lens test question

[Bob Salomon]

Ken Lee: i tried that Ken,with a loupe,but couldnt see a thing,but will go out today and will have another good look.
fishbulb ,guys,i tried the lens on film in action,and im not that satisfied with the results.. that is the reason i was thinking to make a test to find the best working apperture.maybe i got a lemon,and its just a bad sample from this line of lens.dont know..
we are talking about "normal" landscape situations f22 and a Nikkor M 300mm f9 lens.on a Wisner Zone VI on a a heavy aluminium Gitzo tripod with the biggest Manfrotto ball head,cable release.so the lens and film is rock solid steady..and a pain in the ass to carry aroundi made enlargements,they were around 40x50 cm,inspected with naked eye and loupe.
i got other lenses too and they perform better than the Nikkor.i will go to travel tomorrow,but if im back i will make a simple wall brick test,and see.(but first of all i will try again what Ken sad )
Thanks Everyone!

If you were not satisfied with the results on film, and were shooting within the optimal range and aperture of the lens then you have already tested your lens and it failed. Get a better lens. And while you are at it check the parallism of your camera.

[Peter De Smidt]

And whether the film plane of your holder is at the proper depth.

[Ken Lee]

Ken Lee: i tried that Ken,with a loupe,but couldnt see a thing,but will go out today and will have another good look.

As Bob suggested, focus on a subject with discrete lines and edges (like a brick wall). Make sure the light is clear and "scraping": late afternoon on a cloudless day is good. Look through the loupe and slowly stop-down the lens. You will see sharpness gradually increase until you reach the optimum aperture, then start to decline as you exceed it.

With some lenses that exhibit focus-shift when stopped-down, you will be able to detect the need to refocus.

[Mark Sawyer]

Thanks for the answer Bob!just thought to give it a try before i "waist" some film...

I'd shoot paper negatives; they'd tell you all you need to know...