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Archive 2010More Uselessness
p.1 #1More Uselessness
Zeiss 100 Makro-Planar vs. Nikkor AI 105/2.5. Again. 
If you're tired of my half-baked Zeiss vs. Nikkor tests, please look away. I was bored tonight, and no people to shoot. I'm not showing 100% crops this time, but I think I was more accurate in equalizing the focal planes than with the last test. All images were processed precisely the same way (shot in RAW, pre-sharpened in Lightroom, exported as jpg, sharpened in PS. No WB changes, no Levels or Curves, just my basic sharpening routine. We have some specular highlights this time. This one should be pretty easy, if you look carefully, and I like the Zeiss better. Still, the Nikkor is damn impressive. These were all shot at f/4, and approaching (within a foot, maybe) the minimum focus distance of the Nikkor. Each pair (pair A and pair B) has one image from each lens.
Have a guess if you like.
I'll reveal the answers tomorrow, and then I have one more EASY comparison that no one should get wrong.
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/a1.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/a2.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/b1.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/b2.jpg
If you're tired of my half-baked Zeiss vs. Nikkor tests, please look away. I was bored tonight, and no people to shoot. I'm not showing 100% crops this time, but I think I was more accurate in equalizing the focal planes than with the last test. All images were processed precisely the same way (shot in RAW, pre-sharpened in Lightroom, exported as jpg, sharpened in PS. No WB changes, no Levels or Curves, just my basic sharpening routine. We have some specular highlights this time. This one should be pretty easy, if you look carefully, and I like the Zeiss better. Still, the Nikkor is damn impressive. These were all shot at f/4, and approaching (within a foot, maybe) the minimum focus distance of the Nikkor. Each pair (pair A and pair B) has one image from each lens.
Have a guess if you like.
I'll reveal the answers tomorrow, and then I have one more EASY comparison that no one should get wrong. http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/a1.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/a2.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/b1.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/b2.jpg
Oct 08, 2010 at 07:51 PM
p.1 #3More Uselessness
A1 and B2 Zeiss. Seems Catfur and I are in synch. We'll see if we're right.
Oct 08, 2010 at 08:42 PM
p.1 #4More Uselessness
The pairs are so close I don't think there is enough between the lenses. I like A2 and and B1 ever so slightly more.
S-
S-
Oct 08, 2010 at 08:46 PM
p.1 #7More Uselessness
Zebrabot = the user 90% of the forum has on hide-list...
Oct 08, 2010 at 10:36 PM
p.1 #9More Uselessness
ulrikft2 wrote:
Zebrabot = the user 90% of the forum has on hide-list...
thanks for reminding me of that feature
J
Zebrabot = the user 90% of the forum has on hide-list...
thanks for reminding me of that feature
J
Oct 08, 2010 at 10:42 PM
p.1 #10More Uselessness
Let's see how sharp you folks are! I'm going to type two sentences, one with a Unicomp keyboard, and the other with a Fujitsu keyboard.
Let's see who can tell them apart!
This is sentence one.
This is sentence two.
Ok rock stars, which keyboard was used to type each sentence?
Let's see who can tell them apart!
This is sentence one.
This is sentence two.
Ok rock stars, which keyboard was used to type each sentence?
Oct 08, 2010 at 11:21 PM
p.1 #11More Uselessness
thanks... just did the "hide me" thing on that guy. Whew! Glad that feature is there.
Oct 08, 2010 at 11:54 PM
p.1 #12More Uselessness
A1 and B1 are both with the same lens. I think it was the Zeiss.
Oct 09, 2010 at 12:41 AM
p.1 #13More Uselessness
Let's see how sharp you folks are! I'm going to type two sentences, one with a Unicomp keyboard, and the other with a Fujitsu keyboard. Let's see who can tell them apart! This is sentence one. This is sentence two. Ok rock stars, which keyboard was used to type each sentence?
Haha nice one.
Hard to tell which is which, but somehow it seems the nikon is undervalued and perhaps the zeiss is overvalued
Haha nice one.
Hard to tell which is which, but somehow it seems the nikon is undervalued and perhaps the zeiss is overvalued
Oct 09, 2010 at 01:29 AM
p.1 #14More Uselessness
pdxflint wrote:
thanks... just did the "hide me" thing on that guy. Whew! Glad that feature is there.
+1(00)
thanks... just did the "hide me" thing on that guy. Whew! Glad that feature is there.
+1(00)
Oct 09, 2010 at 01:46 AM
p.1 #15More Uselessness
Thanks, Todd. Interesting.
Despite the pictures are rather small, I still think there is a visible difference.
A2 and B2 show better contrast and more three-dimensionality, often said to be virtues of the classic Zeiss rendering.
Therefore my guesses and prejudiced expectations would be these:
A1 and B1 are with the Nikkor AI.
A2 and B2 are with the Zeiss ZF.
The difficulty with making comparisons like this is to succeed to put the focus plane at exactly the same place. Otherwise we may get confusing results.
Still, I'm prepared to take full responsibility of my above guesses, and in case I'm wrong I'm ready to revise my prejudices. At least partly. For a while
(I have edited this post, since at first I thought the Nikon was the new AF-S 105 VR).
Despite the pictures are rather small, I still think there is a visible difference.
A2 and B2 show better contrast and more three-dimensionality, often said to be virtues of the classic Zeiss rendering.
Therefore my guesses and prejudiced expectations would be these:
A1 and B1 are with the Nikkor AI.
A2 and B2 are with the Zeiss ZF.
The difficulty with making comparisons like this is to succeed to put the focus plane at exactly the same place. Otherwise we may get confusing results.
Still, I'm prepared to take full responsibility of my above guesses, and in case I'm wrong I'm ready to revise my prejudices. At least partly. For a while
(I have edited this post, since at first I thought the Nikon was the new AF-S 105 VR).
Oct 09, 2010 at 02:03 AM
p.1 #16More Uselessness
Todd, you really have too much time on your hands............
Oct 09, 2010 at 06:56 AM
p.1 #17More Uselessness
Thanks, Todd. You have reaffirmed my faith in my old Nikkor. No need to spend the money on an expensive Zeiss!
Oct 09, 2010 at 07:16 AM
p.1 #18More Uselessness
Clayton got it right right away, and so did DJ. A1 and B2 are from the Zeiss. One more pair for today...it's a little easier. Which one was shot with the Zeiss? 
I'm giving Zebrabot at least a 50% chance of getting this one right.
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/_D3A4073.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/_D3A4074.jpg
I'm giving Zebrabot at least a 50% chance of getting this one right.
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/_D3A4073.jpg
http://fredmiranda.adamsonstudios.com.s3.amazonaws.com/NvsZ/_D3A4074.jpg
Oct 09, 2010 at 10:03 AM
p.1 #19More Uselessness
Doh!
I've got a similar, but less rigorous test coming up over in the Alt forum, with a twist thrown in.
I've got a similar, but less rigorous test coming up over in the Alt forum, with a twist thrown in.
Oct 09, 2010 at 10:29 AM
p.1 #20More Uselessness
^^ nice one Todd!
with all of these comparisons, i'm surprised you haven't posted your ZF 100 MP for sale yet! haha... from your comparisons and for your use (portraits) it seems like there isn't much benefit having the Zeiss vs your old Nikkor
I think the Zeiss' advantages aren't shown in these comparisons like the MFD (1:2 ratio), and obviously the build (not that the Nikon has a bad build, it's solid, but the Zeiss is like the "Mercedes Benz" of manual lenses)
nice one Todd!with all of these comparisons, i'm surprised you haven't posted your ZF 100 MP for sale yet! haha... from your comparisons and for your use (portraits) it seems like there isn't much benefit having the Zeiss vs your old Nikkor
I think the Zeiss' advantages aren't shown in these comparisons like the MFD (1:2 ratio), and obviously the build (not that the Nikon has a bad build, it's solid, but the Zeiss is like the "Mercedes Benz" of manual lenses)
Oct 09, 2010 at 10:31 AM