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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

MTF for Sigma 135mm f/1.8A

MTF from Sigma is not appropriate for the claimed performance, particularly in the context of high-res digital cameras. That is, the MTF is shown only for f/1.8 and only at 10 and 30 line pairs per millimeter—bordering on silly for a lens claiming “ultra high resolution” for cameras up to 50 megapixels as of its 2017 introduction.

Zeiss uses 10/20/40 line pairs, and measures real lenses on the K8 MTF tester with white light and measures multiple apertures using a real lens (not a theoretical computed number), a procedure I was shown in person in Oberkochen. I do not find the Sigma MTF charts credible as more than roughly what the behavior might be with an ideal sample: my field testing with real lenses shows reality. In particular, the 85/1.4 Art was a jarring disappointment at odds with its claimed performance. My skepticism extends to Leica and Nikon and Canon and Fujifilm. None of those players do it right either.

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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.

Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Nikon or on Canon or on Pentax.

MTF @ f/1.8 for Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

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