July 17, 2005 (and still just as relevant in 2008!)
What’s included?
Learn before you buy exactly what you can expect from each of these lenses, both independently and relative to each other. You will be able to start using your chosen lens knowing exactly what to expect from it in terms of sharpness, color fringing, color rendition, flare/ghosting, distortion and handling. Alternately, you may conclude that none of these lenses are appropriate for your needs, saving yourself time and money.
This comparative review was prepared over a period of four weeks and required extensive testing in multiple areas. A single lens reviewed alone offers much less insight than a lens reviewed in the context of other models. Not only are three models of 28mm shift lenses compared, three samples of the PC-Nikkor 28mm/f3.5 were tested, for a total of five (5) lenses. View the Table of Contents for this article.
This review is aimed at photographers who understand that the costs in purchasing a new lens do not stop once it is in hand—it can take considerable time and effort to understand how a lens performs (in multiple areas). Especially with a specialized lens like a shift lens, it is no small matter to understand its performance.
Equipment used for this article included:
- Nikon D2X digital camera
- Really Right Stuff “L” bracket for D2X
- Schneider 28mm/f2.8 PC Super Angulon (1 new sample)
- Nikon PC-Nikkor 28mm/f4 (1 used sample)
- Nikon PC-Nikkor 28mm/f3.5 (3 used samples)
- Nikon MC-20 remote release
- Gitzo G1325 tripod
- Burzynski Protec ballhead
- Really Right Stuff panoramic clamp PCL-1
- Charles Sleicher resolution chart
- Nikon Capture 4.3 and Adobe Photoshop
The article consists of 13 html documents, and is approximately 40 megabytes. Nearly every comparison includes samples from each of the five lenses, together with commentary. Most examples are “actual pixels” crops inline in the page, but high resolution versions are often available too. Some samples are provided as multi-layer TIF files which can be opened in Adobe Photoshop, to ease comparison.
A note to Canon EOS users
The tests were performed using Nikon equipment, but all of these lenses can be used on Canon EOS. Schneider designed the PC Super Angulon to allow the lens mount of choice to be mounted in a just few minutes, using small screws. The PC-Nikkors can be used on Canon EOS via an adapter.
The Nikon D2X contains a 2/3-frame sensor (23.7 X 15.7mm). Canon EOS cameras with similar size sensors such as the 20D and Digital Rebel are likely to see very similar performance to that seen on the D2X. Canon EOS 1Ds and 1Ds Mark II users will see declining performance outside the central 2/3 of the frame; conclusions about this are addressed in the review based on prior shooting experience using the PC Super Angulon on the 1Ds Mark II, though no samples are included.
What does it cost?
This review is no longer available separately. Read it and much more in diglloyd’s Advanced Photography (DAP).
Comments from readers
Marco S, 16 March 2007
Thank YOU Lloyd, for such exhaustive and wonderfully done reviews!
MS, 27 December 2006
I'm reading the 28mm Shift Perspective review now and I'm finding this was money very well spent - thank you for the effort put in to this. I am very much going to look forward to the RAW reviewer read as well.