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Re: [OM] Iowa Zuikofest redux

Subject: Re: [OM] Iowa Zuikofest redux
From: Ken Norton <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 21:50:34 -0600
(sorry, hit the wrong key and my email sent).

90/2
F2 is gorgeous. My subject sharpness is a little off for whatever
reason noted above, but the highlights in the background and very
pleasing soft-edged bokeh blobs. World-class bokeh.
F2.8 starts to tighten up. Sharpness improved and the bokeh blobs are
tightening up, but remain soft-edged.
F4.0 tightens up a lot. My impression is that at 2 meters, this seems
to be about the best setting. However, the bokeh blobs are beginning
to take on a hard edge.
F5.6 has the over-corrected look of aspherical elements. The bokeh
blobs are harder edged. Looks a lot like a modern zoom wide open.
F8 and beyond seems to go organic again with beautiful bokeh blogs
with soft edges. I looks like the edginess in the bokeh blobs are an
F4 and F5.6 issue at this focus distance.

100/2
F2 is gorgeous just like the 90/2. Subject sharpness was blood
drawing. The background highlights had exceptionally pleasing bokeh,
but wasn't quite as soft edged as the 90/2. Still world class.
F2.8 tightens up like the 90/2 did. Sharpness is a hair better than
wide-open, but that might be due to misfocus. Bokeh is essentially
identical to the 90/2.
F4. Bokeh tightens up as you'd expect. However, unlike the 90/2, the
bokeh blobs haven't gone hard edged yet.
F5.6. Bokeh still has a softer edge, but I can see a bit of asperical
element inversion with the most distant objects.
F8 and beyond are fully organic. Not much difference between this lens
and the 90/2.

So in summary for the above two lenses, I'd say that the 90/2 wasn't
as sharp as the 100/2 by a smidge, and the bokeh lost the organic feel
at F4 and 5.6. In this test, the 100/2 was a clear winner. But that's
like saying that in Formula 1, the 2011 Red Bull car was a clear
winner over the Ferrari. Yes, one beat the other, but they both are
130 MPH faster than my Jeep.

85/2
F2 is decent, but compared to the first two lenses is definitely in
another league. The background bokeh blobs start out with a hard edge.
F2.8 could actually be a little better than F2. The bokeh blobs are a
mixture of soft and hard edges. The farther away the harder they are.
F4. Harder edged bokeh blobs. Easily seen that this lens isn't up to
the same artistic expression as the F2 lenses.
F5.6 Same as F4, only tighter blobs. Background bokeh blobs are taking
on a hint of donut edges.
F8 and beyond this lens goes organic again. Nothing to complain about there.

100/2.8
F2 doesn't exist.
F2.8 starts right out with a hard edged bokeh blob at the most distant
objects. No complaints about sharpness. Not as contrasty as the 100/2,
but easily close enough in sharpness to not be an issue.
F4 is similar to F2.8. It pounds out a sharpness which I've learned to
appreciate through the years. Bokeh is nice, but not organic. Has a
bit of watercolor look to it. Soft in the middle but edgy. Wierd.
F5.6 has gone organic with the look of the bokeh. Still a bit of
wierdness, but whatever ills at F4, it has taken a turn for the
better.
F8 and beyond, this lens looks organic enough. Nothing to complain about.

In summary for the above two lenses, I'm going to say that the 100/2.8
is a bit sharper than the 85/2, but the bokeh of the 85/2 is far more
pleasing at the wider apertures, but the 100/2.8 is more pleasing at
F5.6. Neither lens are anywhere near as pleasing in bokeh habits as
the 90/2 and 100/2 lenses. But given the price difference between
them, I honestly wouldn't expect any less.

These tests were by no means exacting, but I did attempt to create a
"head shot" portrait situation with my E-1. So, these are OM lenses
mounted on a crop-sensor 4/3 camera so take it as you may. I know that
the 100/2.8 is far better for portraits on the OM bodies than it is on
4/3 bodies, but until recently, it was my gold-standard lens. I will
want to do a very controlled test using full-frame of these lenses
again, but I did find it interesting how they stacked up against each
other in one of my bread-and-butter scenarios.

AG
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