Archive 2010 · Lenses with best micro contrast
p.1 #1Lenses with best micro contrast
What camera lenses you own or owned have the best micro contrast? If you can, please share examples.
Feb 24, 2010 at 12:57 PM
p.1 #2Lenses with best micro contrast
Out of these...
Tokina 12-24/4
Tamron 17-50/2.8
Nikkor 18-35/3.5-4.5 AF-D
Nikkor 18-55/3.5-5.6
Nikkor 18-70/3.5-4.5
Tokina 19-35/3.5-4.5
Nikkor 28-105/3.5-4.5
Nikkor 24-70/2.8
Nikon 75-150/3.5 Series-E
Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
Sigma 14/2.8
Tokina 17/3.5 RMC
Nikkor 20/3.5 AIS
Sigma 20/1.8
Sigma 24/1.8
Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS
Voigtländer 28/2 Ultron
Sigma 30/1.4 HSM
Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon
Zeiss 35/2 Distagon
Nikkor 35/2 AF
Nikkor 35/1.4 AIS
Voigtländer 35/1.4 Nokton
Voigtländer 40/2 Ultron II
Leica Summicron-C 40/2
Nikkor-H 50/2
Nikkor 50/1.8 AIS
Nikkor 50/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 50/1.4 AF-S
Sigma 50/1.4 HSM
Nikkor 50/1.2 AI
Nikkor-S 55/1.2
Samyang 85/1.4 Aspherical IF
Nikkor 85/2 AI
Nikkor-H 85/1.8
Leica Elmar-C 90/4
Nikkor 105/1.8 AIS
Nikkor 105/2.5 AIS
Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 AIS
Sigma 105/2.8 Macro
Nikkor 200/4 AI
...The Zeiss ZF 35/2 is the one. Second best is Nikkor 24-70/2.8.
Take a look in the "3D" thread. Lots of good examples from different lenses there.
And no, I don't own all those lenses anymore.
Edit: This is a nice example with the ZF @ f/2.8. It just "pops" because every detail in focus has a high local contrast with no haze or blur around the edges. There's very little spherical aberration, which is a good part of the recipe.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/Makten/Distagon%2035/DSC_9132.jpg
Tokina 12-24/4
Tamron 17-50/2.8
Nikkor 18-35/3.5-4.5 AF-D
Nikkor 18-55/3.5-5.6
Nikkor 18-70/3.5-4.5
Tokina 19-35/3.5-4.5
Nikkor 28-105/3.5-4.5
Nikkor 24-70/2.8
Nikon 75-150/3.5 Series-E
Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
Sigma 14/2.8
Tokina 17/3.5 RMC
Nikkor 20/3.5 AIS
Sigma 20/1.8
Sigma 24/1.8
Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS
Voigtländer 28/2 Ultron
Sigma 30/1.4 HSM
Zeiss 35/2.8 Biogon
Zeiss 35/2 Distagon
Nikkor 35/2 AF
Nikkor 35/1.4 AIS
Voigtländer 35/1.4 Nokton
Voigtländer 40/2 Ultron II
Leica Summicron-C 40/2
Nikkor-H 50/2
Nikkor 50/1.8 AIS
Nikkor 50/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 50/1.4 AF-S
Sigma 50/1.4 HSM
Nikkor 50/1.2 AI
Nikkor-S 55/1.2
Samyang 85/1.4 Aspherical IF
Nikkor 85/2 AI
Nikkor-H 85/1.8
Leica Elmar-C 90/4
Nikkor 105/1.8 AIS
Nikkor 105/2.5 AIS
Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 AIS
Sigma 105/2.8 Macro
Nikkor 200/4 AI
...The Zeiss ZF 35/2 is the one. Second best is Nikkor 24-70/2.8.
Take a look in the "3D" thread. Lots of good examples from different lenses there.
And no, I don't own all those lenses anymore.
Edit: This is a nice example with the ZF @ f/2.8. It just "pops" because every detail in focus has a high local contrast with no haze or blur around the edges. There's very little spherical aberration, which is a good part of the recipe.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/Makten/Distagon%2035/DSC_9132.jpg
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:11 PM
p.1 #3Lenses with best micro contrast
Olympus Zuiko 2/90
best microcontrast wide open i've seen so far
best microcontrast wide open i've seen so far
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:19 PM
p.1 #4Lenses with best micro contrast
The best I've used is essentially a tie between the Zeiss 50/1.7 and the Zeiss 85/2.8. My Canon 100 f/2.8L IS follows after that, and then close behind are the Zeiss 85/1.4 and Zeiss 28-85. See a pattern?
This is out of a total of ~50 lenses that I've owned.
This is out of a total of ~50 lenses that I've owned.
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:23 PM
p.1 #5Lenses with best micro contrast
Zeiss 50/1.7 (want one)
Canon 100 Macro (have one)
Normally, Zeiss lenses and any macro ones are what you're (and I'm) looking for.
Canon 100 Macro (have one)
Normally, Zeiss lenses and any macro ones are what you're (and I'm) looking for.
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:25 PM
p.1 #6Lenses with best micro contrast
Sorry to be ignorant, but I've often wondered what micro contrast actually means, but have always been ashamed to ask.
What is this quality, exactly please?
What is this quality, exactly please?
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:33 PM
p.1 #7Lenses with best micro contrast
David Baldwin wrote:
Sorry to be ignorant, but I've often wondered what micro contrast actually means, but have always been ashamed to ask.
What is this quality, exactly please?
It's high MTF at low frequencies. Which means that a bright area doesn't "infect" a dark adjacent area with its brightness. This isn't necessarily connected to high resolution (which is high MTF at higher frequencies). Think of it like "good sharpness" but at a larger scale than the finest details.
Sorry to be ignorant, but I've often wondered what micro contrast actually means, but have always been ashamed to ask.
What is this quality, exactly please?
It's high MTF at low frequencies. Which means that a bright area doesn't "infect" a dark adjacent area with its brightness. This isn't necessarily connected to high resolution (which is high MTF at higher frequencies). Think of it like "good sharpness" but at a larger scale than the finest details.
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:41 PM
p.1 #8Lenses with best micro contrast
David--make up your own definition and stick to it. Seems to be the most accurate one we each have. Other threads have clearly shown the issue to be of near-religious importance. I don't like the term for this reason.
In short, it should be something that demonstrates the lens' ability to maintain high contrast across even relatively small regions. Ergo--nice sharp transitions between light and dark regions.
In short, it should be something that demonstrates the lens' ability to maintain high contrast across even relatively small regions. Ergo--nice sharp transitions between light and dark regions.
Feb 24, 2010 at 02:52 PM
p.1 #9Lenses with best micro contrast
I am sure we would all have slightly different opinions on this
- so this can only be my subjective pennyworth.
The Zeiss 50 1.4 warrants inclusion among the best and as a great fan of the new Voigtlanders I would suggest that the 125/2.5 is probably their strongest contender for this list and of course there are quite a few Leicas that might be considered.
Feb 24, 2010 at 03:15 PM
p.1 #10Lenses with best micro contrast
Can someone suggest a good test subject for determining which lens (of the ones I own) is best? Something pratical that I might have, please. Is micro contrast a big element in the 3D look?
Feb 24, 2010 at 03:23 PM
p.1 #11Lenses with best micro contrast
Love that bike picture makten! really, really nice pop... Makes me want one 
I would love a 35 1.4 with that look! my nikon 35 1.4 is more.. dreamy :P
I would love a 35 1.4 with that look! my nikon 35 1.4 is more.. dreamy :PFeb 24, 2010 at 03:36 PM
p.1 #12Lenses with best micro contrast
OM 90mm f/2 macro the best out of the following lenses,
15 C/Y
16-35 EOS
18mm C/Y
20mm OM f/2 macro
21 C/y
Nikon 14-24
EOS 24-70
28mm Leica R
C/y 28 f/2.8
35mm ZF
C/Y 35mm PC
35mm OM shift
50mm EOS
50mm K
60 C/Y Macro
65mm EOS
70-200 f/2.8 EOS
90mm ts-e
100mm macro EOS
125mm Voightlander
135mm f/2 EOS
180mm macro EOS
200mm Pentax smca macro
300mm f/2.8 EOS
The OM 35 shift and 90 tse are close.
Dan
www.danbrownphotography.com
Edited on Feb 25, 2010 at 07:22 AM · View previous versions
15 C/Y
16-35 EOS
18mm C/Y
20mm OM f/2 macro
21 C/y
Nikon 14-24
EOS 24-70
28mm Leica R
C/y 28 f/2.8
35mm ZF
C/Y 35mm PC
35mm OM shift
50mm EOS
50mm K
60 C/Y Macro
65mm EOS
70-200 f/2.8 EOS
90mm ts-e
100mm macro EOS
125mm Voightlander
135mm f/2 EOS
180mm macro EOS
200mm Pentax smca macro
300mm f/2.8 EOS
The OM 35 shift and 90 tse are close.
Dan
www.danbrownphotography.com
Edited on Feb 25, 2010 at 07:22 AM · View previous versions
Feb 24, 2010 at 04:28 PM
p.1 #13Lenses with best micro contrast
I guess the zeiss 35 is the way to go.. I wonder if distagon 35 1.4 is close. .
I wonder if distagon 35 1.4 is close. .Feb 24, 2010 at 04:56 PM
p.1 #14Lenses with best micro contrast
I can't tell what about those above images makes something look more micro-contrasty than other pictures. Though, I guess bicycles are the preferred micro-contrast demonstration subject.
Feb 24, 2010 at 06:30 PM
p.1 #16Lenses with best micro contrast
I like this example from the Zeiss 85/2.8 Sonnar...look at the level of contrast in the texture of the tulip petals..it's remarkable to me... This was wide open too.
Full image:
http://www.jordansteele.com/images/recent/red_tulip.jpg
100% crop:
http://www.jordansteele.com/forumlinks/red_tulip_crop.jpg
Full image:
http://www.jordansteele.com/images/recent/red_tulip.jpg
100% crop:
http://www.jordansteele.com/forumlinks/red_tulip_crop.jpg
Feb 24, 2010 at 07:02 PM
p.1 #19Lenses with best micro contrast
Gotta go with the Zeiss Planar 50/1.7, just a wonderful lens, need to get it put back together one of these days.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3155979939_d961b9c744_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3155979939_d961b9c744_o.jpg
Feb 24, 2010 at 07:40 PM
p.1 #20Lenses with best micro contrast
Notice the trend...that, well, with the exception of the OM 90, all the mentioned lenses happen to have a little T* somewhere on the lens?
Feb 24, 2010 at 07:45 PM