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[OM] Re: ZD 50mm f/2

Subject: [OM] Re: ZD 50mm f/2
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:35:09 -0400
You're not wrong.  You're just asking the wrong questions.  The ZD 50mm 
is a macro lens.  It's designed for taking photos at very close 
distances and producing images as large as life size on the sensor. 
None of the test data you have presented tests the ZD 50 in the focus 
range it was actually designed for.

The data on photozone shows that the performance of the two lenses is 
very similar at more normal focusing distances.  At f/5.6 or f/8 it 
would be very difficult to tell these lenses apart.

If you want a macro buy a macro because you want to take life size 
pictures of stamps, coins, flowers, butterflies and ants.  If you want 
sharper pictures keep your 14-54 and put it always on a tripod. 
Reducing the shake by using a tripod will make your pictures sharper 
than a new lens.  In fact the very best lenses don't have any better 
quality than poor lenses if the camera is moving.

As to portraits, sharpness is *not* a desirable characteristic.  Ask 
your wife or girl friend if she wants to see every skin pore, hair and 
wrinkle on her face.  I'll bet I know the answer :-)  In the days of 
film there used to be a big business selling lenses and filters that 
deliberately blurred the image for portraits so the skin would look 
soft.  Today it's done with PhotoShop.

You already have a very good tool.  Just spend more time on learing how 
to use it the best way possible.

Chuck Norcutt


Supat S. wrote:

> Hi list,
> 
> sources:
> 
> zd 50 spec
> http://www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/products/lens/50_20M/index.html
> http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/olympus_50_2/index.htm
> 
> zd 14-54 spec
> http://www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/products/lens/14-54_28-35/index.html
> http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/olympus_1454_2835/index.htm
> 
> leica 14-50 spec
> http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/leica_d_lens/zoom_lens.html
> 
> leica 14-50mm vs zd 50mm
> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&thread=20271951
> 
> questions:
> 
> 1) I have E1 + 14-54, I want to get sharper images, does the 50mm f/2 will 
> give me that? Considering the graph, if I understand correct MTF chart shows 
> the sharpness and resolution.
> 
> 2) From lens structures, 50mm is different, does 50mm sacrifice the peak 
> sharpness (center) (MTF 20 - the graph is always lower that 90%, unlike 
> 14-54 and 14-50) to get the consistency edge to edge level of sharpness?
> 
> 3) For portrait, if I shoot 3 lenses at 50mm, put the model face at the 
> center. Is it true that the detail and sharpness of the model face produced 
> by 14-54 and 14-50 are better than 50mm f2?
> 
> 4) Am I wrong?
> 
> Thank you,
> Supat
> 
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