Digital BW, The Print

pr_roark wrote:
>> This lens may be one of the best wides available for the 5D II:
>>
> http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091901carl_zeiss_distagon_t_21mm.asp
> 
> I love seeing competition with the OEM lenses by top optical 
> companies.  But, I must say, I have a "legendary Distagon" lens on my 
> SL66, and like all other retro-focus lenses, even when film is used 
> they are second rate compared to symetrical designs.  When one adds the 
> digital artifacts to the retrofocus wide angle performance, the results 
> I've seen leaves a fair amount to be desired.  
> 
> What I would like to see is high resolution MTF curves of these 
> lenses.  While Canon's low resolution MTF charts are of some value, I 
> have yet to find a substitute for the old Photodo tests and actually 
> trying the lens.  Some of the European magazines may have these, but 
> I'm not that familiar with them.  
> 
> I suspect the digital wide angle that will convert me will be a 
> symetrical lens design on a dedicated wide angle rangefinder, 20+ mp 
> camera.  Microlenses on the sensor that are matched to the short focal 
> length probably have the best chance of catching MF and larger format 
> film performance, and I think several companies are moving in that 
> direction.

I guess for true symmetrical wide angles you have to stay
with film. None of the wide angle designs from Leica,
Schneider, Rodenstock for digital sensors used without a
mirror box is symmetrical and the trend in new designs
(Leica) show it even more. They do not have to be retro-focus
in that case but they all try to get the angle right at
which the light rays fall on the sensor. Biogon designs are
not symmetrical either and tend to become less symmetrical
too. If the "symmetrical" actually refers to non retro-focus
then there's plenty choice.

What is available from European tests is represented on the
Photozone pages and in Colorfoto test downloads (available
for a fee). I'm not that familiar with the tests to know
which one is better or measures up to the old Photodo tests.
These days they have to be tested for every sensor type to
know what the combined result is so plain lens tests are not
saying enough. For non DSLR you better read what Erwin Puts
writes about M mount lenses. The recent Leica wide angles
are no longer short either.

www.photozone.de
www.colorfoto.de

http://www.imx.nl/photo/Analysis/page118/page118.html


-- 
Met vriendelijke groeten,  Ernst


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