p.1 #1 · List of lenses with inward field curvature?
Has there ever been any attempt to come up with a list of lenses with inward field curvature?
I regularly see outward field curvature noted as a down mark against lenses, for one because of how it can distract from subject separation by bringing backgrounds back into focus. Of course flat/neutral field curvature in a lens is generally viewed very positively, because the aforementioned issue is avoided, but also because of how it can help get even focus across a picture.
However I have personally always appreciated what inward field curvature can do for accentuating subject separation, even at modest apertures and wide focal lengths - as it can make backgrounds and either side of the subject appear more out of focus than would be the case using a lens with flat field curvature. And even for landscape shooting, as I like to often shoot landscape features as subjects in their environment.
Case in point, one of my all time favourite lenses, and suggested entry to the list:
p.1 #2 · List of lenses with inward field curvature?
It makes sense that the more archaic lenser would suffer from field curvature compared to modern designs with more elements and aspherics. Unfortunately not many people test for focus plane curvature in a controlled way.
p.1 #3 · List of lenses with inward field curvature?
EB-1 wrote:
It makes sense that the more archaic lenser would suffer from field curvature compared to modern designs with more elements and aspherics. Unfortunately not many people test for focus plane curvature in a controlled way.
EBH
This isn't something that *needs* to be tested in a controlled way, it is usually fairly evident from the rendering of subjects. Even focus peaking handheld can show it!
Fred and Bastian are two reviewers who usually mention it in their reviews.
The suggestion is not for some sort of forensic list, but something more fun than that - if anybody already has any lenses they know to have inward field curvature then just pop them here. I suspect that for some people, it's a desirable quality in a lens and that they will know which of their lenses has it!
Maybe I should have title the thread something like:
"3d pop - is it really just inward field curvature "
p.1 #4 · List of lenses with inward field curvature?
Field curvature can change with focus. You'd need to consider whether you're comparing infinity or closer focus distances. You can vaguely infer field curvature from MTF graphs. But that also depends on how the MTF was generated.
p.1 #5 · List of lenses with inward field curvature?
itsmrjack wrote:
This isn't something that *needs* to be tested in a controlled way, it is usually fairly evident from the rendering of subjects. Even focus peaking handheld can show it!
Fred and Bastian are two reviewers who usually mention it in their reviews.
The suggestion is not for some sort of forensic list, but something more fun than that - if anybody already has any lenses they know to have inward field curvature then just pop them here. I suspect that for some people, it's a desirable quality in a lens and that they will know which of their lenses has it!
Maybe I should have title the thread something like:
"3d pop - is it really just inward field curvature "...Show more →
"