Does SWD really matter?
- Thread starter liffeous
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had a short run on with it on E-1 before for a brief moment
Does SWD make a difference?
In what sense?i never played with the old none SWD 14-35 before,but it sure was fast in focusing,even with E-1 :bsmilie:
Just a little perspective here ... not to say that SWD is not faster than non-SWD .... but ...
1. The 12-60 is f2.8-4 while the 14-42 is f3.5-5.6. In other words the 12-60 is brighter, and the E510's AF s*cks in low light. Not a fair comparison. Even my 14-54 outperforms the 14-42 on AF speed and both are not SWD.
2. The non-SWD 50-200 may not seem as fast as the 12-60 but it is definitely a bigger lens and even the SWD 50-200 will NOT be as fast as the 12-60. The heavier lens will always be slower - all other factors being equal.
On saying these, if price is not an issue, I'll surely get the SWD version
Have used SWD - my impression is that there is less "hunting" and it seems to get it "right" on focus faster.This is what I mean by fast auto focus.
Imagine if 50-200mm hunts going back and forth. Very frustrating.
When I test the hunting, the non SWD hunts slower. SWD hunts faster.
The condition while I did the test was not the exactly the same (in different shop) so I cannot say if SWD hunts less or not.
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Well, if price is not a concern, i am sure everyone will get SWD version. =p
But life is not so easy, at least for me. I will be viewing a 2nd Hand non-SWD soon. Hope the deal goes through for me at a good price and package! A timely item for the coming year, since it will be my first high-grade lens, looking forward to see the improve in image quality due to a clearer lens. (I was using Kit lens and 55-200mm sigma...)
But life is not so easy, at least for me. I will be viewing a 2nd Hand non-SWD soon. Hope the deal goes through for me at a good price and package! A timely item for the coming year, since it will be my first high-grade lens, looking forward to see the improve in image quality due to a clearer lens. (I was using Kit lens and 55-200mm sigma...)
No, even if the same price I still would get the non-SWD for the manual focus reasons I already stated...while the SWD speed is a plus, the manual focus on it is a negative, in MY opinion (and yes, I have tried both versions, but then again I bought neither due to the weight).
srinivasanj
Member
Just a little perspective here ... not to say that SWD is not faster than non-SWD .... but ...
1. The 12-60 is f2.8-4 while the 14-42 is f3.5-5.6. In other words the 12-60 is brighter, and the E510's AF s*cks in low light. Not a fair comparison. Even my 14-54 outperforms the 14-42 on AF speed and both are not SWD.
2. The non-SWD 50-200 may not seem as fast as the 12-60 but it is definitely a bigger lens and even the SWD 50-200 will NOT be as fast as the 12-60. The heavier lens will always be slower - all other factors being equal.
On saying these, if price is not an issue, I'll surely get the SWD version
Actually both lenses were set to f/8...the conditions were bright enough for the 14-42 to confirm in under a second as well...
Having used the 50-200 non-SWD I can say that this lens is fast enough...atleast for my needs..
Let me try to do the testing again this weekend and get some results out...
mactigasuku
Deregistered
Actually both lenses were set to f/8...the conditions were bright enough for the 14-42 to confirm in under a second as well...
QUOTE]
Eventhough you set it to f8, the metering maybe and the AF is done wide open, i.e. f2.8 with the 12-60 and f3.5 with the 14-42.
A fairer comparison would be a SWD 12-60 versus a non-SWD 12-60, which doesn't exist
The best test would be that od the non-SWD versus SWD 50-200.
srinivasanj
Member
A fairer comparison would be a SWD 12-60 versus a non-SWD 12-60, which doesn't exist
Not too sure about the metering and the AF functioning wide open...I have my own doubts...
In any case, given the situation, the best comparison would be between the 12-60 and the 14-54....sadly I dont have the latter..
mactigasuku
Deregistered
Again, different design, different size and different weight would render the comparison between the 14-54 and the 12-60 unfair.
Go take a look at how the AF works ... half press the shutter release, see what happens and then full press. Keep yr eye in the viewfinder throughout.
Wow, to answer the TS question - does SWD matter - Yes it does.
Secondly, comparing between 14-54 and 12-60, well....I have both. And I love them both equally. The 14-54 is easier to shoot with cos it is brighter - 2.8-3.5. I use it more if I dun need wide and I am not using flash. The rest of the other times, I use the 12-60. But I have no qualms using both. If u cannot afford the 12-60, be happy, REAL happy with the 14-54.
Secondly, comparing between 14-54 and 12-60, well....I have both. And I love them both equally. The 14-54 is easier to shoot with cos it is brighter - 2.8-3.5. I use it more if I dun need wide and I am not using flash. The rest of the other times, I use the 12-60. But I have no qualms using both. If u cannot afford the 12-60, be happy, REAL happy with the 14-54.
srinivasanj
Member
Interesting, I did some research on the web and seems like focusing is done with aperture wide open....
I just bought the 50-200 SWD and the manual focus is a real gem function. I love it. Speed wise I just measured and compared the 50-200 SWD at 150mm with the 40-150 at 150 and I must say they are both about the same, and in fact the 40-150 is a bit faster. The SWD is awfully silent, but not that fast as I expected. It may be faster then the old 50-200 but not faster then everything else.
I believe Olyflyer has an E-3 other than an E-500,so I guess his findings can be quite true
mactigasuku
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