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Archive 2010 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux

  
 
Todd Adamson
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Let the flames begin!

Another test, with the attendant caveats that usually accompany my not-so-careful tests: I was a bit rushed for today’s session, and didn’t want to take too much of this kid’s time, so I only have one comparison. I shot similar frames with the Zeiss 100/2 ZF.2, the Nikkor 105/2.5, and the Nikkor 70-200 VR (v.1). I tried to match focal lengths and framing as close as possible, but the guy moved in between, so there are minor differences. So I overlayed the files and cropped in a little bit tighter, to roughly equalize the framing. The high-res files are therefore only 3200 pixels. These were all shot at f/4. The huge caveat here is that I had enough DOF at f/4 to get the eyes in good focus even if my precise focal plane had a bit of variance, which I’m sure it did. Best I could do.

I kept the processing simpler this time, no skin retouching beyond zapping a couple of minor blemishes. I applied a bit of (exactly the same amount) of sharpening and Clarity in LR3 before exporting to PS. I did the same final sharpening to each large file in PS, then converted to 8-bit and sRGB before saving. I downsized to 800 pixels, and those small files got a round of mild web sharpening that the big files didn’t get.

Lens A:

http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/A_800.jpg

Click for Lens A high-res

Lens B:

http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/B_800.jpg

Click for Lens B high-res

Lens C:

http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/C_800.jpg

Click for Lens C high-res



Sep 27, 2010 at 08:46 PM
Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Hell, I dunno. I'll guess 105/2.5, 100/2, then the zoom, in that order. Maybe reverse the first two. Or not. Or mix up all three.

;- )

They're all good.

Edited on Sep 27, 2010 at 09:18 PM · View previous versions



Sep 27, 2010 at 09:17 PM
Gary Clennan
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


That's why we have kids - right? Test subjects. I vote for A=Zeiss, B=70-200mm, C=105mm. Great results you got with all those lenses regardless!


Sep 27, 2010 at 09:17 PM
MagicNikon
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


He's messing with us. These are all from the new 55-300mmDX.


Sep 27, 2010 at 09:19 PM
spentomuch
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


I don't know Todd, but lens A is clearly sharper and with nicer colors IMHO




Sep 27, 2010 at 09:25 PM
JR Magat
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Gary Clennan wrote:
That's why we have kids - right? Test subjects. I vote for A=Zeiss, B=70-200mm, C=105mm. Great results you got with all those lenses regardless!


+1
That would be my guess too!



Sep 27, 2010 at 09:29 PM
effigy
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


spentomuch wrote:
I don't know Todd, but lens A is clearly sharper and with nicer colors IMHO


Yes, and I prefer the boke over B an C. Whatever the lens



Sep 27, 2010 at 09:32 PM
dj dunzie
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


This is tough because the first one has more focus towards the nose, the next two further back... so A appears to be sharper overall.

I'll go with (A) Zeiss, (B) 105, (C) 70-200, although I may have the zoom and the 105 mixed up.



Sep 27, 2010 at 09:35 PM
Todd Adamson
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


dj dunzie wrote:
This is tough because the first one has more focus towards the nose, the next two further back... so A appears to be sharper overall.


That's very true, unfortunately, which is a huge problem with this test. I was hoping it wouldn't be totally useless, because we could still look at the 800-pixel versions and judge the overall character of the images, but that may not be true. This the hardest part of such a test....all I can do is focus as carefully as possible either by my eye or by the green dot confirmation. In this case I took several shots each with the Zeiss and the Nikkor 105, and chose the "best" (sharpest at the eyes) frame of each to my eye. I messed up on the aperture with the 70-200 at first and consequently only had one frame with that lens at f/4. It was sharp, though.



Sep 27, 2010 at 09:53 PM
vchowdhary
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


1 70-200


Sep 27, 2010 at 09:55 PM
williamkazak
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


I like the background in the third pic.


Sep 27, 2010 at 09:59 PM
Andre Labonte
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


williamkazak wrote:
I like the background in the third pic.



William, sometime I wonder about you.



Sep 27, 2010 at 10:05 PM
RGS65
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Lens A look quite a bit sharper with more details to my eyes.


Sep 27, 2010 at 10:10 PM
DavidWEGS
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


I like the second best, third last.


Sep 27, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Neddie Seagoon
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Agree with vchowtoomanyletters. I shoot the zoom a lot and when I glanced at A it just looked familiar.

Of course we're probobly wrong. These tests have been an interesting revalation. Thanks.



Sep 27, 2010 at 10:49 PM
jmcfadden
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


zoom, zeiss, old nikkor

of course i reserve the right to be wrong

J



Sep 27, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Todd Adamson
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


I'll let this go for a bit. It's already pretty clear though, that there won't be consensus.

I am planning ONE more test, but probably won't have time this week. But I want to shoot someone with the specific intention of testing these lenses, rather than hijacking a regular session. I'll do inside and outside, 2.8, 4, and 5.6 or so.



Sep 27, 2010 at 11:21 PM
afm901
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


I like B the best. The color and contrast are quite nice. I like the exposure of A the best. But I dislike the bokeh of lens A. C has the worst exposure, color and contrast.

S-



Sep 27, 2010 at 11:46 PM
jmcfadden
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


afm901 wrote:
I like B the best. The color and contrast are quite nice. I like the exposure of A the best. But I dislike the bokeh of lens A. C has the worst exposure, color and contrast.

S-



dude , these exposures are within tenths of a stop of each other



Sep 28, 2010 at 12:10 AM
jmcfadden
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Useless Exercise, Part Deux


Todd,

f4 looks way better on all these dude , anyone saying one is way better well i will just stop now



Sep 28, 2010 at 12:11 AM
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