p.1 #1 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
Hello,
As most know the 1.4/85 suffers from pretty tangible focus shift giving it an erroneous reputation of being soft. The 1.4/50 does not, neither does the 2/35 nor the 2/100 as far as I can tell.
However, being on the waiting list for the 1.4/35ZF it just dawned on me that what if that lens too will have this problem (it is a fault associated with ultra fast primes if I'm not mistaken)? Giving up the stellar 2/35 for a faster and much more expensive lens with focus shift problems will feel awkward to say the least.
Is the design (distagon-formula) susceptible to focus shift historically and how about retro focus wideangle lenses, can any thing in general be said about them on this subject?
I know this is a highly speculative question and in no way do I want to spark an internet rumour so please keep it civil and to the point.
p.1 #5 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
Rodluvan wrote:
I know this is a highly speculative question and in no way do I want to spark an internet rumour so please keep it civil and to the point.
Sounds like you have some experience being flamed on dpr?
No need to worry about that here...
p.1 #8 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
AhamB wrote:
Sounds like you have some experience being flamed on dpr?
No need to worry about that here...
Well, yes, but that wasn't what I was referring to, I don't want to imply that the lens will suffer from any faults prior to even having been released. I am well aware that some lenses gets a internet based bad rep by people perpetuating the same hear-say over and over again.
Mar 10, 2011 at 06:30 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
The new 35 f/1.4 has a floating element so there is good reason to hope that their will not be issues with focus shift. The 50 and 85 f/1.4's don't have a floating element.
Honestly I haven't noticed any, but this doesn't mean it doesn't have it. It's an optical phenomenon that happens to all wide aperture lenses. The ZA and EF are AF lenses, so I would suspect there is some automatic compensation happening in the background.
PS: Just realized these two also have floating elements, so the shift is probably insignificant.
p.1 #11 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
Steve Spencer wrote:
The new 35 f/1.4 has a floating element so there is good reason to hope that their will not be issues with focus shift. The 50 and 85 f/1.4's don't have a floating element.
p.1 #12 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
AhamB wrote:
Sounds like you have some experience being flamed on dpr?
No need to worry about that here...
One thing that I noticed at dpr is the tendency to mediocrity. It's like the members want to pull others down to their level instead of pushing others to improve. Good (and expensive) glass is bashed while cheap kit lenses find so many people to praise their quality. APS-C is better than FF, Canon consumer grade is better than Zeiss, SLT is better than SLR... Etc. Asking such questions as this one on dpr is like asking for a good bashing.
p.1 #14 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
Can't one just shot in stopped down mode? Focus shift is only an issue when the camera automatically stops the lens down from full aperture to take the shot.
p.1 #15 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
JimBuchanan wrote:
Can't one just shot in stopped down mode? Focus shift is only an issue when the camera automatically stops the lens down from full aperture to take the shot.
You mean focus stopped down (like in dof preview)? Sure I guess one could I suppose, but it would render the viewfinder darker and you have to put the camera in the aperture you are going to use every single time, which feels awkward and time consuming etc.
p.1 #17 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
Rod, I shot the ZE 35 f:1.4 very briefly, including at f:2.8, f:2.0 and wide open, at fairly close range (2m maybe) and did not detect any focus shift. A direct comparison with the 35 f:2.0 did not show any either. I am familiar with the issue, as I shoot both 50 f:1.4 and 85 f:1.4. So this is by no means a final statement that there is no focus shift, but at least there is reason to hope...
p.1 #19 · Risk of focus shift issues in new 1.4/35?
JimBuchanan wrote:
Can't one just shot in stopped down mode? Focus shift is only an issue when the camera automatically stops the lens down from full aperture to take the shot.
Rodluvan wrote:
You mean focus stopped down (like in dof preview)? Sure I guess one could I suppose, but it would render the viewfinder darker and you have to put the camera in the aperture you are going to use every single time, which feels awkward and time consuming etc.
Canon EOS bodies do not permit the use of AF while DOF preview is engaged; however, it is possible to use Live View to focus while stopped down.
If a lens is faster than f/2.8, then stopping down should not have a significant impact on viewfinder brightness. Focus shift generally becomes insignificant when a lens is shot at f/4 or slower.
Bear in mind, focus shift is often such a small effect that if you are handholding the camera, camera motion can play more of a role in the accurate placement of focus than the shift itself.
