Nikon 24-85mm Lens Issue?

[ubique]

I'm using a Nikon D300 with 24-85mm f3.5 ED lens and noticed in all my shots that its lighter/brighter and much sharper in the center of the image and then falls off towards the edges and become slightly out of focus. Can anyone explain why this is happening? Is there an issue with the lens or is it a technique issue?

Taken at ISO200, 35mm, f10

[OsmosisStudios]

Closest thing I could find was this lens: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-24-85mm-.../dp/B00007KWRC

Your sample doesn't show anything out of the ordinary: a bit of barrel distortion out at the edges, but it looks sharp.

If that's the case: it should, by all accounts, be pretty sharp way out to the edges at f/10 (your sample). If you find that your image isn't sharp at that aperture, then I'd say theres an issue. The weakest spot I could find was wide-open at 85mm, where the edges are noticeably less sharp.

If you can find another sample that shows what the issue is, then I'd be glad to look at it.

[mbrobich]

Quite normal. Every lens has some issues. Remember lenses have rounded surfaces and the sensors are flat.

We live in an imperfect world !!