Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: MarkWelsh on November 10, 2005, 07:51:35 pm

Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: MarkWelsh on November 10, 2005, 07:51:35 pm
I'm gradually compiling my archive of lens tests (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests) on the 1Ds and 1Ds II, doing the kind of Olympus v Zeiss v Canon tests that are hard to find elsewhere, with particular attention to wide angles in the 17-24mm range.

Your tests and contributions are welcome.

There is also an up to date list of EOS adaptor sources and compatibility information (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/compatible.html).

And who would have thought after three years of testing that the last lens standing would be a Nikon zoom? Is my AFS 17-35mm really as good as a Leica 19? I can't quite believe how good this one is myself. Please tell me if I'm doing something wrong!
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: lester_wareham on November 13, 2005, 06:55:22 am
Some interesting tests. Keep them coming.

A bit worrying about the 17-40.

I notice you ranked the 16-35 slightly above the 17-40. Although the 16-35 MTF plots show it to be quite a bit less sharp at f8 than the 17-40.

Have you tried more than one 17-40?

Could you also add a methodology page to we can understand what you are doing better.


Lester
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: MarkWelsh on November 13, 2005, 04:42:58 pm
Thanks Lester: most of the pages say something about test conditions in the small print. Most of the results are based on single sample tests, but where I have owned or tested more than one, I have adjusted the ratings accordingly to average out the samples. In the case of the Canon 17-40mm, I've used three samples, and all of them were worse than my Sigma 15-30mm (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests) from 17-28mm. Testing them one at a time is a tricky business (http://www.bizgiftdirect.co.uk), but running multiple sample tests is a nightmare!
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: MarkWelsh on November 15, 2005, 09:27:54 am
New tests (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests) now online: just added the Leica 21-35 v Zeiss 21mm f2.8 test, and the one I shot last week, comparing the Zeiss 18mm f4 with the Nikon AFS 17-35mm f2.8 - how insanely great is this lens??
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: David R. Gurtcheff on November 15, 2005, 12:54:36 pm
Quote
New tests (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests) now online: just added the Leica 21-35 v Zeiss 21mm f2.8 test, and the one I shot last week, comparing the Zeiss 18mm f4 with the Nikon AFS 17-35mm f2.8 - how insanely great is this lens??
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Mark: thanks for sharing your tests. I find them interesting and valuable. Very kind of you to share all of your hard work.
Best regards
Dave G.
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: Julian Love on November 15, 2005, 02:19:29 pm
Very interesting tests. Thanks for sharing with us. I know people go on and on about the Zeiss 21mm, but it is extremely impressive!

If you get a chance to compare some of these lenses to the Canon 16-35 (my current WA lens) I would be very interested to see how they compare.

Julian
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: MarkWelsh on November 16, 2005, 04:29:30 pm
Just now I've updated the site with a group test of the Canon 16-35mm f2.8 v Olympus 18mm v Contax Zeiss 18mm (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests)

The results make interesting viewing.

If I owned a 16-35mm L, I would take this as good news, though: better quality is available for relatively modest outlay.

And yes, the Zeiss 21mm is very special: still not hyped beyond its ability!

If you find the tests useful, please remember that the site is financed by the honour system (good old Google!) I can't abide the increasing numbers of photography sites that charge to view their tests.
Title: 1Ds II Lens Test Archive
Post by: MarkWelsh on November 17, 2005, 05:54:24 pm
Also new:

Tamron 28-75mm v Sigma 24-70mm DG v Zeiss 35mm f2.8 (http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests)