Lens performance variability - does Canon sell better copies at higher prices?

[faustino]

I going to buy a new lens, a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, and I am struggling at finding a store in Europe that I can trust.

There are some stores that sells at a significantly reduced price that the average. Obviously, I prefer lower prices.

Anyhow, I have a doubt: it may be that the distribution channel, or even directly Canon, selects lower performing copies and sells them through less expensive stores; while better performing lenses are sold through more expensive stores.

Lens performance variability is there and can be easily measured by Canon. For low cost lenses, such additional work (select and send to different stores) would not make sense, but it could make sense for expensive items.

I would like to know your thoughts. Is my idea plausible, or is it completely crazy?

Thanks in advance for your answers!
Fausto

 

[Don Haines]

I going to buy a new lens, a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, and I am struggling at finding a store in Europe that I can trust.

There are some stores that sells at a significantly reduced price that the average. Obviously, I prefer lower prices.

Anyhow, I have a doubt: it may be that the distribution channel, or even directly Canon, selects lower performing copies and sells them through less expensive stores; while better performing lenses are sold through more expensive stores.

Lens performance variability is there and can be easily measured by Canon. For low cost lenses, such additional work (select and send to different stores) would not make sense, but it could make sense for expensive items.

I would like to know your thoughts. Is my idea plausible, or is it completely crazy?

Thanks in advance for your answers!
Fausto

I was under the impression that all the "big whites" were hand assembled and tweaked/tuned to very high levels of quality/consistency, and this would mean no "seconds".....

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The 500mm lenses are made to the highest reasonable standards. Lenses can be better, At that level, you would pay 10X the price for 0,1% improvement.

Making lenses like the 500mmL is a work of art. The lenses are made to very exacting standards, but even then, there is variability.

Here are 3 videos showing manufacture of a Canon Supertele lens.

http://youtu.be/OkWsk9rXpcU

http://youtu.be/qzpt49qq6v4

http://youtu.be/6bQ3-DWh-rA