Anyone else notice how the market value of a multi-coated 50mm f/1.4
Zuiko shot up and has stayed higher than an "single coated" after I
posted SQF test results on one? Also contributing to that were the
articles in Photo Techniques and Petersen's Photographic about seeking
out multi-coated Zuikos. Well, lets see what happens now that I have
replicated data on a 50mm f/1.8 Zuiko (multi-coated, late "Made in
Japan" variant) using mirror and diaphragm prefire testing.
Here is the data. Most interesting is that the optimum aperture is f/4
vs. f/5.6 in the 50mm f/1.4 That was quite unexpected! I also shot at
f/1.8 with an Olympus 1A filter that "passed" a vertical autocollimator
test. There was no detectable contrast difference with and without
filter, but resolution was slightly lower with one. However, the lens
was refocused after attaching the filter, so the difference could always
be the result of focusing inaccuracy.
OM-2S with mirror and auto diaphragm prefire, serial number 3694244,
paired comparison with sample below to examine potential production
variation; identical coating
Vignetting = C- @ f/1.8, A- @ f/2.8, A thereafter
Distortion = slight barrel
Aperture Center Corner
f/1.8 B C
f/2.8 A- B+
f/4 A+ A
f/5.6 A A-
f/8 A A-
f/11 A- B+
f/16 B+ B
Notes: High contrast at f/1.8 to f/2.8 and f/11 to f/16, very high
contrast at f/4 to f/8.
OM-2S with mirror and auto diaphragm prefire, serial number 5235157,
paired comparison with sample above to examine potential production
variation; identical coating
Vignetting = C @ f/1.8, A- @ f/2.8, A thereafter
Distortion = slight barrel
Aperture Center Corner
f/1.8* B C-
f/1.8 B+ C
f/2.8 A B-
f/4 A+ A-
f/5.6 A A-
f/8 A A-
f/11 A- B+
f/16 A- B+
Notes: Moderately high contrast at f/2.8 and f/8 to f/16, high contrast
at f/1.8, very high contrast at f/4 to f/5.6. * = with an Olympus 1A
filter that "passed" a vertical autocollimator test; lens was refocused
after attaching the filter; no detectable contrast difference with and
without filter.
Having looked at quite a few Nikon AI/AIS, Canon FD and Olympus OM
50-55mm primes, I can confidently say that across the board, Nikkors
have the highest contrast, Zuikos second and Canon third. The Olympus
50mm f/3.5 and 250mm f/2 look like Nikkors in the contrast department.
Some Nikkor zooms look more like Zuikos and Canon almost always seems
flat in comparison to a similar focal length Nikkor or Zuiko. Canon had
very aggressive marketing and their lens line-up shows they wanted to
fill most every focal length or focal range niche with something. They
seemed to market designs that weren't necessarily optical feats d'rigor
(pardon my French). As if someone in corporate was saying: "enough
[design time] is enough, let's just get it to market before Nikon and
Tamron beat us to it." Then they seemed to drop them from production
just as fast. In contrast, Nikon and Olympus kept designs on the market
for longer.
Some Nikkors (like the 85mm f/1.4, 55mm f/2.8) are quite simply world
class optics, bar none. But some of their zooms are clearly inferior to
primes, as Moose Petersen usually notes. All in all, Olympus put out
some fantastic lenses that shouldn't leave users lusting for exotic
glass designs from Tamron, or the newest autofocusing designs from Canon
or Nikon. Consumers today are getting less optical quality for more
money than in the 1980s, even adjusted for inflation. To get Zuiko
quality, you have to pay substantially more in an AF lens. Since AF
systems aren't accurate enough to capture more than 50 lines per mm
resolution, why pay premiums for luxury AF lenses???
My recommendation on a 50mm Zuiko, all measures considered: avoid
filters and use a multicoated 50mm f/1.4 for photography at f/2~2.8, and
an MCv2 50mm f/1.8 for f/4~16. At f/1.2~2: no standouts, so you are
probably better off using faster film so you can stop down to at least
f/2. But for world class performance, I'll pick a 55mm f/2.8 Micro
Nikkor AIS. Heresy, eh? No, just splitting hairs on a Technical Pan neg.
Gary Reese
Las Vegas, NV
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|