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Blog Articles Medium Format Mirrorless L-Mount DSLR Zeiss Leica Making Sharp Images BW+IR

swing and tilt

Change in focal plane left to right (swing) or top/bottom (tilt), due to system “slop” from manufacturing tolerances, or with tilt-shift lenses or view cameras as a feature.

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2023-12-30 Case Study: Nailing the Ideal Zone of Focus using Focus BKT

2021-09-23 Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH Aperture Series: Unacceptable Optical Swing (Lens Skew) + Reader Comments

2020-10-23 Compared @ 14mm: Swing and Tilt, Optical Decentering — two Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

2020-10-18 Analyzing Swing and Tilt of Sony A7R IV with Two Samples of Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

2020-10-18 Swing and Tilt: Subject Distance vs Lens Focusing Offset

2018-10-09 Nikon Z7: Image Sharpness vs Zone of Focus, Autofocus Error and Mitigation

2015-07-16 Left/Right Zone of Focus Skew: Not Always the Lens, the Sensor and Lens Mount Might not be Plane-Parallel

How To Get Peak Sharpness With Perfect Focus

Focusing is more complicated than it first appears..

1. Bracket Your Focus
2. Case Study: Major Sharpness Gains via Ideal Focus with Lenses having Peripheral Forward Field Curvature (Pine Creek High Peaks)

Focusing Accuracy (Case Studies)

Focusing accuracy and errors..

1. Case Study: Nailing the Ideal Zone of Focus using Focus BKT

Field Curvature

Zone of focus, not plane of focus.

1. The Zone of Sharp Focus

Focus Shift (Case Studies)

Focus shift with a variety of lenses..

1. Focus Shift Over the Frame, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G (Cabin)

How to Test A Lens

How to verify a good sample and assess all aspects of lens performance..

1. Focusing Accuracy When Testing

Sigma L-Mount

Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art.

1. Shootout: Leica 28/2 APO-Summicron-SL vs Leica 28/1.4 Summilux-M, Leica 28/2 Summicron-M, Sigma 28/1.4 DG HSM Art: Popcorn and Pumpkins (Leica SL2)

Leica 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Super-Vario-Elmar-SL ASPH

Ultra wide angle premium zoom lens relying on distortion correction..

1. Shootout @ 35mm: Leica 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 vs Leica 24-90/2.8-4 vs Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon: Downed Aspen in Lee Vining Creek (Panasonic S1R)

Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit-SL ASPH OIS

All-arounder zoom with dubious optical compromises..

1. Shootout @ 35mm: Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 vs Leica 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 vs Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon: Downed Aspen in Lee Vining Creek (Panasonic S1R)

Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH

Fast short wide angle lens for L-Mount cameras..

1. Shootout: Leica 28/2 APO-Summicron-SL vs Leica 28/1.4 Summilux-M, Leica 28/2 Summicron-M, Sigma 28/1.4 DG HSM Art: Popcorn and Pumpkins (Leica SL2)

Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH

Fast short normal lens for L-Mount cameras..

1. Lens Skew, Optical Swing
2. Aperture Series: Peaks and Valley, Mt Conness Southern Spur
3. Aperture Series: Smoky Sunset, Piper Mountain Wilderness
4. Aperture Series: View North to Mt Conness from Puppy Dome
5. Aperture Series: Backlit Pines among Glacial Erratics fronting Granite Cliff
6. Aperture Series: Backlit Open Forest
7. Aperture Series: View Through Trees towards Cloud’s Rest

Nikon D800E

36 megapixels in a compact full-frame DSLR..

1. Focus Accuracy (Focus Assist with Green Dot)

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Tamron’s ultra wide to medium fast zoom..

1. @15mm vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G Dual Focus: Pescadero Creek Downstream (Nikon D810)

Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art

Fast constant-aperture ultrawide zoom..

1. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Sunlight on the Beaver Pond
2. Aperture Series @20mm: Forest Stream

Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art

Mid-range optimized groundbreaking f/2 zoom..

1. Shootout: vs Sigma 35/1.4A: Aspen With Rust-Colored Trunk

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

The fastest extreme wide angle yet..

1. Aperture Series: Pescadero Creek (Canon 5DS R)

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Sigma’s fast high performance normal lens..

1. Sigma 50/1.4A vs Nikon 50/1.4G, 50/1.8G (Nikon D810, Decorated Bike)

Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Extraordinary optical efforts for class-leading performance?.

1. Examples: Portraits
2. Assessing Focus Shift @ ~1.5m: Picnic Table Wooden Surface

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G

Nikon’s High performance normal lens.

1. Shootout: 58/1.4G vs 50/1.4G, 50/1.8G, 50/1.2 AIS (D800E, Beaver Dam)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

Versatile image-stabilized mid-range zoom..

1. Nikon 24-70/2.8E VR vs 24/1.8G: Snowy White Mountain Road

Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G

State of the art design in a fast 35mm lens..

1. Autofocus Errors with Nikon D3x, D3s

Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G

Relatively inexpensive alternative to the pro 35/1.4G..

1. vs 35/1.4G (D800E, Gray Bench)

Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G

State of the art design in a fast 85mm lens..

1. Aperture Series f/1.4 - f/11 Lembert Dome

Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

Nikon’s ultra wide angle zoom and the Nikon 14mm f/2.8, critical focus shift behavior..

1. Focus Shift: Nikon 14-24 Across The Frame, Focus f/2.8 vs f/5.6 (Cabin)

Medium Format Magazine

Articles written for MediumFormat.com..

1. Maximize Image Quality with Shot Discipline, Part 1: Introduction, Focusing (November 2018)

Schneider Kreuznach LS 40-80mm f/4-5.6

Mid range zoom 27-54mm equivalent for Phase One XF system.

1. Aperture Series @ 55mm: Mosaic (IQ4 150)

Fujifilm GFX100S/100 Comparisons

Is 100 better than 45/50/60 megapixels?.

1. SHOOTOUT: Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 on GFX100S vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM on Sony A1

Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR

Compact wide angle.

1. SHOOTOUT vs Hasselblad XCD 21/4: Colorful Leaves on Still Pool

Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Compact wide angle.

1. Aperture Series: Giant Bay Laurel amid Creekside Forest

Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR

Mid-range zoom lens equivalent to 26-53mm f/3.3..

1. Shootout @ 50mm vs GF 35-70, GF 32-64/4: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek
2. Shootout @ 63mm vs GF 35-70, GF 63/2.8: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek

Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6

Compact wide angle.

1. Shootout @50mm vs GF 35-70, GF 32-64/4: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek
2. Shootout @ 63mm vs GF 32-64/4, GF 63/2.8: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek

Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Slightly wide compact normal lens equivalent to 41mm f/2.9..

1. Shootout @ 50mm vs GF 35-70, GF 32-64/4: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek

Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR

Standard normal lens equivalent to 52mm f/2.3..

1. Shootout @63mm vs GF 35-70, GF 32-64/4: Huge Laurel Along Alpine Creek

Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR

Standard normal lens equivalent to 66mm f/1.4..

1. Aperture Series: Pine Creek Valley and High Peaks
2. Aperture Series: Pine Creek Buildings and Machinery

Hasselblad X2D 100C

Mirrorless large format with leaf shutter lenses, 3rd generation..

1. SHOOTOUT @ 26mm: Hasselblad X2D vs Sony A1: Windswept Bristlecone Pine

Hasselblad XCD 21mm f/4

18mm equivalent..

1. Aperture Series: Rock Creek, Looking Upstream
2. SHOOTOUT @ 21mm: Hasselblad X2D vs Sony A1: Windswept Bristlecone Pine
3. SHOOTOUT vs Hasselblad XCD 21/4: Colorful Leaves on Still Pool

Hasselblad XCD 55mm f/2.5 V

Normal lens equivqlent to 45mm..

1. Aperture Series: Toolshed, Fresh Snow
2. Aperture Series: Oil and Gas Shed In Snowstorm

Milvus 85mm f/1.4

Outstanding build and optical quality in a medium tele..

1. Aperture Series: Yellow Flowers by Waterfall (Nikon D810)

ZF.2/ZE 21mm f/2.8 Distagon

Brilliant imaging, even wide open, but with a few quirks. (Review in progress) .

1. vs Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH (Leica M Typ 240)

25mm f/2 Distagon

Ultra high performance with a fast aperture..

1. Field Curvature (Tioga Pass)
2. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Monolith Snowing
3. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Woods)
4. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Creek)

28mm f/2 Distagon

An artist’s drawing tool..

1. 28/2 Distagon vs Nikon 28/1.8G, 28/2 AIS, Voigtlander 28/2.8 SL II

35mm f/1.4 Distagon

Strokes of a master..

1. vs Sigma 35/1.4 and Nikon 35/1.4G (Nikon D800E, Dolls)

Otus 55mm f/1.4 APO-Distagon

Ultra high performance apochromatic normal lens, first in the Otus line..

1. Field Curvature at Distance, Zone of Focus Placement (NYC Buildings)

100mm f/2 Makro-Planar

King of bokeh! Corner-to-corner sharpness, world class..

1. Examples, ZE for Canon EOS
2. Comparison to Leica 100/2.8 APO, Nikon 105/2.8G (Mining Mill)

Zeiss LensSpire Articles

Articles written for Lenspire.ZEISS.com..

1. Focusing Zeiss DSLR Lenses For Peak Performance, PART ONE: The Challenges 📹
2. Zoom Lens or Prime? 135mm

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

Compact ultra-wide zoom..

1. Shootout @ 24mm vs Canon RF 15-35/2.8L, Canon RF 24-70/2.8L: Alpine Creek

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

Fast ultra wide zoom lens..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra
2. Shootout @ 24mm vs Canon RF 14-35/4L, Canon RF 24-70/2.8L: Alpine Creek
3. Aperture Series @ 35mm: Aerial View of Pine Creek Mine

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM

Fast standard zoom lens..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra
2. Shootout @ 24mm vs Canon RF 15-35/2.8L, Canon RF 14-35/4L: Alpine Creek
3. Aperture Series @ 70mm: Alabama Hills Drainage, View to Mt Whitney

Nikon Z7 Overview, Setup, General

Setup, IBIS performance, focusing..

1. Nikon Z7 Aperture/Lens Diaphragm Behavior While Viewing/Focusing

Nikon Z7 IBIS and Focusing

Setup, IBIS performance, focusing..

1. Autofocus Accuracy: Zone of Focus Error, Example and Mitigation
2. Autofocus Accuracy: Pinpoint AF vs Magnified Live View Reference
3. Handheld A/B Comparison With/Without IBIS (Vibration Reduction)

Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S

Fast ultra wide angle for Nikon Z..

1. Shootout vs Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4S: Bonsai Above Beaver Pond

Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

Ultra wide compact zoom for Nikon Z cameras..

1. Shootout vs Nikon Z 20/1.8S: Bonsai Above Beaver Pond
2. Shootout vs Nikon Z 24/1.8S: Clearing Storm Over Mt Conness Eastern Ridge

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

Fast mid-range zoom expressly designed for Nikon Z cameras..

1. SHOOTOUT vs Nikon Z 24-70/2.8S: Beaver Pond, Aerial View

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

Mid-range zoom expressly designed for Nikon Z cameras..

1. Aperture Series @ 70mm: Lower Lundy Canyon Beaver Pond

Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S

Moderate wide angle expressly designed for Nikon Z cameras..

1. Aperture Series: Log Jam at Outlet of Bear Lake
2. Focus Comparison: Refocusing for Each Aperture vs Focusing Wide Open (Stunted Aspen Amid Boulders)
3. Aperture Series: Creek and Aspen and Essence of Eastern Sierra

Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM

Ultra high performance extreme wide angle..

1. Shootout vs Sony FE 12-24/2.8 GM: Backyard

Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G

High performance, high speed..

1. Aperture Series: Backlit Deck and Backyard

Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM

Top-grade medium telephoto..

1. Aperture Series: Dolls

Sigma FE 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

Super-fast ultra-wide astrophotography lens..

1. Aperture Series: Bristlecone View to White Mountain Peak
2. Aperture Series: Expansive View to White Mountain Peak

Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

Native-mount ultra wide angle high performance zoom for mirrorless..

1. Compared @ 14mm: Swing and Tilt, Optical Decentering — Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art and Two Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

Sigma FE 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

Ultra high performance medium telephoto..

1. Aperture Series: Glass Vase
2. 3-Way Shootout: Crooked Creek Canyon View to White Mountain Peak

Voigtlander Z 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical

High-grade manual focus normal lens..

1. SHOOTOUT vs Nikon Z 24-70/2.8S: Beaver Pond, Aerial View

Voigtlander FE 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical

High-grade manual focus wide-normal lens..

1. Focus Shift, Comparing and Mitigating (Roof and Deck)

Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

Fast extreme wide angle zoom..

1. Shootout @ 12mm vs Sony 12-24/4G: Big Tree at Alpine Creek Bend
2. Compared @ 14mm: Swing and Tilt, Optical Decentering —two Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
3. Aperture Series @ 17mm: Big Tree at Bend in Alpine Creek
4. Shootout @ 18mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Batis 18/2.8: First Ice on Beaver Pond, Lundy Canyon
5. Shootout vs Sony FE 12-24mm f2/8 GM: Backyard
6. Shootout @24mm vs Sony FE 24-70/2.8 GM II, Zeiss Loxia 25/2.4 (Deck and Roof)

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G

Extreme wide angle zoom..

1. Shootout @ 12mm vs Sony FE 12-24/2.8GM: Big Tree at Alpine Creek Bend

Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G

Wide range zoom aimed at bloggers..

1. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Riparian Spring Green, Alpine Creek
2. Aperture Series @ 34mm: Riparian Spring Green, Alpine Creek
3. Aperture Series @ 66mm: Alpine Creek

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II

Premiere mid-range zoom for Sony full frame mirrorless.

1. Aperture Series @ 70mm: Deck and Roof
2. Aperture Series @ 63mm: Cabin at Sunrise
3. Shootout @24mm vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, Zeiss Loxia 25/2.4 (Deck and Roof)

Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4G OSS

Wide mid-range zoom targeted at video shooters..

1. Focus Shift Aperture Series @ 83mm: Dolls (A7R II)

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX1 / RX1R

Full frame camera in an ultra-compact body with or without anti-aliasing filter..

1. Aperture Series: Sunset Bristlecone (RX1R)

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 60mm f/2.8 ED Macro

Native Micro Four Thirds macro lens..

1. Compared: 60/2.8 ED Macro vs SHG 35-100/2 ED (Dolls)

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Superb ergonomic design in a compact camera..

1. 12mm Comparison: Olympus SHG 7-14mm f/4 — Olympus 12mm f/2 — Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 and 12-35mm f/2.8 (Garage Bikes)
2. 14mm Comparison: Olympus SHG 7-14mm f/4 — SHG 14-35mm f/2 — Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 and 7-14mm f/4 — 12-35mm f/2.8 (Garage Bikes)
3. 20mm Comparison: Olympus SHG 14-35/2 — Panasonic 20/1.7 and 12-35/2.8 — Canon 40/2.8 STM (Garage Bikes)
4. Effectiveness of Image Stabilization

Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 Distagon

Outstanding ultra wide angle performer..

1. Aperture Series (Night): Golf Carts (A7R II)

Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 Distagon

Outstanding wide angle, superb performer..

1. Aperture Series: Slender Aspen along Trail
2. Shootout @24mm vs Sony FE 12-24//2.8 GM, Sony FE 24-70/2.8 GM II (Deck and Roof)

Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH

Leica’s fastest and widest lens..

1. Comparison: Leica 21/1.4 Summilux-M vs Zeiss 21/2.8 Distagon on D3x
2. Examples: Leica 21/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH

Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH

Leica’s best-performing 24mm, and with a flat field..

1. Aperture Series: DeChambeau Ranch House (M240)

Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH (pre-2016)

Leica’s widest lens utilizing built-in frame lines..

1. Aperture Series: Bare Branches Riparian Tree (M11)

Leica M 50mm Lenses

Six models to choose from..

1. 50mm 4-way Comparison (M240, Wagon)
2. Shootout (Controlled): Leica 50/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH vs 50/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH

Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon

Fast and ultra high performance moderate wide angle rangefinder lens..

1. Examples at ƒ/1.4 in Eastern Sierra and White Mountains (M240)
2. 6-way Shootout: ZM 35/1.4 vs 35/2 and 35/2.8, Leica 35/1.4 and 35/2, Voigtlander 35/1.2 (Wyman Cabin, M240)

Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f/1.8

Fast high performance wide angle..

1. Compared: vs Leica 21/3.4 SEM and Voigtlander 21/4 (M240, Wyman Cabin Interior)

Blog posts, reverse chronological

2023

2023-12-30 Case Study: Nailing the Ideal Zone of Focus using Focus BKT

2021

2021-09-23 Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH Aperture Series: Unacceptable Optical Swing (Lens Skew) + Reader Comments

2020

2020-10-23 Compared @ 14mm: Swing and Tilt, Optical Decentering — two Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

2020-10-18 Analyzing Swing and Tilt of Sony A7R IV with Two Samples of Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

2020-10-18 Swing and Tilt: Subject Distance vs Lens Focusing Offset

2018

2018-10-09 Nikon Z7: Image Sharpness vs Zone of Focus, Autofocus Error and Mitigation

2015

2015-07-16 Left/Right Zone of Focus Skew: Not Always the Lens, the Sensor and Lens Mount Might not be Plane-Parallel