jhinkey Offline Upload & Sell: On
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In an effort to further understand this lens (135/2 AIS) I took a few moments out of my crazy day and shot a series of test images from my 135/2 AIS, 80-200AFS, and 70-300AFS VR (all at 135mm of course).
Later on some time I'll compare these guys at f/2.8 and f/5.6, but for now I wanted to see how good the f/2 image could be from the 135/2 AIS.
My favorite (i.e., most convenient) test target is the view from my front steps of the utility pole in the alley way of the next block over (those who know me form dpreview or photo.net already know this subject well). It was a bright and contrasty sunny late afternoon which provided for some harsh lighting.
Here's the scene:
http://www.seanet.com/~hinkey/135mm_f2p0/DSC_6898_small.jpg
For some reason my D300 over-exposes this lens when wide open by about 1/3 of a stop.
Here's a 100% crop from RAW in NX2 with no corrections at all:
http://www.seanet.com/~hinkey/135mm_f2p0/DSC_6898_CC_NoAdjust.jpg
The contrast is a bit low due to the flare and oh that purple fringing!
Doing some work in NX2 via Axial CA Control, -0.3EV exp. comp., some curves adjustment, and 40,4,4, USM (normally I use 20,4,4 for a "sharp" image from RAW) gives me this:
http://www.seanet.com/~hinkey/135mm_f2p0/DSC_6898_CC_AxialCA_EC_Curves_USM.jpg
I think it cleans up pretty well - especially when you get rid of the PF.
So, as some of you may already know, this lens wide open has some issues with high contrast scenes, but the detail is still there if you clean up the Axial CA and perhaps adjust the contrast and/or curves a bit. Really, f/2 is for low contrast people shots, which is what I bought it for, but it can clean up really well for high contrast stuff.
Now if I could just focus this lens more accurately on my D300 I'd be all set!
John
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