EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-18 15:53:42
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Shooting wide open results in sharp images across the frame, but there is considerable haze/halo effect due to spherical aberration, which lowers both overall contrast and micro contrast. This effect is a classic look which can be very pleasing for portraits, but it does not deliver the visual impact of a highly corrected lens design like the 55/1.4 APO-Distagon. Still, this classic look is sought-after for some applications.
Stop down one stop to f/2 for a large boost in contrast overall and for fine details, but be aware of focus shift with the 50/1.4 (and most 50/1.4 designs). For more on focus shift, see Making Sharp Images. By stopping down to f/2, half of the peripheral rays are cut off; those rays are divergent from more central rays and this is what improves the contrast. Use of f/2.4 and f/4 extends the benefits for the same reasons.
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