Using a good crop lens (Nikon) designed for 1.5x crop/image circle to project on an even smaller 2.0X crop sensor for displaying @ small sizes where small resolutions for the web have a smaller ability to distinguish small details can produce viable images. By using the 4/3 sensor, even the edges and corners of the Nikon\'s 1.5X lens have been centrally cropped, such that we are unable to see the strengths / weaknesses of WA glass in the edges and corners (the bane of most WA).
Here, on 4/3 we are mostly seeing Zone A of the Zeiss projection ... Zones A&B of the Nikon and Pentax projections as they have been designed for a different sized image circle.
Great glass is known for much more than just it\'s central sharpness. Great glass is able to handle the entire image circle for which it is designed for ... and do so with a minimal amount of optical flaws / aberrations. Few things are tougher to do than have great \"entire frame\" performance in WA/UWA glass. This is where great glass separates the wheat from the chaff.
If your needs/goals do not incorporate the use of FF sensor / glass ... then you may never be able to fully appreciate the optics of Zeiss 21 or Leica 19 (notice they don\'t make any \"crop\" glass) ... or even the likes of Canon\'s 24L TS-E II or the Oly 18/3.5.
As such, those who have lower needs/goals/demands ... either by application (web), format (1.5x or 4/3) or by size (small printing) may have additional alternatives that those who have more demanding requirements for FF (larger printing, publication, etc.) may not share as viable.
For many people ... they are looking for some grand \"WOW !!! See this is a gazillion times sharper\" epiphany.
For others, they are looking for the absence of problem areas (flare, CA, distortion, vignetting). Comparing glass in a manner (extreme central crop) that avoids the most problematic/challenging areas can render the differences seemingly minor or less distinguishable.
It is interesting to note ... my entire basis for getting involved with alts in the first place ... was that Canon made no UWA glass that was suitable to my standards. Since then, the design of the 24L TS-E II has put Canon in my bag. My Zeiss currently only go as wide as 28mm, with Oly down to 18 ... which btw, the Oly is prone to vignetting ... but on a 4/3 (or 1.5x) sensor you\'d NEVER see it.
Conclusion ... be sure and understand what you are really looking at (and for), rather than what you think you are looking at (and for) ... and use the right tool for the job.
Thanks again, to Bif\'s efforts to tantalize our gray matter ... he loves to see if you are actually using yours ... or just following the crowd.
Apr 19, 2012 at 07:36 AM
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