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Just a quick one... on the 50mm 1.4G whats the optimum apeture value for that sharpness "sweet spot"... is it f4 ?
50mm "sweet spot"
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on most prime lenses it is f4 except for expensive ones (post £1000) which are f2.8, zooms are normally one stop behind so a cheap f2.8 zoom should have a sweet spot of around f5.6 and expensive ones can get away with f4.
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I love the concept of a cheap f2.8 zoomis there such a thing?
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8
There's no definitive answer on this one. It will vary lens by lens, zoom or prime.
It's probably fair to say a couple of stops down from maximum aperture and the IQ will have improved noticeably. Certainly the top end primes will be good wide open, but they'll still improve stopped down a bit.
But sharpness isn't everything.
It's probably fair to say a couple of stops down from maximum aperture and the IQ will have improved noticeably. Certainly the top end primes will be good wide open, but they'll still improve stopped down a bit.
But sharpness isn't everything.
Agreed - my 70-200 F4L IS is just as sharp wide open as it is at F5.6 or F8.
Varies lens by lens, copy by copy. So suggest you set-up a tri-pod test in a controlled environment and fire a few test shots. A couple of stops is usually the norm
LongLensPhotography
Th..th..that's all folks!
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I love the concept of a cheap f2.8 zoom
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG - dirt cheap and ugly unless you got really lucky and got a great copy (or just have problems realising what is what on screen).
Normal primes max out at around 5.6, but can be still very sharp between 2.8 to 11 or so, it varies a bit. The extremely expensive ones are sharper wide open (very useable), and max out at 4-5.6, and can be rather disappointing at f8-16 compared with slower ones.
But - to make use of the extra resolution, a high shutter speed or tripod, low iso 100-200, good light and PERFECT FOCUS are needed. In poor light w/o tripod it only makes sense to shoot wide open.
Good zooms - f/5.6 (70-200mm Ls)
Good to Average zooms f/8 (24-70 L)
Poor zooms - f11 (most 'kit' lenses, a lot of wideangles, considering the corners)
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This thread just posted has a lot of relevant figures for Canon lenses. http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=195941 Bear in mind that the peak varies with format, due to diffraction - crop format is about one stop lower.
This test from dpreview suggests that the 50 1.4G Nikon peaks at just under f/8 on full frame, and around f/5.6 on crop format, which sounds right http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_50_1p4g_n15/page4.asp
This test from dpreview suggests that the 50 1.4G Nikon peaks at just under f/8 on full frame, and around f/5.6 on crop format, which sounds right http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_50_1p4g_n15/page4.asp
OP
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thanks for the replies guys.
Basically, I just wanted to take a picture using my 50 at 1.4, 1.8, 2.8,4,5.6 etc etc
the idea being to see if I can notice any difference in IQ using different apeture values and if the difference is even noticeable without pixel peeping....
Basically, I just wanted to take a picture using my 50 at 1.4, 1.8, 2.8,4,5.6 etc etc
the idea being to see if I can notice any difference in IQ using different apeture values and if the difference is even noticeable without pixel peeping....
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that would be good, make sure you post your results on here because it would be interesting.