JohnJ
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 p.26 #4 · Mamiya(MF) on Digital Thread | |
Conner999 wrote:
Here you on the 1Ds2. Love mine, but would be very nice to have LV and AF microadjust (I know, I know, but I could use some more AF glass. Shudder). While a move to Nikon would suit me just fine, the country-specific warranty BS with Nikon in NA is annoying as finding used high-end gear in Canada is like looking for an honest politician. Short of that, debating a 1Ds3 when the 1Ds4 comes out (looks like CDN dealers are trying to clear stock) or a 5D2 to add to the 1Ds2. Much like you say it would be a sideways interim move....(I never took to the 5D_ ), but...
Would love to hear your overall analysis of the 80/2.8. Use my 801/9 a lot but have never shot with it's smaller brother, though looks like it delivers.
Rob
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Rob, not sure I can give you a helpful answer in that I've never used the 80/1.9. I haven't yet compared the Mamiya 80/2.8 N to some of my other lenses, like the R 80, so I can really only tell you what I do/don't like about it from using it in the real world.
What I do really like about it is;
1/ Sharpness wide open (F2.8 is not fast so it should be sharp). I don't think it's as sharp as the Leica R 80 (at F2.8 or the same apertures) but the R 80 is one of the sharpest lenses I've ever used. I don't know about edge to edge sharpness, I don't really look for that.
2/ Bokeh looks relatively smooth, maybe not the best in the business but it certainly looks better than the 80/1.9 samples I've seen posted. Maybe the 80/2.8 and 80/1.9 have the same bokeh at f2.8, I don't know. It doesn’t seem to do the ‘double line’ thing, very much, that I find a bit offensive.
3/ Minimal vignetting wide open, but again, F 2.8 is not a fast lens.
4/ I'm going on a limb here and I admit that I might be full of $hit but there seems to be a tonal gradation with this particular lens that I don't think I've really seen except maybe from the R 80 Lux (Leica glass has amazing tonal gradation on film but I've not seen it on digital). I don't think the 1dsmk2 is up to showing really fine tonal gradation, and it's not something I've really noticed before, so that's why I'm a bit 'iffy' about this particular point. In a sense, the images look more like they were shot on a medium format camera due to this sense of smoother tones (because tonal gradation is one of the most important advantages of a medium/large format in the first place).
5/ The N lenses are generally a lighter construction than the 'Non N'. I like that because I can carry more lenses. Leica glass is extraordinarily heavy by comparison.
6/ The ability to use T/S adapters like the Mirex is like having shackles removed but this applies to the 80/1.9 equally.
7/ Minimum focusing distance is reasonable/useable. It's not 30cm like the Canon 24-70 L but it's a little closer than the Leica R 80.
What I don't like;
1/ CA in the OOF areas, particularly wide open. It would probably be offensive to some but my standards are probably low in this respect (I don't really even know what the correct term is for this defect). It's not evident in the plane of focus. It's gone at F8, probably before, but lenses only have 2 settings as far as I'm concerned, wide open and F8 (wide open on the Leica R80 is F2,  ). I'm sure I have examples I could post if needed, just don't have time now.
2/ I’m not saying that it flares any more than other lenses but I have noticed it when used in circumstances where my Canon 24-70 L would have not missed a beat. The Canon 24-70 L is my reference for flare control, I've never seen it's equal, and when shooting chrome in full sun, shooting into the sun or at night that often overlooked characteristic, flare control, is critical.
3/ This is TOTALLY irrelevant to me but it doesn’t seem to do the ‘3D’ thing that the Zeiss heads seem to love. Whatever...
My applications for this lens are essentially shooting cars and 'detail' shots (close ups of car bits). Cars show tonal gradation better than anything short of clear sky sunsets (which is when you often shoot cars anyway). It would probably be fantastic for most applications however the CA might be a problem for some.
Hope that helps.
JJ
Edited on Jul 01, 2010 at 10:21 PM · View previous versions
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