50mm f1.4 wide open? pics...

[pai]

on the way home from the kmos meeting earlier, eyesthruthelens was talking about whether or not the 50 1.4 is soft wide open.

i don't usually shoot people, especially close ups, at f1.4. but this is because the depth of field can be really really narrow, not because the lens isn't sharp enough. true, it's much sharper at f2. but in general cases, i find 1.4 to be ok when you need it.

hm cloudy day, so take some indoor tests lah... 5D, iso200, in-camera sharpening at zero, no post-pro except resizing.

full shot

100% crop

some unsharp mask applied

 

[pai]

now, at f2... lighting changed a bit so colours are slightly different

full shot

100% crop

some unsharp mask applied

opinions?

TW, can share your "soft focus" examples?

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

Pai,
Your copy of 1.4 seem to be sharper..
here is one of the photo at f1.4 - East Coast.. and I don't think it's handshake as well..
Is it miss-focused?
It's like soft focus lens...

 

[eow]

Pai,
Your copy of 1.4 seem to be sharper..
here is one of the photo at f1.4 - East Coast.. and I don't think it's handshake as well..
Is it miss-focused?
It's like soft focus lens...

look reasonably ok to me

 

[pai]

it's hard to tell at this small size. have a higher res pic or a 100% crop of the focus area?

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

it's hard to tell at this small size. have a higher res pic or a 100% crop of the focus area?

 

[DewaKarma]

hmmm...seems like there was a slight shake...btw bro...how far were u from the boy?

 

[wind30]

how can this be ok? Looks SUPER SOFT.

When I test wide aperture lens, I always shoot a magazine inclined at 45 deg and pick the sharpest spot. In that way, I can eliminate the focusing from the equation.

You have to find out whether is the lens is soft or the focusing is off. If focusing is off, it should be an easy fix for the workshop.

 

[pai]

bro there's something seriously wrong here... do all your shots at f1.4 turn out like this?

funny thing is, in your earlier comparison of the 1.7 and the 1.4 @ f1.7, the 1.4 shots looked better. maybe you need to do more test shots at 1.4 under controlled conditions (tripod etc) to eliminate user error.

 

[Gunjack]

The pic sample of the boy looks like some back focussing or AF error issues(could be human or equipment error)... coz his right further shoulder seems slightly sharper than his nearer left one.

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

Hmm.. it's time to send in my lens to SONY service center

 

[Gunjack]

Before you do that, have you tried to focus on static subjects in good light? For example focussing on a newspaper at a 45 degree angle in good light at various distances and see if the focus points is sharp. If yes, the "boy" shot might be due to tricky high contrast AF errors or user AF technique errors. If not it might be equipment AF errors due to the lens or/and body. Have you had the same problems as the other lens? If you need to send for servicing, best is to bring along the lens and body combo.

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

Thanks..
This is the only lens with the soft image problem.. on my KM5D.
Let me try the test first.

Before you do that, have you tried to focus on static subjects in good light? For example focussing on a newspaper at a 45 degree angle in good light at various distances and see if the focus points is sharp. If yes, the "boy" shot might be due to tricky high contrast AF errors or user AF technique errors. If not it might be equipment AF errors due to the lens or/and body. Have you had the same problems as the other lens? If you need to send for servicing, best is to bring along the lens and body combo.

 

[Gunjack]

No problems. At f1.4, AF accuracy has to be spot on to be sharp. I found the MinoltA 50mm f1.4 to be a lovely lens, though using it on film. How is the 135mm f2.8 since you got it? Good? This is Grado/Gunjack btw.

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

135mm f2.8.. good.
Fast and sharp.. one of those great lens from Minolta with surprisingly low price
If you can find one, must buy..
I'll pm you some of my photos with this lens..

No problems. At f1.4, AF accuracy has to be spot on to be sharp. How is the 135mm f2.8 since you got it? Good? This is Grado/Gunjack btw.

 

[zcf]

Pai,
Your copy of 1.4 seem to be sharper..
here is one of the photo at f1.4 - East Coast.. and I don't think it's handshake as well..
Is it miss-focused?
It's like soft focus lens...

Look like miss-focus to me, bro, my copy don't always focus correctly also, sometime need manual focus.

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

Look like miss-focus to me, bro, my copy don't always focus correctly also, sometime need manual focus.

I did more test on the lens and seem to be fine if I'm near the object..

focus on foodie

focus on no sushi

But when I'm further from the object, a bit difficult..

focus on no sushi at home..

Seem like the lens if fine.. it's just that at f1.4.. not easy to get a sharp focus on moving object.

 

[Rashkae]

Eyesthruthelens: In the pic of the boy, his right arm is sharp... That was your focal point.

 

[Rashkae]

Eyesthruthelens: Want to try testing on an A100? That way you can see if it's the cam or the lens...

 

[Eyesthruthelens]

Eyesthruthelens: Want to try testing on an A100? That way you can see if it's the cam or the lens...

Rashkae,
Thanks for the offer.. I think it's not the lens or camera.. rather it's due to f1.4 setting.. It's difficult to get the good focus..
I'm doing more testing with the lens.. and I think the lens is OK.