hubsand wrote:
The Olympus 7-14 looks like a great, great lens, but there's no way to put in on a level playing field. For the test to work at all, the lens must be the only variable, and much as I like the 510, it wouldn't be fair to put it alongside a 1Ds III!
The new Olympus E-3 is a good contender for such a test. Maybe 7-14 on E-3 v.s. 16-35L II on a 5D? I would like to see the results. A friend of mine just got his E-3 and says he's in love.
hubsand wrote:
I agree that a comparison of the new 14-24/2.8 with the 16-35 II would be a good thing.
I've been talking to Andrew Gough about the possibility of getting together in Central London this Friday for a 1DS III based 14-24G test off – anyone care to join in with a top-spec 16-35II, 14L II or Zeiss/Leica 15mm?
Damn! If I was anywhere near central London, I'd be there. Alas, I'm not, and hence won't. I will be waiting on bated breath for some images uploads though.
Where do I sign up for the 'pay per view' link to this momentous occasion?
Really, I hope someone remembers to take some shots of the actual event...not just test shots.
Spent the better part of the afternoon trying to wrench the rear lens cap off
my shiny new Nikkor, only to realize (after reading the directions) er....
that she's got a southern hemisphere twist to her.
What's up with the clockwise to remove cap?
Nikon virgin here :-)
I guess my 'freedom of information' instinct is stronger than my business sense: 16:9 has no plans to go 'pay-per-view'. The only data I will charge for is the lens grading summary, which will be something like a $20 download, representing as it will the entire summary of all our wide angle tests in one handy resource.
Looks like we're good to go with the 14-24G test: I'm still working to eliminate the possibility of adaptor-induced CAs, so it will be a pre-production adapted 14-24G in the following tests:
1 • Canon 14mm L II v Nikon 14-24mm G at 14mm
2 • Canon 16-35mm L II v Contax N 17-35mm v Nikon 14-24mm G at 17mm
3 • Canon 16-35mm L II v Contax N 17-35mm v Zeiss 21mm v Nikon 14-24mm G at 21mm
4 • Canon 16-35mm L II v Contax N 17-35mm v Canon 24mm L v Nikon 14-24mm G at 24mm
Apart from the 24L, all the lenses are f2.8, so we have a nice level playing field. Apertures tested will be f2.8 / f5 / f8 / f13.
Here's my prediction:
1• A close run thing, but the Nikon generally sharper in Zone C – particularly at wide apertures – and worse for flare.
2• The L II comes a poor third until f13 where they're all similar. Nikon proves to be fractionally less sharp than the Contax overall, but surprises everyone with similar great colour and considerably less distortion. Everyone comments on how grubby the Canon colours look.
3• The L II comes a poor fourth, though it's OK for distortion at this FL. The Zeiss is a clear notch above the rest for resolution, followed by the Contax and Nikon now in joint second place. Everyone notices how much worse the Canon L II is in Zone C, and complains about the Distagon's flare and distortion.
4• Now the Contax N will be at the bottom of the pile and everyone will despair at the way it's performance at wider focal lengths isn't carried through to 24mm. The Canon 24L will be a fraction more attractive than the Nikon 14-24G which in turn will be better overall than the Canon L II, which in turn will outperform the Contax N (for resolution, at least).
I'm expecting to be happy to take home the Nikon 14-24G at the end of the day, though I will tot up the cost of a 14L II / N 17-35 / CZ21 system, which may be the only way to better it. Three lenses in the bag with a total overhead of $8000+, or one Nikon zoom at $1800? Though it won't 'win' every test, I suspect it will do everything so well (bar internal reflection gremlins at the short end) I think it'll be a keeper.
I do like Olympus cameras, and I think 4/3 is a masterstroke of clearsightedness, but it's still only a small-sensor system. It may be close to the top of the amateur/prosumer tree, but it's no 5D. Wherever possible, I'd rather solve an adaptor problem to assess the lenses on a level playing field.
wil_ret wrote:
Imagine testing the 14-24G on a Nikon D3?
Wasn't it designed for that?
Just curious.
WR.
By the same 'level playing field' token, testing a D3/14-24 against a 5D/14L II would hand the Nikon a small advantage, I believe. It's not just the camera, either: processing, profiling and sharpening all introduce new variables. Ideally, the lens should be the only variable.
p.5 #10 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
Mark,
I think you can't compare a 5D with a 3D.
I would say the Nikon 3D is clearly a step-up from a Canon 5D.
I'm actually thinking of going Nikon this time as a companion with my Hy6 and the e-75 33 MP
camera.
Cheer,
WR
p.5 #11 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
It's not possible to elminate all variables - I trust Hubsand to do a good as it gets test and assesment and look forwards to the outcome. I'd join you but I'm up to my neck in retouching jobs and haven't got a competative wide to bring to the fray.
p.5 #12 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
wil_ret wrote:
Mark,
I think you can't compare a 5D with a 3D.
I would say the Nikon 3D is clearly a step-up from a Canon 5D.
I'm actually thinking of going Nikon this time as a companion with my Hy6 and the e-75 33 MP
camera.
Cheer,
WR
Not sure what the above is supposed to mean.
We are discussing an extremely interesting new Nikon wide-angle zoom lens to be tested through a custom made adapter on Canon bodies (for a standardized test platform) against Canon glass as well as some exotic glass and you comment that 5D cannot be compared to D3?
There are numerous differences between the Nikon and Canon platforms, and they have been described in earlier posts.
I look forward to your review, Mark, keep up the good work!
Regarding 'design flaw' - I think thats taking it a bit far, Arianne. I've had two copies of the 24-105 L and they have been equally good (I switched around since I couldn't make up my mind about having 24-105 L or 24-70 L, in the end I sold my 24-70 L's).
While 24-105 is sharper at the medium and wide end I have not encountered any 'serious optical degration' whatsoever at the tele end.
p.5 #14 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
Andrew Gough wrote:
I could make it to a Toronto version as well!
...and you'd be more than welcome!
We're brainstorming about a "Fabulous 50-ish" shootout. Aiming for spring. Cherry blossoms in High Park. Both a technical and subjective evaluation of as many 50-ish lenses that we can round up. The current list of lenses available to be evaluated includes, but will not necessarily be limited to:
Zuiko 50/1.4
Zuiko 50/1.2
Super-Tak 50/1.4
Minolta MC 58/1.2 (two versions)
Minolta MC 58/1.4
Minolta MD 45/2
Canon 50/1.8 II
Canon 50/2.5 CM
Nikon Ai 50/1.4s
Nikon Ai 50/1.2s
Contax Zeiss 55/1.2 !!!
ZF 50/2
Yashica ML 50/1.4
Cosina Auto-Topcor 58/1.4
Rikenon 55/1.4
Summilux-R 50/1.4 E55
We'd like to throw in the Canon 50/1.2L and 50/1.4 as well, and the CZ 50/1.7 and 1.4. We may need to cull the list at some point (maybe lose the the EF 50/1.8 II, for instance) , to reduce the time required.
Anyone in the Toronto area who would be interested in an event like this for the spring, just let me know. I'm thinking of setting up a mailing list for it, or maybe contain it all in a thread over in another forum.
p.5 #15 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
cogitech wrote:
...and you'd be more than welcome!
We're brainstorming about a "Fabulous 50-ish" shootout. Aiming for spring. Cherry blossoms in High Park. Both a technical and subjective evaluation of as many 50-ish lenses that we can round up. The current list of lenses available to be evaluated includes, but will not necessarily be limited to:
Zuiko 50/1.4
Zuiko 50/1.2
Super-Tak 50/1.4
Minolta MC 58/1.2 (two versions)
Minolta MC 58/1.4
Minolta MD 45/2
Canon 50/1.8 II
Canon 50/2.5 CM
Nikon Ai 50/1.4s
Nikon Ai 50/1.2s
Contax Zeiss 55/1.2 !!!
ZF 50/2
Yashica ML 50/1.4
Cosina Auto-Topcor 58/1.4
Rikenon 55/1.4
Summilux-R 50/1.4 E55
We'd like to throw in the Canon 50/1.2L and 50/1.4 as well, and the CZ 50/1.7 and 1.4. We may need to cull the list at some point (maybe lose the the EF 50/1.8 II, for instance) , to reduce the time required.
Anyone in the Toronto area who would be interested in an event like this for the spring, just let me know. I'm thinking of setting up a mailing list for it, or maybe contain it all in a thread over in another forum....Show more →
I have a Pentax 50mm SMC F/1.2 on the way and I could add:
Olympus 50mm F/1.4 Second Copy >1,000,000 serial #
Olympus 50mm F/1.2 second copy
Pentax 55mm F/1.8 Super Tak
Voightlander 40mm F/2.0 SL I
Contax 50mm F/1.7 AE
Contax 50mm F/1.4 AE
Don't ask why I have so many 50's, I just decided to stop selling lenses a while back...
p.5 #16 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
I do agree with some of the posts above. If you really want to unleash the potential of the Nikon 14-24, I think it should be tested on the Nikon D3. But since the D3 is not available, the test with an adapter on a 5D should be acceptable.
The ideal testing grounds/playing fields would have been:
- Canon 5D with the 14L II, 24mm f1.4, Contax Zeiss 17-35N, Zeiss 21 and 16-35L II
- Nikon D3 with the 14-24mm G
- Olympus E-3 with the 7-14mm
The megapixel differences between these camera's are not that significant and the lenses would be tested with SLR's they were actually designed/fine tuned for. Now if the 1Ds Mk III comes into play, it clearly would take things to a whole new level.
Regardless, I eagerly await the test results with what Hubsand has planned.... just about agree with the 4 points he has outlined/predicted..... but a bit picky on #4 - think the 24L will win this round followed by the Nikon - agree on this - but not quite sure about the canon outperforming the N at 24mm
p.5 #17 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
I think the game has moved on from 12MP now . . . the kind of shooter interested in converted lenses is probably already locked into hunting glass that can live with the 80lpmm demands of their 22MP 1Ds III.
The thing that's getting me juiced is taking long respected greats like the CZ21 into that new terrritory and throwing against them cutting-edge technology in the form of the 14LII and 14-24G.
p.5 #18 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
cogitech wrote:
We're brainstorming about a "Fabulous 50-ish" shootout. Aiming for spring. Cherry blossoms in High Park. Both a technical and subjective evaluation of as many 50-ish lenses that we can round up. The current list of lenses available to be evaluated includes, but will not necessarily be limited to:
Zuiko 50/1.4
Zuiko 50/1.2
Super-Tak 50/1.4
Minolta MC 58/1.2 (two versions)
Minolta MC 58/1.4
Minolta MD 45/2
Canon 50/1.8 II
Canon 50/2.5 CM
Nikon Ai 50/1.4s
Nikon Ai 50/1.2s
Contax Zeiss 55/1.2 !!!
ZF 50/2
Yashica ML 50/1.4
Cosina Auto-Topcor 58/1.4
Rikenon 55/1.4
Summilux-R 50/1.4 E55
We'd like to throw in the Canon 50/1.2L and 50/1.4 as well, and the CZ 50/1.7 and 1.4. We may need to cull the list at some point (maybe lose the the EF 50/1.8 II, for instance) , to reduce the time required....Show more →
Personally, I've seen rather too many 'ordinary' 50mm tests . . . you could spend a long time wading through a morass of so-so / similar test results . . . but I would be fascinated to see an in-depth comparison of the fast 50s (resolution / contrast / bokeh / flare / colour) – nothing slower than f1.2 – ie:
p.5 #19 · Nikon 14-24mm tested on Canon 5D/1Ds III
Yes, the cull that I spoke of may need to get quite aggressive. Although, maybe setting the cutoff at f1.4 would still be feasible, since several people will be involved in the testing.
I also know that there are many, many budget-conscious alternative shooters out there who would benefit greatly from the inclusion of the 1.4s. We would hope to make it significantly better than "yet another MOR 50 test".
Maybe we could reserve 5 spots for 1.4s and then have the community vote on which of these "slower" lenses would have the privilege of being tested alongside the big boys.
It is all a brainstorm at this point, and I really appreciate any new perspectives on it.
Sounds like a great time all around.