Lenses and Optics
Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM Early MTF Results
As is sometimes the case, I got access to a couple of pre-release copies of the new Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM lens. Of course, if I get access, it gets MTF bench tested. I mounted the first one, sipped my coffee and then lost my mind and started shouting various expletives, enough to bring Aaron…
MTF Results for Recent Sigma Art Lenses
> _And you may find yourself in a shotgun shack._ > _And you may find yourself in another part of the world._ > _And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile._ > _And you may find yourself in a beautiful house._ > _And you may ask yourself, well, what should I shoot with?_ A…
Assembling the C-4 Optics 4.9mm f3.5 Hyperfisheye Prototype
You guys have watched us gut a lot of lenses and cameras over the years. So I thought it would be fun for you to see us put one together from scratch. Compared to many of the lenses we’ve taken apart, this is all mechanical lens is rather simple: no focus motors, image stabilizers, etc. But even a…
Disassembly of the Canon RF 50mm f1.2L
_It is the best of lenses, it is the worst of lenses, it is the lens of perfection, it is the lens of complexity, it is the lens of new technology, it may be the lens of non-repairability._ A little while ago, Canon released the computer generated MTF charts for the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 lens.…
Using Rapid MTF Testing – How We Test & Monitor Our Lenses
WARNING! THIS IS A GEEK LEVEL III ARTICLE. _It’s about testing, not image making. If you’re into geeky testing stuff, you’ll probably find this fascinating. If you’re not into geeky stuff but are into how lenses change over time, you’ll find skimming it worthwhile. If you’re a Fanboy or Fangirl,…
MTF Tests for the Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS II Lens
Back in the day, and it was way back, my first “L” lens was the Canon 70-200mm f/4L, which I chose primarily because it was a bit sharper and a lot cheaper than the 70-200mm f/4L IS. I moved on years ago. Those lenses were good back then, and perhaps adequate for quite a while, but didn’t have a…
First Look of the “Bokeh Master” Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art Series Lens
A couple of years ago I was super excited about the Nikon 105mm f/1.4E. I was so excited I wrote an ode to it. So when Sigma announced their own version with the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art Series, I immediately got excited. I’ve been a massive fan of the Art series primes since they first debuted, and…
MTF Tests for the Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art Series Lens
Most of you know I’m a big fan of Sigma’s Art prime lenses. They give superior optics at excellent prices just about every damn time. I’ve been more mixed in my opinions of Sigma’s Art zoom lenses. I thought the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art was the best 24-105mm I’ve ever tested (and I hate testing…
Comparing the Best Ultra Wide Zoom Lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony & Sigma
Wide angle zoom lenses are a dime-a-dozen but are often seen on crop-frame cameras. When it comes to full-frame cameras, on the other hand, the wide-angle zoom options are few and far between if you want good range, quality, and low distortion. In this comparison, we’ll be looking at four…
Looking at Cine Lens Color Shifts Using Spectrometry
Please Note: This is brand-new stuff that we’re publicly experimenting with. We post it because it’s fun and interesting and we usually get pertinent comments and criticisms that help us refine what we’re doing. For those of you who don’t science much, please remember we’re still testing and…
A Geek of Many Colors – Adventures in Spectrometry
Please Note: _This is a Geek Level 3 Article. It has no useful information about photography or videography. If you’re a lens geek, though, it’s kind of cool. And it will serve as our background and methods for upcoming articles._ ## _Well . . . How did I get here?_ _David Byrne_ One of the nice…
Veydra Cine Mini Prime MTF Optical Bench Tests
I have my preconceived notions, just like anyone else. A long while back the video techs told me we were stocking Veydra Primes in multiple focal lengths for m4/3 mounts. I just rolled my eyes and passed on by. Another boutique lens that would have poor resolution, ridiculous copy-to-copy…