EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-16 11:24:21
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Lens Choice
A defensible test for noise must hold exposure variables constant. Testing a 24-120 zoom against a 50mm f/1.4 is a bad test. Even testing one 50/1.4 lens against another may not be a good choice, even though it’s commonly done.
The very best noise test will use the same lens for every camera. This is not always possible, but it is possible to compare Nikon and Canon DSLR performance this way; the Zeiss ZF 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar is an excellent choice, offering high contrast across the entire frame. An adapter makes this easy.
Spectral transmission
Different lenses have different spectral transmission (color balance) which can significantly impact the transmission of color, especially at the blue and red ends of the spectrum, as well as away from the optical axis (away from the center of the frame). The difference can be quite pronounced—witness the Zeiss ZF 18mm f/3.5 Distagon compared with the Nikon 14-24/2.8 zoom (covered in Zeiss ZF Lenses), both in color and field illumination.
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Diglloyd DAP is DSLR-oriented, but also contains workflow and other topics. Much of the focus is on Canon and Nikon but also Pentax and Pentax medium format.
Special emphasis is placed on lens evaluation, focusing on Canon and Nikon and Sigma lenses, but with a few others like Rokinon/Samyang.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly some of the new Sigma Art lenses vs Nikon and Canon.
- Workflow discusses image organization, raw conversion and post processing. Many examples show processing parameters for direct insight into how the image was converted.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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