Shameless, obsessive pixel peeping for fast lenses

[steve_chan5]

<p> So, being a dirty, shameless pixel peeper, I did some lens

testing with my overflowing collection of fast (and fast-like) lenses.

Its in my <a

href=http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=595145>Pixel

Peepers Anonymous</a> folder.

 

<p> Shooting RAW on an R-D1 on a tripod, with ACR conversion at

color temp of 6000, and no other changes to exposure, tint, sharpness,

etc... I tested these lenses at F14/F1.5 1/250sec, F2 1/125sec and

F2.8 1/60 sec from a tripod.

 

I was mostly interested in bokeh, overall color "fingerprint",

veiling flare, sharpness - all these at large apertures. But the

sharpness is vulnerable to focus error, so caveat emptor. I did my

best, but so close, and so wide open...

 

<p> The lenses tested were:

 

<br> Canon 50/1.2 (optically good and rf verified)

<br> Canon 50/1.5 (optically clean)

<br> Original Prominent Nokton 50/1.5 (on a

Prominent->Contax->M-mount adapter chain. optically good)

<br> Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 (on a Contax->M-nount adapter chain,

coating marks on inner element)

<br> DR Cron 50/2 (just returned from CLA)

<br> ASPH Nokton 50/1.5 (optically excellent)

<br> ASPH Nokton 35/1.2 (great shape as well)

<br> MC Nokton 40/1.4 (also in fine condition)

 

<p> There are no doubt many ways to criticize this test, but in all

honesty, I don't care to bicker about it, so please don't expect any

responses to me on issues like that. On the other hand, some people

may find the test interesting or useful, in which case I'm glad to

have been of service.

[didjiman]

Steve, backlight, can't see sh*t :-)

 

How is the Minolta Elite II treating you? Keep the Nokton 35/1.2 and sell everything else, then buy a 50/1.4 ASPH. If you start listerning to me, you will not be spending so much times buying and selling cameras and lenses!!

[steve_chan5]

<p>Richard,

<p>Yeah, this was my nasty backlit subject test. I did another round of tests under less demanding conditions in <a href=http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22200>this thread on rangefinderforum</a>

<p>Sadly, I rarely ever shoot film these days. Between the D200, Epson R-D1 and a couple of pocket digicams, I'm pretty much covered. Though I may take the Hexar RF or FM3A out now and then, just because I like them so much as cameras.

[steve_chan5]

ps.

I agree about the Nokton 35/1.2, but the MC Nokton 40/1.4 is pretty good as well. However I think you basically pay more for the 35/1.2, not for the extra half a stop, but for the better bokeh.