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Archive 2010Useless Exercise, Part Deux
p.2 #1Useless Exercise, Part Deux
if i get 2 guesses i would say
zeiss, zoom, old nikkor
based solely on the rendering of the picket fence 
zeiss, zoom, old nikkor
based solely on the rendering of the picket fence Sep 27, 2010 at 11:14 PM
p.2 #2Useless Exercise, Part Deux
jmcfadden wrote:
dude , these exposures are within tenths of a stop of each other
Hehe....thanks for pointing that out. All shots taken within 5 minutes of each other, f/4, 1/125s. I actually had to bump the 70-200 shot up by almost a third of a stop to match the others. Not sure if the lens is actually that much different, or if there was just a passing cloud.
dude , these exposures are within tenths of a stop of each other
Hehe....thanks for pointing that out. All shots taken within 5 minutes of each other, f/4, 1/125s. I actually had to bump the 70-200 shot up by almost a third of a stop to match the others. Not sure if the lens is actually that much different, or if there was just a passing cloud.
Sep 27, 2010 at 11:14 PM
p.2 #3Useless Exercise, Part Deux
jmcfadden wrote:
dude , these exposures are within tenths of a stop of each other
Dude? Talk like an adult....
The exposures are close. But, I still prefer the exposure of A. If you can't see the difference, well, that is your issue.
S-
dude , these exposures are within tenths of a stop of each other
Dude? Talk like an adult....
The exposures are close. But, I still prefer the exposure of A. If you can't see the difference, well, that is your issue.
S-
Sep 27, 2010 at 11:23 PM
p.2 #4Useless Exercise, Part Deux
I think is like this:
A: Zeiss 100 f/2.0
B: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
C: Nikon 105/2.5
There's no doubt in my mind that Zeiss is the sharpest lens. I mean, this lens at f2.0 is sharper than the brand new Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens at any aperture and the first pic looks the sharpest to me. Second is little bit worse (look at the lips of the guy) and the third is the worst. Am I right Todd?
Edited on Sep 28, 2010 at 12:10 PM · View previous versions
A: Zeiss 100 f/2.0
B: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
C: Nikon 105/2.5
There's no doubt in my mind that Zeiss is the sharpest lens. I mean, this lens at f2.0 is sharper than the brand new Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens at any aperture and the first pic looks the sharpest to me. Second is little bit worse (look at the lips of the guy) and the third is the worst. Am I right Todd?
Edited on Sep 28, 2010 at 12:10 PM · View previous versions
Sep 27, 2010 at 11:24 PM
p.2 #5Useless Exercise, Part Deux
afm901 wrote:
Dude? Talk like an adult....
The exposures are close. But, I still prefer the exposure of A. If you can't see the difference, well, that is your issue.
Duuuuude.
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/miscellaneous/histo.jpg
Dude? Talk like an adult....
The exposures are close. But, I still prefer the exposure of A. If you can't see the difference, well, that is your issue.
Duuuuude.
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/miscellaneous/histo.jpg
Sep 27, 2010 at 11:51 PM
p.2 #6Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Should I even tempt fate and guess? I'd rather quite while I'm ahead. 2 out of 2 Zeiss challenges is pushing the limit.
Sep 28, 2010 at 12:16 AM
p.2 #7Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Todd,
Look at the skin in each exposure. On my monitor (not calibrated), A has the best exposure. B and C are a little lighter and I like them less. Show a histogram of skin tones.....
S-
Look at the skin in each exposure. On my monitor (not calibrated), A has the best exposure. B and C are a little lighter and I like them less. Show a histogram of skin tones.....
S-
Sep 28, 2010 at 12:17 AM
p.2 #8Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Allright I'll play.
A. ZF
B. 105
C. 70-200
I'm guessing C is the 70-200 because the exposure looks pushed up a bit, there's more shadow detail in the hair. C and B could be switched though... I'm guessing A is ZF because of the overall higher contrast and the finer resolving of skin details below the eyes and the chin. The OOF areas are also lower contrast in A than in B.
A. ZF
B. 105
C. 70-200
I'm guessing C is the 70-200 because the exposure looks pushed up a bit, there's more shadow detail in the hair. C and B could be switched though... I'm guessing A is ZF because of the overall higher contrast and the finer resolving of skin details below the eyes and the chin. The OOF areas are also lower contrast in A than in B.
Sep 28, 2010 at 12:22 AM
p.2 #9Useless Exercise, Part Deux
dude, i like totally see the difference, home skillet.
whoa.
whoa.
Sep 28, 2010 at 01:37 AM
p.2 #10Useless Exercise, Part Deux
They all look very similar, I have to say. I am guessing here: 100MP, 105, 70-200.
The first shot gives a greater overall impression of sharpness, especially in the skin, but part of this is because the sharp region spans nosetips to eyeballs, whereas in the second and third shot, the sharp region goes from eyeball to sideburns.
The second shot is nearly as sharp, but something about the way it renders the skin feels a little softer. The third shot just fails to be critically sharp anywhere, but it has a really nice look in the background, a little softer than the other two.
For your next test, it would be great if you could go to the minimum distance of the 105. Also, a future test with harsh light might be educational. I like the 105 very much, but it isn't as good a lens as recent top lenses, I am pretty sure. I may also be able to contribute something at some point. I am planning on picking up the 100MP soon.
The first shot gives a greater overall impression of sharpness, especially in the skin, but part of this is because the sharp region spans nosetips to eyeballs, whereas in the second and third shot, the sharp region goes from eyeball to sideburns.
The second shot is nearly as sharp, but something about the way it renders the skin feels a little softer. The third shot just fails to be critically sharp anywhere, but it has a really nice look in the background, a little softer than the other two.
For your next test, it would be great if you could go to the minimum distance of the 105. Also, a future test with harsh light might be educational. I like the 105 very much, but it isn't as good a lens as recent top lenses, I am pretty sure. I may also be able to contribute something at some point. I am planning on picking up the 100MP soon.
Sep 28, 2010 at 01:43 AM
p.2 #11Useless Exercise, Part Deux
I'll play...
A is the 70-200
B is the Nikkor 105
C is the Zeiss
I only looked at the web versions and the differences in the rendering of the out of focus areas.
A is the 70-200
B is the Nikkor 105
C is the Zeiss
I only looked at the web versions and the differences in the rendering of the out of focus areas.
Sep 28, 2010 at 02:15 AM
p.2 #12Useless Exercise, Part Deux
I like B the best. The OOF areas are rendered nice and soft. My 105VR does it like that.
Shot A clearly has more contrast.
B & C are very difficult to tell apart. A has different objects in the background, but even so the Bokeh looks a fraction more busy than the others.
They were probably all from the same lens...
Shot A clearly has more contrast.
B & C are very difficult to tell apart. A has different objects in the background, but even so the Bokeh looks a fraction more busy than the others.
They were probably all from the same lens...
Sep 28, 2010 at 06:00 AM
p.2 #13Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Todd, this one is going to show you why the 105 2.5 AI-S or 70-200 zoom may be a better option for portraits. The Zeiss (glass #1) is so unbelievably sharp, it needs to be softened. Everyone do yourself a favor and look at the high-res version and flip back and forth with either the zoom or the AI-S....not even close. The Zeiss is 100% for sure #1. The other 2 are a little harder, but I will try. The zoom is #2 with excellent sharpness and very smooth transition to oof areas. I think it has a little more contrast than #3. The 105 2.5 AI-S has a little bit of that soft glow in #3 which is what makes it such an excellent option as far as portrait shots go. I don't want to say it isn't sharp, but it isn't in the league of the other two. If I have these two flopped, Dj, trash your 105 b/c it clearly isn't right
That being said, someone else mentioned, the focus is slightly off in the shots but I think it is still clear to see when looking at the in focus area which lens is which.
Now, go and prove me wrong
That being said, someone else mentioned, the focus is slightly off in the shots but I think it is still clear to see when looking at the in focus area which lens is which.
Now, go and prove me wrong
Sep 28, 2010 at 06:12 AM
p.2 #14Useless Exercise, Part Deux
This is a useless exercise. Thanks for warning me before I read through it and confirmed it.
Sep 28, 2010 at 07:18 AM
p.2 #15Useless Exercise, Part Deux
At the risk of sounding like my wife...
"They all look the same to me."
"They all look the same to me."
Sep 28, 2010 at 07:32 AM
p.2 #16Useless Exercise, Part Deux
I will join that game as well
A. for sure hands down Zeiss
B. I am really leaning to zoom but it is tricky
C. AI glass
A. for sure hands down Zeiss
B. I am really leaning to zoom but it is tricky
C. AI glass
Sep 28, 2010 at 07:37 AM
p.2 #17Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Duuuude. Tell us the answers! I wan't to know what I won....
Sep 28, 2010 at 08:40 AM
p.2 #18Useless Exercise, Part Deux
OK, I will reveal the answers below; but ahead of that, my apologies. First, for posting these threads in the first place, because I know they are at best laden with caveats, and at worst, flame-bait. But I enjoy the guessing game, and I think at least some others do as well. And second because the difference in focal planes complicated this one. I hope to do one more test, more extensive and with better focal accuracy. All I can do is green dot, though, and the tiniest movement in the subject can undo me. I will probably resort to AF fine tune, because I’ve done enough careful shooting and staring at files with these lenses to know that the green dot on my 105 puts the focal plane slightly in front of where the Zeiss and the 70-200 want it.
I don’t think anyone nailed it this time, and Roger (drerka) was the only one to make the right call on the Zeiss. TBH, I suspect the fact that he only looked at web versions helped him to see whatever subtle differences may be there, while pixel-peeping may present a distraction. A missing the forest for the trees kind of thing.
Lens A was the Nikkor 105.
Lens B was the 70-200.
Lens C was the Zeiss.
Before anyone protests, I concede that the focus point for image A, being slightly forward of the other two, was better for yielding overall sharpness in the eyes and face. This was not at all intentional. I have NO agenda here, and I did not cherry-pick images or vary the sharpening at all. I like all of these lenses a lot. The thing that makes me most happy about this test is the following: even if I can nail the focal plane identically and that reveals the Zeiss to be a sharper lens (and my guess is that would be the case), my $160 Nikkor (AI version, not AI-S, btw) is freakin’ awesome.
I don’t think anyone nailed it this time, and Roger (drerka) was the only one to make the right call on the Zeiss. TBH, I suspect the fact that he only looked at web versions helped him to see whatever subtle differences may be there, while pixel-peeping may present a distraction. A missing the forest for the trees kind of thing.
Lens A was the Nikkor 105.
Lens B was the 70-200.
Lens C was the Zeiss.
Before anyone protests, I concede that the focus point for image A, being slightly forward of the other two, was better for yielding overall sharpness in the eyes and face. This was not at all intentional. I have NO agenda here, and I did not cherry-pick images or vary the sharpening at all. I like all of these lenses a lot. The thing that makes me most happy about this test is the following: even if I can nail the focal plane identically and that reveals the Zeiss to be a sharper lens (and my guess is that would be the case), my $160 Nikkor (AI version, not AI-S, btw) is freakin’ awesome.
Sep 28, 2010 at 08:54 AM
p.2 #19Useless Exercise, Part Deux
I always said I reserve the right to be wrong
toche'
nikkor is dead long live nikkor
J
toche'
nikkor is dead long live nikkor
J
Sep 28, 2010 at 08:58 AM
p.2 #20Useless Exercise, Part Deux
Going back over the thread, I should also give Smiert "honorable mention" for being the only one to believe the old AI could yield the quality of image A.
Sep 28, 2010 at 09:00 AM