50mm Lens Test - Round 2

Following up the first round of tests, I decided to look at center sharpness again, but in a room lighted by a window to the rear of the camera (to avoid flare)

Test Specifics

ISO 1000, 1/20 shutter speed, tripod mounted.

The Results 

Center sharpness is surprisingly similar between the lenses. The "flare?" on the Summicron makes the blacks look not quite as black and a little washed out. However, the lettering is still crisp.

Full frame (Nokton image)

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Nokton 50/2 at f2

Heliar 50/2 at f2

 

Summicron 50/2 at f2

Summitar 50/2 at f2

50mm Lens Test - Round 1

The nice thing about a digital camera with interchangeable lenses is the ability to test lenses for free. I have several 50mm lenses in LTM or M mount. I decided to compare them. This is round 1 (round 2, and round 3)

Test Setup

The camera (a Fuji X Pro-1) was mounted on a tabletop tripod with self timer and photos were at ISO 400. I used the Kipon M adapter. The objects were about 4 feet away from the camera and light was provided by a chandelier which was above and offset from the camera.

The Lenses

Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 Asph: Made by Cosina, this lens was introduced in 1999. With two aspherical elements, it is the most modern lens of the bunch.

Voigtlander Heliar Classic 50mm f/2: Also made by Cosina, this lens (introduced in 2006) is designed along the parameters in keeping with the spirit of Carl Harting's 1900 Heliar design, with 5 elements in three groups. It is not supposed to be the most clinically sharp lens, but is intended for portraits.

Leitz Summicron 50mm f/2 Dual Range: Introduced by Ernst Leitz  (now Leica) in 1957, this lens has 7 elements in five groups. With a special adapter, this lens can focus down to 19 inches. The brand "Summicron" is still in use by Leica today, so you have to be sure to know which model is used.

Leitz Summitar 50mm f/2: Introduced by Leitz in 1939, this lens also has 7 elements in five groups. Post war versions are coated, which help reduce flare.

The Results

The Nokton is clearly the sharpest.

The Summicron is sharp, but it suffers from what appears to be flare. The black lens board doesn't look black. The first time I took some Summicron shots, I didn't have a lens hood, so I thought it was suffering from flare, but I don't see much of a difference

Nokton 50/1.5 at f/2

50/1.5 Nokton at f/2 without lens hood

Heliar 50/2 at f/2 with hood

Heliar 50/2 at f/2 without hood

Summicron 50/2 DR at f/2 with hood

Summicron 50/2 DR at f/2 without hood

Summitar 50/2 at f/2 with hood

Summitar 50/2 at f/2 without hood

Bluebonnets!

Once in a while, this blog can have actual photos! (instead of just gear and technical stuff)

Spring in Texas means bluebonnets, which are great photo settings for little ones:








 

All taken with the Fuji X Pro 1, Fuji 35/1.4 in Velvia Simulation mode. (gotta have some technical info!) The Velvia simulation isn't as saturated as Velvia 50 film, but that at least makes it useable if photographing people.

The Fuji X Pro 1 is here!! - First Impressions

So the camera still hasn't arrived in US stores. However, last Friday it got to Canada. On Monday I ordered mine, and today (Thursday) it arrived, much to my pleasant surprise!

Although my wife has a D-lux 4 (fancy point and shoot), this is my first real digital camera. (Real = better than a camera phone quality)

I think I'm hooked, but I must say, I'm glad I waited for this camera. I'm not sure if I would have been happy with other earlier digital releases. I haven't done a side-by-side, but I bet this camera's quality at least beats the $8,000 cameras of a few years ago (Nikon D3).

First impression after a night of shooting? This camera rocks!

Performance: The photo quality at high ISOs is amazing. At screen resolution, I can't see noise at ISO 6400.

Jpegs: Look fantastic. Can't see how I could improve with shooting Raw.

Autofocus: It's fast and snappy when there is a reasonable amount of light, at about a Light Value (LV) 8 or higher). At LV -3, it was quite slow, perhaps 1-2 seconds.

Using M lenses: I was a little slow in focusing, but I think it will improve over time. I didn't exactly focus an optical rangefinder quickly the first day I picked it up. You can use magnification to get correct focus if your subject is sitting still. Regardless, I was able to focus without any real issue.


The camera with the Fuji 35/1.4:


The following with the Fuji 35/1.4

ISO400 at f/1.4:


ISO640 at f/2.2


ISO3200, at f/1.4


ISO12800, at f/1.4 and 1/7 shutter speed, hand held. This is a Light Value of -3


ISO25600 - this is the level of noise seen at ISO 800 on many vintage 2007 digital cameras, and for the grain of Fuji 1600 color film (now discontinued).


The camera with a Kipon M mount adapter and a Leitz Summicron 50/2 DR:


The following with Summicron 50/2 DR

ISO 3200 at f/2


ISO2500 at f/4




Film simulation:

I like the film situation modes as I have a reference to the look I want. I need to try out Velvia on a nice sunny day and see if the colors are as punchy as the film. Right now I see a small difference in color saturation, but may not as different as the film.

Astia:


Velvia:
 


Black and White:

The camera has settings for not just black and white , but "B&W plus yellow filter, "B&W plus green filter" etc. I'm still not a huge fan of digital black and white, but I think it has made some improvements

Pulling Provia 400x

 So we were headed to the zoo, I grabbed my Rollei and a roll of Provia. Only after I finished shooting did I realize it was Provia 400. Doh! I shot the roll at ISO 100.

I sent it to the developers requesting them to pull it 2 stops. They said they only could do a one stop pull. So I said okay as I had little other choice.

The results were not that bad. There is definitely a color shift toward magenta, but the images were saved with the help of Photoshop (Elements 8)

Original Scan:

 

After Photoshop

Remaining Film Stock

Going digital, I decided to take stock of my inventory of film. I have a total of 62 rolls, plus some 2x3 sheet film

Digital will replace all of my 35mm color negative work, but I still intent to use film for B&W and some slides. I imagine I won't shoot any film for several months after I get my new camera, but then come back to it a little.

Remaining Rolls:

Film	B&W	Color Negative	Slide
120	14	5	10
35mm	20	6	7

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The End of Ektachrome

Kodak, now in bankruptcy protection, has discontinued all slide films. I have several rolls in the freezer, but I am started to think that if I wasn't voluntarily moving to digital (based on lack of time), then I would be forced there soon anyway.

That leaves only the following slide films: Provia 100/ 400, Velvia 50/100/100F (by Fuji) and Rollei Digibase CR200 (copy of Agfachrome RSX II 200)

Within the last several years there has been several notable films discontinued:

1. Kodachrome 64 (June 2009)
2. Neopan 1600  (December 2010)
3. Astia (December 2010)
4. Ektachrome 200 (February 2011)
5. Plus X (March 2011)
6. Ektachrome 100 (March 2012) 

I imagine B&W film will be around for a long long time, but color film may not be. The plus side of B&W film is that you can easily develop it yourself... meaning that if they do discontinue it, you can load up a freezer full.