Topic: short lenses (Read 3284 times)

michele · « **on:** July 16, 2008, 01:33:14 pm »

Hello everybody. I'm looking for some advices. I'm going to buy a digital back, it will be a P45 (it'll depend on the cost if P45 or P45+). I need very short lenses, a 28mm or a 24mm. I don't need shift capabilities, but I need a good lens from the center to the corners. In the web I found few shots taken with the 24mm Digitar from Schneider, but nothing about the 28mm from Mamiya. They are very different, one need a view camera (like Horseman or Cambo), the other is an AF lens. In terms of price they are very similar: I can take the horseman+24mm+accessories for 3800 euros; and the 28mm from mamiya for 3900 euros. I know they are very different speaking about the way they work, and I prefer the 28mm (it will have more life because i'll can use it also with film so with every back in the future with different sensor dimensions), but I'm afraid it is not good in the corners. So, tell me what do you think. I will appreciate very much some tests and comparisons.
P.S. plese, excuse me for my english...
Many thanks!!!!

Jack Flesher · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2008, 02:58:31 pm »

I have the Horseman (does do shifts) with the 35 HR lens on it. I have the 24 Schneider on order for the Horseman and do not have the Mamiya 28, so cannot directly comment on the two. I can tell you the Horseman with the 24 is about the same cost as the Mamiya 28 all by itself, and I can tell you that the HR 35 is an excellent lens, being notably better than the Mamiya 35... (Oh, and I should mention I also shoot the P45+.) I have heard great things about the Schneider 24, and would thus infer it is going to be superior to the Mamiya 28.

Not a precise answer for you, but hope it helps,

Doug Peterson · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2008, 04:13:13 pm »

We did a test comparing a 35mm medium format lens to a large format lens (Schneider lens: APO Digitar f5.6 35mm XL-102deg MC). It's at the bottom of our lens test page. At the top of that section is also a 28mm lens sample I shot on South Beach.

Nothing will compare favorably head to head with the newer "digital" large format lenses. If you can tolerate the slower workflow (no AF, no auto exposure, rangefinder or ground glass composition) that comes with the LF lenses then it is more than worth it; they are technical perfection. Otherwise the Wide MF glass does a good job. Best case of course would be to have one of each and use each where most appropriate but I'm not the one paying so...

A great person to talk to about the Mamiya 28mm is Don Libby. See his most recent thread at GetDPI: http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2631

By the way, about shift: When shooting with an SLR you might not often say "O I wish I had shift for this picture", but once it's an option you might find interesting uses for it. When its part of the technical possibilities it creeps into the creative possibilities. I know this was the case for me at least.

Doug Peterson
Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer
Personal Portfolio

Jeffreytotaro · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2008, 04:57:44 pm »

Hi Michele:

I use the 24 on a Cambo. It is the sharpest lens I have ever seen, at least in the center. It does get a bit soft on the edges, but it is really nice overall. Compared in size to the Rod 28 you will save pounds of weight, although the 24 does need a center filter and the 28 does not. I have not shot with the 28 but I suspect it is more subject to curvature distortion than the 24 based on it's design (just speculation).

Your other option is to use a technical camera with the 47 lens and stitch together images for wide panoramics. The 47 has lots of movement because of the larger image circle.

Hope that helps.

rainer_v · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2008, 07:26:17 pm »

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Hi Michele:

I use the 24 on a Cambo. It is the sharpest lens I have ever seen, at least in the center. It does get a bit soft on the edges, but it is really nice overall. Compared in size to the Rod 28 you will save pounds of weight, although the 24 does need a center filter and the 28 does not. I have not shot with the 28 but I suspect it is more subject to curvature distortion than the 24 based on it's design (just speculation).

Your other option is to use a technical camera with the 47 lens and stitch together images for wide panoramics. The 47 has lots of movement because of the larger image circle.

Hope that helps.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=208750\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

the 28hr has slightly more distortion than the 24xl but its still very good corrected.
its big plus is that it can be used with full sharpness wide open at f4 without centerfilter meanwhile you should stop down the 24xl at least one stop and use a cf.
its farer away for a slight retrofocal design ( around 1,3 ), so sensors react with less color shift,- ( but this you should remove in both cases with white reference shots) .
also the 28hr has a larger image circle which will allow to use it with possible larger sensors till 645.
i would wait in any case till photokina with lens shoppings, if this is possible for you.
the weigth is an important argument, the schneider is very tiny, the rodenstock is a good piece of glass ( although less weigth than the other mf 28 lenses. ).

Don Libby · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2008, 07:31:08 pm »

Hi Michele

There’s been a lot written about the pros and cons of using the (Mamiya) 28mm lens; for me it’s all been about the pros.

I’ve heard and read about others using the 28 on P45’s that are not satisfied with the fringe elements of their images due to either CC or focus issues or a combination of the two. I shoot with a P30+ and have not experienced this problem which may be in part due to the crop factor. I remember that HarperPhotos had some problems with his 28mm but that might have been due to a manufacturing defect.

I highly recommend the lens however that’s speaking from my own experience using the 28 with the P30. I’ve been tempted to try the P45 however I’m afraid that I might like it too much. I’d suggest looking at the great thread here called Recent Works for examples of the lens.

Good luck

don

Btw – your English is great!

HarperPhotos · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2008, 09:08:56 pm »

Hi Michele and Don,

Yes Don is right about my first Mamiya 28mm lens it was faulty but Mamiya Japan quickly replaced it within a week of contacting them.

The replacement is working beautifully even doing car interiors.

Stats:

Mamiya 645AFDII
Mamiya AF 28mm Lens
Leaf Aptus 75
F13.0, 4th Sec, 50ISO
Bowens Flash
Processed in Adobe CS3

Cheers

Simon

michele · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:29:58 am »

Thank you everybody, I appreciate very much!!!!
Byebye

bryanyc · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2008, 09:13:13 am »

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The replacement is working beautifully even doing car interiors.

warning: passenger door open!

HarperPhotos · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2008, 07:22:59 pm »

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warning: passenger door open!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=208893\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Gidday Bryanyc,

Not any more.

Cheers

Simon

bryanyc · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2008, 11:32:33 pm »

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Gidday Bryanyc,

Not any more.

Cheers

Simon
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=209014\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

That was too obvious and was certainly going to disappear in post. It was a nice shot for sure.

Author Topic: short lenses (Read 3284 times)