One of my sons contacted me a couple days ago to inquire where I use to forage for Morel mushrooms. Most of the spots were up north about 100 miles away, and I mentioned the grocery store might have dried ones - since they finally figured out how to grown them commercially a few years ago. My lovely bride just walked up to the slider with a half dozen of them in her hands - plucked right from our own back yard. So, they are only a memory now - yum!
When I first started reading this thread I was skeptical that any good lens would have recognizable "characteristics". With film in undemanding situations in the old days it never mattered. With the digital camera I'm seeing things that would never have mattered before. For example, I've been disappointed with some full-aperture pics taken with my original 50mm f/1.4. Was it the lens or my error? Most likely I rarely used f/1.4 in the old days, which is why I never noticed any issues.
So yesterday I did some test shots to compare different apertures with the 50mm 1.4 and a 50mm 2.0, and for grins a 55mm 3.5 and yet more grins a 105mm 2.5. For clarity the 55mm beats both 50's hands down, and of course the 105 wins at details with a more distant subject. The 55mm has become my favorite "normal" lens, and the 105mm and my 200mm clear winners for slightly further away subjects while still being highly versatile.
But what about the 50mm 1.4 vs. the 2.0? At f/2.8 they seem similar to me.
50mm 1.4 using f/2.8
50mm 2.0 using f/2.8
But at f/1.4 the 1.4 loses it.
Croppings of the two pics with the 50mm 1.4 really highlight the differences.
At f/2.8
At f/1.4
Granted that's 2 stops down but the loss of detail is significant and is what caught my attention before. Details are obscured and there's a haze over everything. At intermediate apertures the 1.4 and 2.0 50mm lenses seemed similar.
The 1.4 has an extra stop at both top and bottom but that extra stop wide-open seems less usable. Since image sensors can accommodate such a wide range of brightness that neither the extra stop at top nor bottom is essential, why carry it at all? The 50mm 2.0 is a bit lighter, a tiny advantage.
It helps me answer the question of which lens to carry on any given day - the 55 over the 50's for digital, the 50 1.4 or 2.0 for film perhaps depending on the expected light.
jimmuller wrote:
For clarity the 55mm beats both 50's hands down, and of course the 105 wins at details with a more distant subject. The 55mm has become my favorite "normal" lens
I've been impressed with the 55mm as well. Years ago I did a test with the 50mm 1.4 ais, 50mm 1.8 long nose ais, 50mm 1.8 e and the 55mm 3.5 all shot at 5.6. The 55mm was the sharpest of the bunch. These days when I need a lens in that focal range and speed is not a priority, I always grab the 55mm.
Coltrane wrote:
I've been impressed with the 55mm as well. Years ago I did a test with the 50mm 1.4 ais, 50mm 1.8 long nose ais, 50mm 1.8 e and the 55mm 3.5 all shot at 5.6. The 55mm was the sharpest of the bunch. These days when I need a lens in that focal range and speed is not a priority, I always grab the 55mm.
Thanks for the follow-up. I received a wonderful PM from a member explaining the large-aperture spherical aberration haze effect and it's possible contribution as an artistic effect. Whodathunkit? Obviously some people did! I wasn't one of them. Now I are one. I kin even spel fotografy now.
Serge, that is something I have never seen before. What an incredible view in that first picture! Will be reading up on this tonight. Thanks for sharing!
George
serge07 wrote:
Hi, everyone:
A few more from Ronda's New Bridge and surrounding views
Took this one on the trek back and was loosing light fast. The path is at right and hard hats are required due to the occasional rock slides.
We call them Hickory Chicks where I grew up Used to take empty loaf bread bags and go out and fill them up every spring when I was a kid. Much harder to find now with all the clear cutting and development. Never realized how desirable they were until I saw how much they were selling them for at “farmers markets”. We were eating in luxury and didn’t know it!
George
James Markus wrote:
One of my sons contacted me a couple days ago to inquire where I use to forage for Morel mushrooms. Most of the spots were up north about 100 miles away, and I mentioned the grocery store might have dried ones - since they finally figured out how to grown them commercially a few years ago. My lovely bride just walked up to the slider with a half dozen of them in her hands - plucked right from our own back yard. So, they are only a memory now - yum!
GeorgeBo wrote:
We call them Hickory Chicks where I grew up Used to take empty loaf bread bags and go out and fill them up every spring when I was a kid. Much harder to find now with all the clear cutting and development. Never realized how desirable they were until I saw how much they were selling them for at “farmers markets”. We were eating in luxury and didn’t know it!
George
I confess I have a hard time even looking at those pictures. My problem , no fault of the pics.
GeorgeBo wrote:
Serge, that is something I have never seen before. What an incredible view in that first picture! Will be reading up on this tonight. Thanks for sharing!
George
Hi, George:
It is a very special city with an awesome setting. You might also enjoy checking out Camino del Rey, named one of the most dangerous roads in the world until recently. It is reportedly a beautiful hike that is relatively safe today.
GeorgeBo wrote:
We call them Hickory Chicks where I grew up Used to take empty loaf bread bags and go out and fill them up every spring when I was a kid. Much harder to find now with all the clear cutting and development. Never realized how desirable they were until I saw how much they were selling them for at “farmers markets”. We were eating in luxury and didn’t know it!
Used to take empty loaf bread bags and go out and fill them up every spring when I was a kid. Much harder to find now with all the clear cutting and development. Never realized how desirable they were until I saw how much they were selling them for at “farmers markets”. We were eating in luxury and didn’t know it! 
, no fault of the pics.
