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Archive 2009Contax N Image Thread
p.4 #1Contax N Image Thread
Steven,
Did my last N 50 image have pop or no?
Can you post a sample of a 50 1.7 shot with pop?
Yes, I believe the Sonnar design has less 3-d pop than a planar design but can still deliver 3-d pop with the right conditions. I am basing this on the ZA 135 1.8 lens.
TIA
Did my last N 50 image have pop or no?
Can you post a sample of a 50 1.7 shot with pop?
Yes, I believe the Sonnar design has less 3-d pop than a planar design but can still deliver 3-d pop with the right conditions. I am basing this on the ZA 135 1.8 lens.
TIA
Jan 02, 2010 at 09:30 PM
p.4 #2Contax N Image Thread
Wayne,
For me, pop comes from the micro details, and I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it in your Buddha images. Well, maybe a bit, but I want more from Zeiss. The detail looks a little bit "smudged", like the macro-contrast has been pushed too hard maybe. It is a fine image though, and the colours are very satisfiying. The second rendition, with more sharpening, has a bit too much high-contrast edginess for my taste, and I agree with your cautious approach in over-sharpening web images. It's a tough call, and I'm no master of it. I should have someone teach me the basics because I usually just drag the slider around until I'm relatively happy.
Here are two images that I feel show the kind of fine-detail pop that I like. I wish there a way for me to show you the print of the second one. Sometimes the web doesn't do justice to the images from these fine lenses.
5D, C/Y 50/1.4 (look at the rocks and branches in the foreground; there was a lot of contrast-busting mist coming off the stream, but I think the Zeiss did a good job of picking out the micro-details despite that.)
http://www.pbase.com/image/120766641/original.jpg
5D, C/Y 50.14 (maybe oversharpened, I'm terrible at deciding. This is one reason I like images from Zeiss lenses: they are so punchy out of the camera, which keeps me away from the Smart Sharpen filter.
)
http://www.pbase.com/image/120766785/original.jpg
For me, pop comes from the micro details, and I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it in your Buddha images. Well, maybe a bit, but I want more from Zeiss. The detail looks a little bit "smudged", like the macro-contrast has been pushed too hard maybe. It is a fine image though, and the colours are very satisfiying. The second rendition, with more sharpening, has a bit too much high-contrast edginess for my taste, and I agree with your cautious approach in over-sharpening web images. It's a tough call, and I'm no master of it. I should have someone teach me the basics because I usually just drag the slider around until I'm relatively happy.
Here are two images that I feel show the kind of fine-detail pop that I like. I wish there a way for me to show you the print of the second one. Sometimes the web doesn't do justice to the images from these fine lenses.
5D, C/Y 50/1.4 (look at the rocks and branches in the foreground; there was a lot of contrast-busting mist coming off the stream, but I think the Zeiss did a good job of picking out the micro-details despite that.)
http://www.pbase.com/image/120766641/original.jpg
5D, C/Y 50.14 (maybe oversharpened, I'm terrible at deciding. This is one reason I like images from Zeiss lenses: they are so punchy out of the camera, which keeps me away from the Smart Sharpen filter.
)http://www.pbase.com/image/120766785/original.jpg
Jan 02, 2010 at 10:37 PM
p.4 #3Contax N Image Thread
Steven, no doubt about it, these images have "pop" as far as I am concerned. So my hypothesis that maybe the planar 50 was not as "pop-rich as other Zeiss designs is plain wrong. Thanks! And congratulations for two really beautiful images. Where there they shot?
Jan 03, 2010 at 01:39 AM
p.4 #4Contax N Image Thread
wayne seltzer wrote:
Which lens is used in the first shot and is warmer?
The ZF was the lens in the first images and appears to be slightly warmer in tone. It is subtly warmer, but evident none the less. I wonder if this new warmth is carried through the ZF line relative to the c/y lenses. If I had more of my old c/y lenses I could test. The obvious additional comparisons with comparable c/y lenses would be the 18mm. 21mm, 25mm, 28mm, 35mm, 85mm and the 100mm. (ok, nearly all of them). I checked the Digillyod reviews to see if he compared the ZF's against the earlier c/y lenses. He didn't. He did however, note that color performance across the ZF lens is remarkably consistent, so I would expect this warmth relative to the c/y to continue through the lens line.
Which lens is used in the first shot and is warmer?
The ZF was the lens in the first images and appears to be slightly warmer in tone. It is subtly warmer, but evident none the less. I wonder if this new warmth is carried through the ZF line relative to the c/y lenses. If I had more of my old c/y lenses I could test. The obvious additional comparisons with comparable c/y lenses would be the 18mm. 21mm, 25mm, 28mm, 35mm, 85mm and the 100mm. (ok, nearly all of them). I checked the Digillyod reviews to see if he compared the ZF's against the earlier c/y lenses. He didn't. He did however, note that color performance across the ZF lens is remarkably consistent, so I would expect this warmth relative to the c/y to continue through the lens line.
Jan 03, 2010 at 08:43 AM
p.4 #5Contax N Image Thread
Which lens was the second and third ? Bit surprise that the first was the zf; though you did mention it was slightly out of focus in the first set.
Lotusm50 wrote:
The ZF was the lens in the first images and appears to be slightly warmer in tone. It is subtly warmer, but evident none the less. I wonder if this new warmth is carried through the ZF line relative to the c/y lenses. If I had more of my old c/y lenses I could test. The obvious additional comparisons with comparable c/y lenses would be the 18mm. 21mm, 25mm, 28mm, 35mm, 85mm and the 100mm. (ok, nearly all of them). I checked the Digillyod reviews to see if he compared the ZF's against the earlier c/y lenses. He didn't. He...Show more →
Lotusm50 wrote:
wayne seltzer wrote
Which lens is used in the first shot and is warmer?Jan 03, 2010 at 08:46 AM
p.4 #6Contax N Image Thread
philber wrote:
Steven, no doubt about it, these images have "pop" as far as I am concerned. So my hypothesis that maybe the planar 50 was not as "pop-rich as other Zeiss designs is plain wrong. Thanks! And congratulations for two really beautiful images. Where there they shot?
Philber, Thanks. The images were taken in the Korean highlands on the east coast. Good hiking trip out, and some nice photography.
Steven, no doubt about it, these images have "pop" as far as I am concerned. So my hypothesis that maybe the planar 50 was not as "pop-rich as other Zeiss designs is plain wrong. Thanks! And congratulations for two really beautiful images. Where there they shot?
Philber, Thanks. The images were taken in the Korean highlands on the east coast. Good hiking trip out, and some nice photography.
Jan 04, 2010 at 05:27 AM
p.4 #7Contax N Image Thread
Andi-
Which N lenses did you get? Did you get a copy of the N85?
I finally figured out how to do the micro-adjust on my N85 (it was front focusing significantly) so I actually haven't used it much on my Canon. It was a favorite lens on my N1, back in the day. But here are a couple very recent test shots that might show some of the lens' lovely character wide open. Where it really shires, of course, is with portraiture. I hope to put it through its paces on a suitable project soon.
http://boncratious.com/images/FloridaPine.jpg
http://boncratious.com/images/EnjoyYourPark.jpg
Which N lenses did you get? Did you get a copy of the N85?
I finally figured out how to do the micro-adjust on my N85 (it was front focusing significantly) so I actually haven't used it much on my Canon. It was a favorite lens on my N1, back in the day. But here are a couple very recent test shots that might show some of the lens' lovely character wide open. Where it really shires, of course, is with portraiture. I hope to put it through its paces on a suitable project soon.
http://boncratious.com/images/FloridaPine.jpg
http://boncratious.com/images/EnjoyYourPark.jpg
Jan 05, 2010 at 09:58 PM
p.4 #8Contax N Image Thread
Wow! If that is wide open, I shudder to think how sharp it is stopped down. And all that Zeiss goodness to boot...
Jan 05, 2010 at 10:43 PM
p.4 #9Contax N Image Thread
philber wrote:
Wow! If that is wide open, I shudder to think how sharp it is stopped down. And all that Zeiss goodness to boot...
+1 I want one.
Wow! If that is wide open, I shudder to think how sharp it is stopped down. And all that Zeiss goodness to boot...
+1 I want one.
Jan 05, 2010 at 10:47 PM
p.4 #10Contax N Image Thread
If N85 is anything like Planar 100/2.0 .... I want one!
Jan 06, 2010 at 09:22 AM
p.4 #11Contax N Image Thread
I've just found out that my 3 lenses are on the way back from conversions....Yeah!!!
Jan 06, 2010 at 12:32 PM
p.4 #12Contax N Image Thread
Paul, congrats on the lenses, you will be happy! The N85 is the last lens that I would ever sell. The N50 is small, light and superb as well. I wish that the N line had grown to additional lenses, a 135/2 would have been really nice too.
Jan 06, 2010 at 05:45 PM
p.4 #13Contax N Image Thread
I'm still debating myself between 3 lenses...
N85/1.4
ZE100/2.0 (not out yet)
C/Y Planar 100/2.0
I'm actually looking for a lens that will produce pictures as Planar 100/2.0 would, but prefer AF...
N85/1.4
ZE100/2.0 (not out yet)
C/Y Planar 100/2.0
I'm actually looking for a lens that will produce pictures as Planar 100/2.0 would, but prefer AF...
Jan 06, 2010 at 08:59 PM
p.4 #14Contax N Image Thread
Wow! Well done, what a nice shot, grasmuc! Just one question: your EXIF shows 1/500th, but 3200 ISO. Why did you choose this?
Jan 08, 2010 at 01:59 AM
p.4 #15Contax N Image Thread
thx philber:-)
this was shot in the lobby of Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok which was rather dark. so i choose iso 3200. eventually for this shot against the light from a window there was more light, so a lower iso would have been sufficient, ur right ... i was just to lazy to change
this was shot in the lobby of Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok which was rather dark. so i choose iso 3200. eventually for this shot against the light from a window there was more light, so a lower iso would have been sufficient, ur right ... i was just to lazy to change
Jan 08, 2010 at 03:40 AM
p.4 #16Contax N Image Thread
If anyone has a good deal on N85/1.4, please let me know.
I just received the 3 converted N lenses.
I forgot how heavy and well-built those lenses were.........
I just received the 3 converted N lenses.
I forgot how heavy and well-built those lenses were.........
Jan 08, 2010 at 11:08 AM
p.4 #17Contax N Image Thread
Paul,
I just received a converted 85/1.4. No joke, it feels the heaviest of all the N's with the exception of the 400. (The images it produces are heavy weight too....awesome!)
I just received a converted 85/1.4. No joke, it feels the heaviest of all the N's with the exception of the 400. (The images it produces are heavy weight too....awesome!)
Jan 08, 2010 at 05:45 PM
p.4 #18Contax N Image Thread
Finally I found a N85 wide open shot back in June, 2009. I was using a 400D at the time. Pic is slightly adjusted WB and exposure in LR, no further adjustment applied.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/jetapollo/IMG_0923.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/jetapollo/IMG_0923.jpg
Jan 08, 2010 at 06:06 PM
p.4 #19Contax N Image Thread
If it's too heavy, you can sell it to me....
Seriously, I'm looking for one.....
DocsPics wrote:
Paul,
I just received a converted 85/1.4. No joke, it feels the heaviest of all the N's with the exception of the 400. (The images it produces are heavy weight too....awesome!)
Seriously, I'm looking for one.....
DocsPics wrote:
Paul,
I just received a converted 85/1.4. No joke, it feels the heaviest of all the N's with the exception of the 400. (The images it produces are heavy weight too....awesome!)
Jan 08, 2010 at 06:14 PM
p.4 #20Contax N Image Thread
grasmuc wrote:
... to add a recent N50f1.4 shot from Thailand trip
just such a pleasure to use this lens on the 5dII
Beautiful!
... to add a recent N50f1.4 shot from Thailand trip
just such a pleasure to use this lens on the 5dII
Beautiful!
Jan 08, 2010 at 09:16 PM