Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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cogitech
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p.3 #1 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Edited on Dec 16, 2012 at 09:55 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:36 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #2 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Edited on Dec 16, 2012 at 09:56 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:40 AM

Bifurcator
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p.3 #3 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

helimat,

OIC, cool. Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to imply that they rendered the same. Rather they produce about the same amount of goodness - IMO anyway. Sorry about that.

Poor word choice on my part...

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:40 AM

sebboh
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p.3 #4 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

cogitech wrote:
sebboh wrote:

i actually kinda like this shot:

Ahhh. You didn't just go there! The bluey greens? The yucky orange? The overall poopiness? The unsettling bokeh?

People really do see things differently. [Deep breath]

the colors look like they just need a white balance adjustment, i like the unsettling bokeh (in this instance).

cogitech wrote:
sebboh wrote:i have no experience with either lens but from what i've seen i think i would definitely prefer the FD for events where i can't control the background (though i would probably prefer the samyang that i already have more) and the contax for shots that i get to set up myself.

Ah ha! The Samyang. I bought a Rokinon (same) and shortly thereafter I sold the FD.

Perhaps you have seen the test that helped me make that decision?

I might use the Zeiss at f8 for landscape, but that's as far as I could go...

yes, your comparison is what made get the rokinon instead spending more money on one of the other two. i really like it, but occasionally think the bokeh is too boring, or what's edwards word? to sissy.

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:45 AM

Bifurcator
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p.3 #5 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

cogitech wrote:
Just having some fun. But seriously, I do think it comes into play in a significant way.

Just like one can't take my FD photos with the Zeiss, one can't take them with 4/3rds (and either of these lenses), either.

Bifurcator wrote:
Thus why I specified a preference for critiquing them on the basis of their use on a crop camera for those with that experience. I think crop can't compare exactly to FF either but any two lenses will render with about the same amount of difference on µ4/3 or APS-C as they show between them on a FF.

cogitech wrote:
I am not an expert on the smaller formats. In fact I am not an expert on any format.

However, I have shot enough FF vs. 1.6x to know that the "character" of a lens is on fully realized on FF. There are hints of it on crop, and things like sharpness and contrast are relatively comparable/scalable. Character, however, is only fully revealed only on FF.

"Character" is much more important than many of the other individual, empirical, measurable qualities of a lens. (IMO)

I get you. I don't think I agree that it's a less/more relation tho. Then again, I hadn't really thought about it all that much. "Character", as I think Ed was pointing out at leas indirectly, when he said "if you own one long enough, you will learn how to use it to the best effect [of it's character]", needs a bit of practice to optimize. It's different, yes, but more/less? Mmm <scratches head> that doesn't sound right anyway. <shrug>

Sebboh,
Same here. I actually didn't know he was using it as a "bad" example at first. When I looked at it I went: Oooo, sweet!

Edited on Dec 15, 2012 at 03:56 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:54 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #6 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Dec 15, 2012 at 03:54 AM

Mescalamba
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p.3 #7 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

Try STF.

Only problem with that lens is that people soon think you are doing it in PhotoShop.

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:54 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #8 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Edited on Dec 16, 2012 at 09:57 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:56 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #9 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Edited on Dec 16, 2012 at 09:57 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:57 AM

Bifurcator
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p.3 #10 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

cogitech wrote:

It's the crack. Mat was right.

Now that shit is boring!

Edited on Dec 18, 2012 at 07:29 PM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 04:00 AM

sebboh
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p.3 #11 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

cogitech wrote:
sebboh,

....but what about the overall poopiness? You don't see it?

nope, that poop just doesn't stink to me. unless you mean spherical aberration?

incidently, regarding the onion rings – the only aspherical lenses that don't have them are the hand ground ones, but even those have their own kinda weirdness in oof highlights (if you do everything right to provoke them).

Dec 15, 2012 at 04:15 AM

rscheffler
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p.3 #12 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

carstenw wrote:
Mescalamba wrote:
Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 on long end. Lots of asph lens do that. Except maybe Leica.

At least some Leicas also have it.

I've provoked it in rare cases with the 50 Lux ASPH, but the point light source had to be extremely small and very bright. In contrast, the CV50/1.5 ASPH will onion ring much more easily.

And continuing off topic..

JohnJ wrote:
ZoneV wrote:
...Or the worst onion rings - EF 50/1.0:
http://journal.bryansoderlind.com/uncategorized/f1.html

...

I really like the images there but you can only attribute so much of that to the lens and the rest to the photog. The way the lens stamps it's own aesthetic to the image is very impressive and is a fair example of how to use this kind of lens (ie why would you use it stopped down?). This lens says 'look at me', onion ring bokeh or otherwise. I like it muchly. What can I sell...

The mirror box blockage bugs me in the way a lot of the peripheral OOF speculars are chopped. I'd really like to see those images done with the 50/1.0 Nocti to give the background rendering a bit more character.

BTW, I also like the rendering of that CY85 sample image and agree it probably needs some WB tweak.

Dec 15, 2012 at 04:41 AM

edwardkaraa
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p.3 #13 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

cogitech wrote:
edwardkaraa wrote:
I prefer the rendering of the Contax but that is my personal taste. I have never been a fan of silky smooth buttery bokeh. I feel that the effect gets a bit boring after a while. All lenses have strengths and weaknesses, and if you own one long enough, you will learn how to use it to the best effect.

I have never had a client complain about "boringly smooth bokeh."

I have had clients comment on "the busy-ness of the background... can you do something about that?"

As I said, I'm talking about my own personal taste. I don't shoot for clients anymore. But everytime I see samples from the Canon 1.2L (any version) or the Samyang 1.4 or the Sigma (or some Leica lenses), I think to myself, not again.... I really have a dislike for the overly smooth bokeh and I think the effect has been overused. I much prefer my backgrounds to have some sort of distinct details, and for this reason, I have been shooting portraits at f/4-5.6 recently. So basically maybe I can't do anything about it, but the question is, do I really want to

Dec 15, 2012 at 04:43 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #14 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

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Edited on Dec 16, 2012 at 09:57 AM · View previous versions

Dec 15, 2012 at 04:48 AM

carstenw
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p.3 #15 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

Fair point, but it has to be said that having textured blur and less blur are not the same thing, so stopping down might not solve the problem satisfactorily.

Dec 15, 2012 at 10:02 AM

briantho
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p.3 #16 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

I'm surprised at some peoples comments on these lenses. Smooth bokeh is suddenly out of fashion for portraits?

I had the Zeiss 85/1.4 for a week before I sold it. I'm a huge Zeiss fan, but I just couldn't get a decent shot with this lens. Maybe I had a bad copy, or maybe its character is better suited for FF (I shoot APS-C).

The FD 85/1.2 I can point at anything, and it simply turns it in to a magical photo. The fact that it's razor sharp at f1.2 is also unique. The Zeiss isn't anywhere near as sharp at f1.4 or even f2.

I've had many FD lenses, but I've only kept two, the 85/1.2L and the 300/2.8L. These two lenses I regard as top of the FD line, and the best (manual) lenses available for their purpose, I have never considered selling them.

I have other comparable Zeiss lenses such as the Contax 645 80mm f2 and the Contarex 85mm f2 and I much prefer these over the 85mm f1.4.

Here are some with the FD. I really need to use this lens more.

Erik & Paul by briantho, on Flickr

This one below is a little out of focus, but I blame the camera, Samsung NX, which stupidly can't enlarge more than 2x, and has no peaking.

Julia by briantho, on Flickr

Cecilia by briantho, on Flickr

Rolle by briantho, on Flickr

Kurt by briantho, on Flickr

Dec 15, 2012 at 10:35 AM

sculptormic
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p.3 #17 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

Very nice shots Briantho!
I have both lenses as well and in the case of Zeiss I much prefer the Planar 100/2 (more punch)
Actually I can't and wan't choose. But I am a lens omnifoor

I like smooth as well as restless bokeh.

Planar 100/2

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Canon FD 85/1.2 L First one I deliberately created onion rings by using carlights.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Planar 85/1.4

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Can be very sharp stopped down!

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 15, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #18 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

I haven't shot either of these lenses, so take this with a huge grain of salt, but from observing photos on this forum I think the FD is great for portraits including doing very well at short distances and wide open. The Zeiss does well espeically stopped down and at medium distances to infinity. Paul (Cogitech) and others (including the shots above by briantho) have some great example of how to make the FD shine, but think of some of philber's shots (including his wonderful portraits from India) and you can get an idea of how to make the Zeiss shine--I know philber shoots with a ZE, but I think the Contax has a lot of similarities. I think this makes sense with the design of the lenses. The FD has an aspherical element which likely help with wide open sharpness and it has a floating element with likely helps with performance close in. The Zeiss has no special glass and no floating elements, but does great where these don't matter. I think they are both great lenses, but will get optimal performance when used in different ways.

Dec 15, 2012 at 02:57 PM

crazeazn
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p.3 #19 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

I wasnt a big fan of my CY 85 but that is b/c of the jagged aperture and realllllly bad CA at 1.4

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:11 PM

edwardkaraa
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p.3 #20 · Taste-Test (C/Y vs FD @ 85mm)

carstenw wrote:
Fair point, but it has to be said that having textured blur and less blur are not the same thing, so stopping down might not solve the problem satisfactorily.

Fully agreed.

Dec 15, 2012 at 03:26 PM

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