This topic is in the 2012 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2012Some 100mm-ish comparisons
p.4 #1Some 100mm-ish comparisons
I haven't forgotten, I've just been too busy to post more.
Partly because I've been out with my camera making the most of this wonderful unseasonally May like weather we're having. I'm finding I take the Zuiko for it's F2 and the Tokina for it's clarity, so it's pretty obvious I will be selling the Sonnar and Nikkor. The Nikkor is a nice lens but I'm not keen on the colour, the Sonnar hasn't really impressed me, (sorry Michael).
It seems obvious I'm going to have to save up for the Zeiss ZE MP 100/2, hopefully get it for my Autumn holday IF I manage to sell some gear!
Partly because I've been out with my camera making the most of this wonderful unseasonally May like weather we're having. I'm finding I take the Zuiko for it's F2 and the Tokina for it's clarity, so it's pretty obvious I will be selling the Sonnar and Nikkor. The Nikkor is a nice lens but I'm not keen on the colour, the Sonnar hasn't really impressed me, (sorry Michael).
It seems obvious I'm going to have to save up for the Zeiss ZE MP 100/2, hopefully get it for my Autumn holday IF I manage to sell some gear!
Mar 28, 2012 at 09:45 AM
p.4 #2Some 100mm-ish comparisons
First, this is why I'm liking the Zuiko 100/2 more and more for its smooth bokeh
Zuiko 100/2 @F2 Focussed here on the crinkly corona of the lower daffy. (Not really a good test for wide open resolution but to show the dreamy bokeh)
Now for those very carefully reshot close ups of the tombstone writing at min focus for Sonnar, Nikkor and Zuiko, This time at F8 to give each lens a good chance. Now all look acceptable: (I shot the Tokina at sizes to compare with both the Nikkor/Sonnar and then the Zuiko, it will focus to 1:1 and fill frame with the "5" as in first series. Again apologies for slight exposure variation but I've left as from camera where I exposed to get as similar histogram as possible.
Sonnar F8
Nikkor F8
Tokina F8, same size as Nikkor
Zuiko F8
Tokina F8 same size as Zuiko
Please remember that I'm not trying to prove anything here, just sharing my own tests to get a feel for each lens. Here I simply wanted to see what the coverage was at closest focus and whether they were acceptably sharp at a "normal" working aperture. (Wide open the Nikkor still appears weakest, but obviously acceptable closed down as here.)
Again the colour difference with the Nikkor stands out. The Sonnar is strange colour wise, sometimes appearing very similar to the Nikkor and in other situations, as here, closer to the Zuiko. I consider the Zuiko to be the most neutral, closest to the actual colour, the Nikkor too cool and the Tokina too yellow, but that "yellowness" does add a certain richness IMO.
This is the Sonnar at F16, its colour changes markedly through the aperture range,(As does the Nikkor) but somehow looks slightly muted/dull compared with the Zuiko and Tokina.
EDIT: For interest this is the Nikkor wide open at F2.5, again much warmer wide than at F8
Nikkor F2.5
Edited on Mar 31, 2012 at 05:00 PM · View previous versions
Zuiko 100/2 @F2 Focussed here on the crinkly corona of the lower daffy. (Not really a good test for wide open resolution but to show the dreamy bokeh)Now for those very carefully reshot close ups of the tombstone writing at min focus for Sonnar, Nikkor and Zuiko, This time at F8 to give each lens a good chance. Now all look acceptable: (I shot the Tokina at sizes to compare with both the Nikkor/Sonnar and then the Zuiko, it will focus to 1:1 and fill frame with the "5" as in first series. Again apologies for slight exposure variation but I've left as from camera where I exposed to get as similar histogram as possible.
Sonnar F8 Nikkor F8 Tokina F8, same size as Nikkor Zuiko F8 Tokina F8 same size as ZuikoPlease remember that I'm not trying to prove anything here, just sharing my own tests to get a feel for each lens. Here I simply wanted to see what the coverage was at closest focus and whether they were acceptably sharp at a "normal" working aperture. (Wide open the Nikkor still appears weakest, but obviously acceptable closed down as here.)
Again the colour difference with the Nikkor stands out. The Sonnar is strange colour wise, sometimes appearing very similar to the Nikkor and in other situations, as here, closer to the Zuiko. I consider the Zuiko to be the most neutral, closest to the actual colour, the Nikkor too cool and the Tokina too yellow, but that "yellowness" does add a certain richness IMO.
This is the Sonnar at F16, its colour changes markedly through the aperture range,(As does the Nikkor) but somehow looks slightly muted/dull compared with the Zuiko and Tokina.EDIT: For interest this is the Nikkor wide open at F2.5, again much warmer wide than at F8
Nikkor F2.5Edited on Mar 31, 2012 at 05:00 PM · View previous versions
Mar 31, 2012 at 02:59 PM
p.4 #3Some 100mm-ish comparisons
This sequence was by far and away the hardest to shoot to give same conditions and any kind of meaningful results.
I focussed on a cross on the gable of the church then swung the (tripod mounted) camera round, as trying to get the same point of focus in all these branches each time by focussing directly on them was a no hoper.( I tried on the first day and failed miserably.) I'm showing F8 again to show the lenses near their best.
I then chose the most similar density from each series shot at F8 , very subjective I realise.
What I don't understand is that the Nikkor, Sonnar and Zuiko were all at exposure close to 1/640, the Tokina to get the similar density was 1/1250. The sun also moved during the shooting.
So make of it what you will or can, if anything!
Nikkor F8 1/800
Tokina F8 1/1250
Sonnar F8 1/640
Zuiko F8 1/640
I think it shows that slight veiling flare near the sun with the Sonnar again and of course the specular highlights with both Nikkor and Zuiko, with the Tokina again top IMO.
All very close for resolution, at this mid-far distance their really isn't much between them in that sense, except that slight extra clarity from the Tokina.
(I really would love to have seen a comparison including the Zeiss MP 100/2!)
Handling of colour and colour fringing examples when I can get round to sorting more of what I shot.
I focussed on a cross on the gable of the church then swung the (tripod mounted) camera round, as trying to get the same point of focus in all these branches each time by focussing directly on them was a no hoper.( I tried on the first day and failed miserably.) I'm showing F8 again to show the lenses near their best.
I then chose the most similar density from each series shot at F8 , very subjective I realise.
What I don't understand is that the Nikkor, Sonnar and Zuiko were all at exposure close to 1/640, the Tokina to get the similar density was 1/1250. The sun also moved during the shooting.
So make of it what you will or can, if anything!
Nikkor F8 1/800 Tokina F8 1/1250 Sonnar F8 1/640 Zuiko F8 1/640I think it shows that slight veiling flare near the sun with the Sonnar again and of course the specular highlights with both Nikkor and Zuiko, with the Tokina again top IMO.
All very close for resolution, at this mid-far distance their really isn't much between them in that sense, except that slight extra clarity from the Tokina.
(I really would love to have seen a comparison including the Zeiss MP 100/2!)
Handling of colour and colour fringing examples when I can get round to sorting more of what I shot.
Mar 31, 2012 at 04:24 PM
p.4 #4Some 100mm-ish comparisons
I just want to reiterate and confirm what I said earlier about the Sonnar in view of this veiling flare.
I have examined it closely and the front and rear lens coatings are pristine, and although there is some minor internal dust it is no more than in the Nikkor or the Zuiko (which has just been serviced) and I would consider acceptable.
Also it is an MM Japan version.
I have examined it closely and the front and rear lens coatings are pristine, and although there is some minor internal dust it is no more than in the Nikkor or the Zuiko (which has just been serviced) and I would consider acceptable.
Also it is an MM Japan version.
Mar 31, 2012 at 05:31 PM
p.4 #5Some 100mm-ish comparisons
Now for colour rendering, especially reds, sadly no blue flowers around.( Which I messed up the first time by forgetting to shoot the Zuiko!) Because of the colour changes through aperture range aspecially with the Nikkor and Sonnar I've decided to use each lens at its widest then at F11 so there's more than just the colour rendering to see.
Zuiko F 2
Zuiko F11
Nikkor F2.5
Nikkor F11
Sonnar F3.5
Sonnar F11
Tokina F2.8
Tokina F11
Zuiko F 2 Zuiko F11 Nikkor F2.5 Nikkor F11 Sonnar F3.5 Sonnar F11 Tokina F2.8 Tokina F11Apr 01, 2012 at 12:50 AM
p.4 #6Some 100mm-ish comparisons
Now, at last, something to show out of focus colour fringing.I've tried to focus at the point where most friging is evident on the distant pylon and some out of focus forward branches.
First with each lens fully open, then at 5.6.
These are 100% crops. Not as clear as with the backlit water droplets, but the best I could find.
Zuiko F2
Zuiko F5.6
Sonnar F3.5
Sonnar F5.6
Tokina F2.8
Tokina F5.6
Nikkor F2.5
Nikkor F5.6
As seen in the water droplets, the Zuiko wide open exhibits most fringing, but then it is the widest aperture.
The Tokina, Sonnar and Nikkor appear similar to my eyes, but I know there are more experienced viewers out there to comment!
First with each lens fully open, then at 5.6.
These are 100% crops. Not as clear as with the backlit water droplets, but the best I could find.
Zuiko F2 Zuiko F5.6 Sonnar F3.5 Sonnar F5.6 Tokina F2.8 Tokina F5.6 Nikkor F2.5 Nikkor F5.6As seen in the water droplets, the Zuiko wide open exhibits most fringing, but then it is the widest aperture.
The Tokina, Sonnar and Nikkor appear similar to my eyes, but I know there are more experienced viewers out there to comment!
Apr 01, 2012 at 01:36 AM
p.4 #7Some 100mm-ish comparisons
Most tests that I've seen that show out of focus CA have used print on white paper.
Mike
Mike
Apr 01, 2012 at 02:47 AM
p.4 #8Some 100mm-ish comparisons
Mike, yes I've seen those with fine music script on white. What I really wanted to see was something in more of the typical situation I would use the lenses.
Apr 01, 2012 at 05:05 AM
p.4 #9Some 100mm-ish comparisons
The black text on white paper (shot under an angle at wide apertures) is good to find individual differences between lenses (color and amount of defocus fringing), but your test above is pretty good and more representative for typical situations.
About your samples: it's about what I would expect. The Tokina has the least pleasing bokeh at that distance and also the least defocus fringing (I think I see some mild yellow-green fringing in the background and blue in the foreground). The Zuiko is the fastest lens so unsurprisingly fringes most.
By the way: the f/5.6 shot from the Sonnar seems to be front focused (or the DOF is much shallower) than the others.
About your samples: it's about what I would expect. The Tokina has the least pleasing bokeh at that distance and also the least defocus fringing (I think I see some mild yellow-green fringing in the background and blue in the foreground). The Zuiko is the fastest lens so unsurprisingly fringes most.
By the way: the f/5.6 shot from the Sonnar seems to be front focused (or the DOF is much shallower) than the others.
Apr 01, 2012 at 05:22 AM
p.4 #10Some 100mm-ish comparisons
Aham, I could easily have slightly misfocussed, it was a very subjective focus point, not on anything definite, just where the fringing appeared most prominent for each lens.
Will also look at the depth of field issue from other series I took.
Will also look at the depth of field issue from other series I took.
Apr 01, 2012 at 05:27 AM
p.4 #11Some 100mm-ish comparisons
I think from looking at the focus on the yellow forsythia bottom right, (above), that I might have slightly front focussed the Sonnar, although that may just be that it is F3.5 to the others F2.8 / 2
Here are the Zuiko and Sonnar at F5.6 from another series I shot which seem to show the Sonnar has similar DOF (I chose the Zuiko to compare as it has the closest real FL to the Sonnar)
I think the greater look of oof focus on the far branches with the Zuiko may be an exposure difference leading to greater burn out there, also the shadow change shows the sun is more straight ahead in the Zuiko shot and had moved quite a bit by the time I'd done the Tokina and Nikkor inbetween!
Focus point on the separated daffodil head, lower left.
Zuiko F5.6
Sonnar F5.6
Here are the Zuiko and Sonnar at F5.6 from another series I shot which seem to show the Sonnar has similar DOF (I chose the Zuiko to compare as it has the closest real FL to the Sonnar)
I think the greater look of oof focus on the far branches with the Zuiko may be an exposure difference leading to greater burn out there, also the shadow change shows the sun is more straight ahead in the Zuiko shot and had moved quite a bit by the time I'd done the Tokina and Nikkor inbetween!
Focus point on the separated daffodil head, lower left.
Zuiko F5.6 Sonnar F5.6Apr 01, 2012 at 06:01 AM