly, she'll settle on just a couple of lenses. If she doesn't like it I'll get my 28mm back.

Gordon

What he said... haha.

Copy variation is a thing with any manufactured product. It's certainly a thing in lenses. I used to check multiple lenses and select the one I liked, when I worked as a photographer. If you build a good relationship with your dealer they may allow this. I've also sent brand new lenses back for exchange, more than once because they weren't right. I check and evaluate every new lens I receive. If it's good, I rarely test it again, un less something jumps out at me. I do this with all my gear. An old habit I got while I was working full time.

As for *slightly*. I can see a small difference when I do direct side by side testing. But only side by side. If I put a dozen images on a table and I didn't know which shot was from which lens, I doubt I could tell the difference. The new lens has *slightly* more bite. Neither is decentered. Both are excellent. Just a bit different. A tiny bit. The kind of difference you might see with a good UV filter on the front of a lens. So very slight indeed. But it's there and I noticed it.

I have sold quite a few of my prints off the original copy. It's a perfectly lovely lens. So is the newer one.

Gordon

hasselblad still does not decide to sell the explorer version without the 55 mm lens. Too bad.