I fully realize that modern lens design has lifted zooms into territory
once occupied only by primes. As you mention, the market dictates that
primes with the same technology applied aren't a priority. But my
problem with zooms is how they change visualization and the process of
taking a photo. Again, that's for ME, and I know that I could change
my methods to suit. And I likely will, at some point, but I am
currently in training as a curmudgeon.
Earl
Moose wrote:
>Winsor Crosby wrote:
>
>
>
>>I think Oly is not alone. Most lens development seems to be going to
>>zooms and fast, long primes.......I have not looked at Canon's site, but if
>>you
>>look at the lens site for Nikon Japan you will find that the MTFs for
>>the recent zoom lenses are better than the MTF of the primes, even the
>>ones with outstanding reputations.
>>
>>
>>
>I think what is happening here is that, while some folks, like me, have
>been happily playing with our old MF lenses, major strides in lens
>design have been happening over in AF land*.
>
>In the world of old MF lenses, it's pretty exciting when a lens includes
>an ED/LD element. The newer designs are using multiple "special"
>elements. The Tamron 28-300 Di I've raved about has 15 elements, the
>same as Oly's first zoom, the 75-150. However, 3 of those elements are
>made of "special" glass of 3 types and 3 are aspherical.
>
>The result of these current materials and methods is strikingly
>improvment over most older zooms. Remember Gary's lens test statement
>about the Tamron SP 80-200 ED? "80mm focal length performance rivals the
>best of prime lenses." Well, that is true of more top line lenses over
>more of their focal range than back then.
>
>So if the market likes zooms, and you can make them essentially as good
>as primes, why make primes? Especially when you are imaging through
>anti-aliasing filters that limit how much of the resolution you can
>actually use.
>
>Sure, the best primes will continue to be as good as, and often better
>than, the best zooms, although not by much, and will continue to rule
>the speed roost, at least for now. But the days where one could
>automatically assume a prime was better than a zoom without asking which
>prime and which zoom are looong gone.
>
>Moose
>
>*Not that the same things couldn't be made in MF, but that's not where
>the market is.
>
>
>
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