Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Henry Goh on June 14, 2009, 11:51:12 am
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I intend to use this range forcommercial work. Is this lens able to deliver?
Anyone using this lens for advertising or product shoots?
Thanks.
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I intend to use this range forcommercial work. Is this lens able to deliver?
Anyone using this lens for advertising or product shoots?
Thanks.
What digiback are you using?
I have the Hasselblad 50-110, and it would be nice to set up a test... but I have a Sinar P3 and a set of apo-digitars for commercial/pictorial work.
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Pics are undersaturated and not as sharp, compared with any of the primes. Used it at the weekend for personal shooting, and forgot how 'different' it was from the primes. Wouldn't dream of using it for any shots for clients. That might seem a little harsh, but I just wouldn't!
EDIT: Thats shooting to a P45
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It's an ok lens when stopped down a bit under good light, but I would much rather prefer the primes.
in my collection of lenses it's the worst one.
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I really do not like mine at ALL.
Also no mentions that it DOES NOT focus at all close to subject. Not even at a decent distance.
This is the worst lens I have shot with the AFD.
Speaking of which I really like my 120 macro and I use a 80 1.9 for more "arsty" stuff.
But what is the next best lens.
I have the 35mm but do not really like it either.
Any suggestions. I have the 80mm 2.8 but never use it either.
Which is better the 55mm AF or the 45 AF? I never shoot above 120mm so I would like to try another lens.
Sure wish they'd get off their asses and make a decent Zoom and those Leaf shutter lens they have been promising for a decade!
Snook
As Jon Stewart asked.
Mine is on a P30.
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I just must be lucky because my Mamiya 55-110 is very sharp and contrasty with a P30. I have a 35, 80, 120, and 150 prime for comparison and the 55-110 is my most used lens then the 35 then the 105-210 not sure what others are seeing but I love my 55-110 (this is with manually focusing)
Marc
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I just must be lucky because my Mamiya 55-110 is very sharp and contrasty with a P30. I have a 35, 80, 120, and 150 prime for comparison and the 55-110 is my most used lens then the 35 then the 105-210 not sure what others are seeing but I love my 55-110 (this is with manually focusing)
Marc
Hi, Mine is sharp as well, and AF 55-110. I use with Aptus 65. My 28mm is the sharpest I have but I find the 55-110 perfect fine. Obvious there is a price difference between the two (thus I am sure the 75-150 is sharper but as 28mm is $$$). I sold my 35mm early last year because with Aptus 65 it was not sharp enough while with ZD it was fine. I think my 55-110 is probably a at least as sharp as my 80 f/1.9 if that gives an indication. I do prefer the 80 f/1.9 due shallower DOF and lighter weight, but different tools...
If I am correct, I believe there are some sample variations of the 55-110.
Regards
Anders
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I intend to use this range forcommercial work. Is this lens able to deliver?
Anyone using this lens for advertising or product shoots?
Thanks.
We shot this with an Aptus 33 & 55-110....
http://www.montalbetticampbell.com/#a=0&am...amp;s=1&p=0 (http://www.montalbetticampbell.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=1&p=0)
http://www.montalbetticampbell.com/#a=0&am...amp;s=2&p=0 (http://www.montalbetticampbell.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=2&p=0)
I think the it was around f11 which is what we normally shoot in the studio. I paid $850.00 used & I think it is a very use full lens to have. it was also great for hand held work with the ZD camera, very light weight (870gms) especially when you compare it to the HC 50-110 zoom (1650 gms).
Denis
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I have found the 55-110 sharp enough that I seldom put the 55AF or 80AF 2.8 on the camera. I use a P45+ back.
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Thanks everyone for your help.
I guess this is not one lens that you can order without trying first.
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I find the 55-110 to be sharp as well but I rarely shoot wider than f/8. P30 images shot with this lens can be printed 40x50 with very good results the P45 even better.
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I find the 55-110 to be sharp as well but I rarely shoot wider than f/8. P30 images shot with this lens can be printed 40x50 with very good results the P45 even better.
just did a test with it.
don't bother with the 110mm range (supersupersoft)
80mm is ok,mediocre.
didn't really check the 55mm.
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I guess some of us have real bad copies!
It would have been interesting to know what sensor people were using.
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I think if Mamiya is able to get their 45-90mm zoom properly designed and manufactured, then, they can drop the 55-110mm altogether.
Fingers crossed.
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I think if Mamiya is able to get their 45-90mm zoom properly designed and manufactured, then, they can drop the 55-110mm altogether.
Fingers crossed.
don't cross your fingers too hard.
I waited for it until my fingers bled haha
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I think if Mamiya is able to get their 45-90mm zoom properly designed and manufactured, then, they can drop the 55-110mm altogether.
Fingers crossed.
Ahhh! That explains it. Mamiya obviously dropped mine before I got it!
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I think that the lenses are probably consistent... has anyone who thinks that this lens is sharp seen the results alongside those from a Rodenstock HR or a Schneider Apo-Digitar on a 50 or 60 Mega-pixel back, at 100%?
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I think that the lenses are probably consistent... has anyone who thinks that this lens is sharp seen the results alongside those from a Rodenstock HR or a Schneider Apo-Digitar on a 50 or 60 Mega-pixel back, at 100%?
Good question but I wouldn't expect them to be anywhere close. Surely none of the film glass, zoom or prime, could compare favorably to a digital specific lens from either of these MFG.
When deciding if a lens is sharp or not I tend to take the fact that it is film and zoom into consideration. Even so, I find the 55-110 at 110 close enough in sharpness to the 120 prime that you would be hard pressed to see the difference on a properly sharpened image. Perfectly usable for large format (single frame printed 30x40-40x60) landscape work which is what I do.
I have done resolution chart comparisons with the 55-110, 80, and 120 with the P30 but have not tested them against my schneider glass or the P45 since I recently received both. The P30 is noticeably soft compared to the P45. When I get my P65 next month I will go through the process again and will include the digitar glass in that mix for comparison.
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I very informally compared the Schneider 80N against the Mamiya 80 (af, but not D), and the 55-110@80. The quality of the images was in the same order.
I'm not sure that it's fair comparing the 55-110 against the Schneider; it's like comparing an MPV against a Ferrari. A Ferrari can go quick, but where do you put the kids?
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I would really appreciate if we kept to my original question and not go off thread.
Thank you.
Now, anyone else can say they have a sharp copy of this lens?
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I would really appreciate if we kept to my original question and not go off thread.
Thank you.
Now, anyone else can say they have a sharp copy of this lens?
I bought one used, and the IQ was unacceptable so sold it. The 45 and 80 (older versions) were much better at equivalent focal lengths.
Paul
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I bought one used, and the IQ was unacceptable so sold it. The 45 and 80 (older versions) were much better at equivalent focal lengths.
Paul
Thanks Paul.
looks like it is dicey buying this fella.
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hey Guys I am interested in picking of either the 45 or the 55 and arguments to go either way. are they both good or both bad, contrast sharpness etc...?
Thanks for any suggestions.
I have the 35mm but don't really love it.
Snook
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hey Guys I am interested in picking of either the 45 or the 55 and arguments to go either way. are they both good or both bad, contrast sharpness etc...?
Thanks for any suggestions.
I have the 35mm but don't really love it.
Snook
I tested 3 different 45's, including the newest D model, and none of them had usable corners on full frame digital (P45+). The centers were very good with excellent contrast and I suspect they would be fine on a crop-sensor back like the P30+, but not on FF. In fact, the 55 end of the worst 55-110 I ever tested was way better than any of the 45's I tried.
In contrast, the 55 AF prime is a very good lens, sharp corner-to-corner on FF.
But... I have migrated to an older Mamiya 50mm shift lens as my 45/55 prime of choice. It is very sharp and offers 20mm of shift which comes in handy on that focal length. No AF and all manual aperture, but I like the lens.
Cheers,
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I tested 3 different 45's, including the newest D model, and none of them had usable corners on full frame digital (P45+). The centers were very good with excellent contrast and I suspect they would be fine on a crop-sensor back like the P30+, but not on FF. In fact, the 55 end of the worst 55-110 I ever tested was way better than any of the 45's I tried.
In contrast, the 55 AF prime is a very good lens, sharp corner-to-corner on FF.
But... I have migrated to an older Mamiya 50mm shift lens as my 45/55 prime of choice. It is very sharp and offers 20mm of shift which comes in handy on that focal length. No AF and all manual aperture, but I like the lens.
Cheers,
Thank you Jack.. I appreciate it.
I have some older manula focus I will playing with also.
Will also see if Franks tip will help my 55-110 which I do not like. It also does not focus reasonable close at all which stinks also, but not the end of the world.
Thank you
Snook
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I tested 3 different 45's, including the newest D model, and none of them had usable corners on full frame digital (P45+). The centers were very good with excellent contrast and I suspect they would be fine on a crop-sensor back like the P30+, but not on FF. In fact, the 55 end of the worst 55-110 I ever tested was way better than any of the 45's I tried.
In contrast, the 55 AF prime is a very good lens, sharp corner-to-corner on FF.
But... I have migrated to an older Mamiya 50mm shift lens as my 45/55 prime of choice. It is very sharp and offers 20mm of shift which comes in handy on that focal length. No AF and all manual aperture, but I like the lens.
Cheers,
45mm lens is one of my favs. I have no complaints about this one.
mine is the normal 45mm AF version
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Thank you Jack.. I appreciate it.
I have some older manula focus I will playing with also.
Will also see if Franks tip will help my 55-110 which I do not like. It also does not focus reasonable close at all which stinks also, but not the end of the world.
Thank you
Snook
You are welcome. And yes, that's true about the MFD of the 55-110 --- it is pretty long, like 1.5 meters and it can be problematic at times. However for landscape, it has not been a big issue for me. Also, I carry the 1 and 2 tubes for whenever I need to get closer. AF is disabled with the tubes, but all other functions including focus confirmation work.
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45mm lens is one of my favs. I have no complaints about this one.
mine is the normal 45mm AF version
If you are shooting full frame digital, can you please post a full corner crop from any image with recognizable detail at say f8? I'd seriously like to be convinced there are good samples of that lens available so I can go back on the hunt for one!
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There was an article recently on LL that has tested the mamiya zoom and found it to be excellent - http://www.josephholmes.com/news-medformatprecision.html (http://www.josephholmes.com/news-medformatprecision.html)
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There was an article recently on LL that has tested the mamiya zoom and found it to be excellent - http://www.josephholmes.com/news-medformatprecision.html (http://www.josephholmes.com/news-medformatprecision.html)
The author claims the lenses are very inconsistent though, backing up that view throughout. (But I find this true of all lenses).
Problem, OP wants sharp. Define sharp.
No, 55-110 is not 'digitar' sharp. Its not as sharp as the standard 80 (which is digitar sharp by the way)
But its a zoom folks. Thats right, its a bit of a compromise. I use it a lot though. Honestly can't see problems with saturation etc, but yes would like it a bit sharper... but its a zoom. It does the job, particularly at f11.
Compared with a Contax 55, this can suck at the 55 wide end. But guess what, I don't own a contax system... and...yes... its a zoom!
I use it with an Aptus 75.
I don't tend to shoot tethered looking at the eyes of a model at 200%, nor would I use this lens to try and emulate large format landscape photography though. So perhaps I'm not as demanding as some here. When detail is the goal, I stick to the 80 or to my digitars.
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No, 55-110 is not 'digitar' sharp. Its not as sharp as the standard 80 (which is digitar sharp by the way)
But its a zoom folks. Thats right, its a bit of a compromise.
I don't tend to shoot tethered looking at the eyes of a model at 200%, nor would I use this lens to try and emulate large format landscape photography though. So perhaps I'm not as demanding as some here. When detail is the goal, I stick to the 80 or to my digitars.
Do you know how it compares to the Hasselblad "compromise zoom" 50-110. (Which, I was surprised to see, emulates large format landscape photography... shame that there is no H3 compatible Flexbody.)
I will soon be doing some comparison tests between the Hassy 50 - 110 and a range of Schneider apo-digitars.
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Do you know how it compares to the Hasselblad "compromise zoom" 50-110. (Which, I was surprised to see, emulates large format landscape photography... shame that there is no H3 compatible Flexbody.)
I will soon be doing some comparison tests between the Hassy 50 - 110 and a range of Schneider apo-digitars.
the hassy 50-110mm is great from what I've tested so far.
the mamiya was horrible at 110mm.
Honestly I don't think there's any comparison...
well I guess there are sample variations but it seems like a lot of work to have to sift through samples just to find one good one.
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Jing Q -- still waiting to see a corner crop from your 45mm Mamiya -- PLEASE post it so I can see a good example!
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I use a Mamiya Pro Tl so have the manual 55-110 zzom, I'm very happy with my one, testing on a 22mp back it is very sharp at all focal lengths.
I'm sure it would do just as well with a 39mp back.
Jason