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Archive 2009 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Orio
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

I took some lenses with me and went out to shoot in difficult light conditions, to see what would happen...not a scientifical test, just free shooting (all hand-held) and looking at the result with my personal taste...

Lenses used:
- Contax Sonnar 4/80-200
- Contax Planar 2/100
- Leitz Summilux-R 1.4/50
- Contax Makro-Planar 2.8/100
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Camera is the 5D Mark II.

Here's the link:

http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/octocomp/octocomp.htm

Oct 09, 2009 at 06:32 AM

thrice
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Nice comparison, some very "creative" descriptions to imaging qualities

Oct 09, 2009 at 06:40 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Thanks for sharing these shots. Very interesting.

Oct 09, 2009 at 06:41 AM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

interesting, you should also post this on the post-processing forum

Oct 09, 2009 at 06:47 AM

Alf Beharie
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

The overall impression I get from that comparison is that the newer AF Canon lens cant hope to compete with those older MF lenses for their greater sharpness, colour, clarity and bokeh...So thats why I only use MF lenses

Oct 09, 2009 at 06:50 AM

Orio
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Andi Dietrich wrote:
interesting, you should also post this on the post-processing forum

All files were taken straight from Lightroom, I did not edit anything except fixing small exposure mistakes.

Oct 09, 2009 at 07:51 AM

philber
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Brilliant work, Orio! My findings are exactly the same, and a direct comparison between EF 50mm f:1.4 and 85mm f:1.8 and ZE 50 and ZE 85 converted me instantly to the Zeiss "look". I am now on my way to a 100% Zeiss lineup, though I have also seen some brilliant pictures from Leica and Voigtländer APO macros. Thanks again for all the work you put in.

Oct 09, 2009 at 08:14 AM

Sam N
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Well, I always appreciate it when people post samples especially when they're with nice lenses and in nice locations... BUT. As a comparison this series is very close to useless.

I have no doubt that the 100/2 is better than the 85/1.8 (which has silent fast AF, costs ~1/4 as much, and is much smaller and lighter) overall, but the comparisons are pretty silly.

Take this set:
Contax 100/2
http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/octocomp/octocomp06.jpg
EF 85/1.8
http://www.oriofoto.net/temp/octocomp/octocomp19.jpg

The Zeiss shot has much better composition and has the sun reflecting off the road (looks good)... The 85/1.8 shot only looks "thin" because it's not as good of a photo.

The 85/1.8 shot that you say shows no detail in the flowers is exposed more than the Zeiss shots and in different light.

The 85/1.8 has very different (and prob. inferior) color response, but a lot of that can be dealt with in post.

Again, I always like seeing how different lenses perform and I appreciate the work you put into this, but your conclusions are completely unscientific and therefore unreliable.

Oct 09, 2009 at 12:17 PM

PhotoMaximum
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Interesting test...

I do think such tests would reveal more by having the photos shot from the same angles and settings. With a tripod of course. I would also position the images side by side to make it easier to compare one lens against another. The way this is presented now one has to scroll way down or way up to see the competing lens. By then your eye has lost the memory of how the other image looks.

I know this is the Alt forum but I do see a trend here to declare "alt lens good - Canon EF lens bad" in many cases. Lately this has taken a new twist with the "old Canon FL/FD lens good - new Canon EF lens bad" tone. Like Canon has lost its way and no longer produces quality lenses any more?

I think you deserve credit for the test, but it would be nice to see side by side views taken at different focusing distances. Some lenses are better close up and some better at infinity. Shooting grapes vines against the sky is a great test subject though.

Of course the other factors here include cost, conversion factors, size, weight and availability. Not to mention filters and lens shades in use...

Oct 09, 2009 at 12:58 PM

PhotoMaximum
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

What would be fun is to gather a bunch of 85, 90, and 100mm lenses and do a shootout. But leave the identity of each lens hidden for a while. That way folks could sort of vote for the best and worst samples. Later on the identity of each lens could be revealed. The results could be interesting or not...

But its sort of hard to match a fast fixed 50mm against a slow 80-200 zoom.

Oct 09, 2009 at 01:57 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

PhotoMaximum wrote:
What would be fun is to gather a bunch of 85, 90, and 100mm lenses and do a shootout. But leave the identity of each lens hidden for a while.

OK. I'll do it with some 85s. It'll take a while to rent/borrow a few of the lenses I'm missing, though.

Anyone in the Toronto area want to lend me a Planar 85/1.4 and/or Nikkor 85/1.4? I can rent the EF 85/1.2 L, as I've been planning to do so for a while anyway. I've got 3 other 85s to throw into the mix.

Oct 09, 2009 at 02:30 PM

CVickery
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

cogitech wrote:
OK. I'll do it with some 85s. It'll take a while to rent/borrow a few of the lenses I'm missing, though.

Anyone in the Toronto area want to lend me a Planar 85/1.4 and/or Nikkor 85/1.4? I can rent the EF 85/1.2 L, as I've been planning to do so for a while anyway. I've got 3 other 85s to throw into the mix.

I have the Mamiya 80/1.9 that you could try out Paul. Unfortunately I no longer have the Summilux 80/1.4, but it would be another lens that would be worth including. At the ~100mm FL I have the C/Y 100/2, the Nikkor 105/2.5 and the Mamiya 120/4 (if that's not stretching too far)

Oct 09, 2009 at 02:56 PM

SJMD
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

This should be fun

Oct 09, 2009 at 03:02 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

CVickery wrote:
I have the Mamiya 80/1.9 that you could try out Paul. Unfortunately I no longer have the Summilux 80/1.4, but it would be another lens that would be worth including. At the ~100mm FL I have the C/Y 100/2, the Nikkor 105/2.5 and the Mamiya 120/4 (if that's not stretching too far)

Thanks for the offer, Cal. It's interesting, I've been thinking about trying the Mamiya 80/1.9. I'm not sure about including too many focal lengths. Maybe between 80 and 100 is enough. Even that is pushing it, I think. Focal length is really such a very significant factor (as we saw between the 50s and 55-58s in Dmitry's tests). I also want to keep it to f2 or faster. I don't want to render the comparison useless by including too broad of a selection.

The trouble is finding the time to organize such a thing. Time is of the essence, too, because I am going to make some big lens decisions based on my results. I need to liquidate a bunch of stuff, fast.

Oct 09, 2009 at 03:58 PM

CVickery
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

cogitech wrote:
Thanks for the offer, Cal. It's interesting, I've been thinking about trying the Mamiya 80/1.9. I'm not sure about including too many focal lengths. Maybe between 80 and 100 is enough. Even that is pushing it, I think. Focal length is really such a very significant factor (as we saw between the 50s and 55-58s in Dmitry's tests). I also want to keep it to f2 or faster. I don't want to render the comparison useless by including too broad of a selection.

The trouble is finding the time to organize such a thing. Time is of the essence, too, because...Show more →

I understand. Just letting you know what I've got available if it interests you.

I agree with restricting the focal lengths you look at. It's hard enough trying to fairly evaluate different lenses. Taking differing focal lengths out of the equation only makes sense.

Oct 09, 2009 at 04:33 PM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

so how do you like these? which bokeh do you like best, any suggestion what glass was used?

Edited on Oct 10, 2009 at 05:40 AM · View previous versions

Oct 09, 2009 at 04:41 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

OK, I will play along. I don't know what glass was used by I like 2 & 4 better than 1 & 3.

Oct 09, 2009 at 04:47 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Steve Spencer wrote:
OK, I will play along. I don't know what glass was used by I like 2 & 4 better than 1 & 3.

+1

Oct 09, 2009 at 05:44 PM

d_chiesa
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Steve Spencer wrote:
I like 2 & 4 better than 1 & 3.

+1 here...

Oct 09, 2009 at 05:50 PM

PhotoMaximum
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · MF lenses vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Oct 09, 2009 at 05:51 PM

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