Eight Lenses Compared

[raid]

I hope it is OK to post (again) about the simple test I have done on eight 50mm lenses. This link

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=3565

takes you to the photos. The actual thread is now under OPTICS.

 

[ray_g]

Very nice performance from the Nikkor 50/2. 😉

 

[raid]

Ray: Yes, I was quite pleased about the Nikkor's performance in controlling flare.

 

[wlewisiii]

For being the "cheapest" 50 Canon made ($27 in 1959 equivalent to ~$180 in 2006), I really like how the 50/2.8 did. Definately going to have to add that one for when speed isn't the ultimate need. Besides any excuse to get a Tessar is a good one 😀

William

 

[raid]

William: Look at the high prices of some modern 50/2.8 lenses these days. In comparison, the Canon 50/2.8 is a bargain and a sleeper. You hardly hear about it here or in PN.

 

[John]

This is a very interesting test of lenses we are hearing about all the time, but often don't get a chance to visualize. Your efforts are much appreciated Raid. I'll stay tuned for further demonstrations/experiments you may produce.

Cheers 😎 😎

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

The Canon 50 f/1.2 seems to have been focused too much in front (you can tell on the tip of the left armrest), and yet I really like its rendition on the oof areas. Like Ray said, the Nikkor 50 f/2 looks very well here. The Summicron performed surprisingly subpar here (??).

Thanks for the samples, Raid!

 

[raid]

Yes, the Nikkor did very well. The Canon 50/1.2 seems to come second. The first version rigid Summicron seems not to control flare well, but it is a sharp lens overall.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I noticed that some comment was made on one of the photos that there seemed to be more window area in some of the photos than others. I also noticed the the subject (little girl) was closer to the side of the rocker nearest the windows in some and not others. I can not tell if she is leaning forward more in some also. Her different positiong in the photos may have contributed to the amont of flare or lack of it. Great effort and I am not trying to pick holes. it is just that even in simple tests it is very hard to eliminate all the variables. I will say that I have always liked the performance of my 50 f2 Nikkor ai lens.

Bob

 

[laptoprob]

Raid, I think you have a focus problem here. The Bessa T is more than capable to focus these 50 lenses. Is there something wrong with the lenses? Have you cheched the rangefinder with a really critical lens like a 135mm?
Also a great difference in flare. Sad though, the lens performance is overshadowed this way.

cheers, Rob.

 

[rover]

Are the lenses hooded? Probably not, but I just want to be sure.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Nikkor 5cm F2 is 6 elements in 3 groups, and it is coated. I have found mine is resilient to flare. The uncoated Zeiss 5cm F2 is best used with a shade, and not against strong backlight.

 

[Bertram2]

Are the lenses hooded? Probably not, but I just want to be sure.

Would be my question too, some look worse than I would expect them to look under those circumstances ? Not only the Cron.

bertram

 

[FrankS]

With the backlight source (window) in the picture, I don't think a hood would help, but I think I remember reading that Raid did use hoods on all the lenses.

 

[VinceC]

I love these tests precisely because they are "real world" and not too clinical. If the camera was on a tripod, that could affect the focus -- you've got a moving (or at least wiggly) subject. Trying to pin down her focus with a tripod-mounted camera would be tough. And yes, the variance in amount of window backlight in the frame would affect flare to a degree. But there are clearly some lenses that flare and some that don't.

Great tests.

 

[FrankS]

We must remember too, that the results speak also to the individual lens sample rather than generalized to all lenses of that type. I'm thinking of the high flare on the Summicrons which may be due to internal haze in the samples tested. Once others (including myself) do testing like this on the samples of lenses that they have, we will be better able to tell whether the results are due to the lens type rather than the individual samples. You know what I'm trying to say?

 

[dcsang]

The J3 and Canon 1.8 look really good - I'm waiting on a Canon 1.8 from Gabriel so this makes me happy... I'm a bit surprised by the early crons and I like the bokeh of the Canon 1.2 .

Thanks for doing the tests Raid 🙂

Cheers
Dave

 

[FrankS]

I'm waiting on a Nikkor 50 f2, so I'm pleased too! 🙂

 

[raid]

I used a hood on each lens, and I replicated the test with another model and got the same results. In particular, this took care of having more/less of the window showing in the frames. The results did not differ in the sense that lenses which did well in one replicate did well in the second replicate. If you have read my notes in the earlier thread you would have seen that I mentioned all the limiting factors mentioned again above. This is a test of "my lenses" and my eyesight will be a factor in the focus accuracy. Also, a little girl will move no matter how much I pleaded with her not to move. A second little girl was near by and this was another factor that inspired the model to move around. As someone mentioned, this is the real world. Still, the results give an overall idea of how well lenses did when shooting into light. This is the first time I am seeing flare with the rigid Summicron.

 

[rover]

Once others (including myself) do testing like this on the samples of lenses that they have, we will be better able to tell whether the results are due to the lens type rather than the individual samples. You know what I'm trying to say?

I was thinking this too. I may cut out of the office early today.