Totally agree. If you're buying his lens and read all about softness and unproven sample variation that isn't fixed with fine tuning, then you're naturally going to assume not-sharp pictures are because of the lens. It's more likely to be user error with this lens
I just blame the outer auto focus points of my DF
Jason_Brook wrote:
I really don't think this lens is as copy dependent as you guys make it out to be. It's just a real finicky lens that needs to be learned. Trust me, I get plenty of hazy shots out of mine when conditions aren't perfect.
Jason_Brook wrote:
I really don't think this lens is as copy dependent as you guys make it out to be. It's just a real finicky lens that needs to be learned. Trust me, I get plenty of hazy shots out of mine when conditions aren't perfect.
I think I'm wid yah on this one. Sometimes I can get this thing to be sharp as [#%}! . Other times That stupid haze comes out often when I'm just being lazy or askingng my Df to be a D4S.
I know next to nothing about the technical side of lenses and cameras, but that haze sure reminds me of older lenses plagued with CA when shot wide open, kinda like this lens. Imagine how bad the CA would be without nano coating. I never realized how much nano does for CA until I compared my 28/1.8 to 35/1.8
chuhsi1 wrote:
Totally agree. If you're buying his lens and read all about softness and unproven sample variation that isn't fixed with fine tuning, then you're naturally going to assume not-sharp pictures are because of the lens. It's more likely to be user error with this lens
I just blame the outer auto focus points of my DF
I bought my 58 the week it came out. My wife and I spent weeks with that lens, just rolling our mouse around in photoshop, trying to see where the AF hit. The answer was nowhere. The shots just looked OOF most of the time. So we wouldn't open it up any more than f2. It was that bad. Nearly all the early reviews on the web inspired similar reactions. The lens seemed to be written of entirely, especially as everyone waited for the Sigma 50 Art.
That's when this thread, Flickr, and a few new blog posts came in. Suddenly I was seeing very decent shots at f1.4 all over the place.
In the mean time I sold my 58 and began an experiment with the 50 1.8G. I wanted to see if it was as capable as everyone claims. It's been a great run. I've used it since March. Personally, I still think the 50 1.4G is better, but very few people share my opinion. Both are bargains for the performance. I've enjoyed both very much. But right now I'm looking forward to achieving that unique 58 look. I especially want to play with it using the Brenizer method
Jason_Brook wrote:
I really don't think this lens is as copy dependent as you guys make it out to be. It's just a real finicky lens that needs to be learned. Trust me, I get plenty of hazy shots out of mine when conditions aren't perfect.
I have been contemplating to buy this lens. Some of the images posted here makes my decision easier. The set by nextelbuddy and many others here are amazing. I am slowly getting the idea behind the design of the lens. Reminds of the Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 M (which front focusses quite a bit) but has a lot of character.
I am used to clinical sharpness that the Leica 50mm summicron produces on my A7r. But love the rendering of the 58. It looks like the lens is designed to be used at 1.4.
Yeah, the lighting wasn't the greatest and I don't have a lot of experience shooting fast moving toddlers...lol I'm going to say that this one was probably user error. Going to look into AF Tuning. Never messed with it. Googled it and found Nikon's instructions but is there a better way? Thought I might have seen a method here on FM somewhere?
eth3rton wrote:
Yeah, the lighting wasn't the greatest and I don't have a lot of experience shooting fast moving toddlers...lol I'm going to say that this one was probably user error. Going to look into AF Tuning. Never messed with it. Googled it and found Nikon's instructions but is there a better way? Thought I might have seen a method here on FM somewhere?
Tuning the 58 is stupid easy because of all the LoCA it throws off. Shoot something high contrast (barcode, nurtrition label, etc.).
Back focusing = purple fringing
Front focusing = green fringing
On the money = no fringing
