Best subjects/scenes for evaluating lens quality?

[michael zaletel]

Hi,

What are the best scenes, subjects, lighting conditions for evaluating lens quality? If I were to shoot the same scene with the very best possible lens and an inferior lens, what conditions would be best demonstrate the differences in moving footage. In other words, aside from charts and lab tests, which real-world situations would benefit from the finest possible lenses.

Thanks in advance,

-shooter

 

[Matt Uhry]

Hi,

What are the best scenes, subjects, lighting conditions for evaluating lens quality? If I were to shoot the same scene with the very best possible lens and an inferior lens, what conditions would be best demonstrate the differences in moving footage. In other words, aside from charts and lab tests, which real-world situations would benefit from the finest possible lenses.

Thanks in advance,

-shooter

Here's one that I used...

http://www.mattuhry.com/lens-test4k-part2/lens_a_28mm_T2_rack.mov


On the Far left is a bare bulb, a super dark area ( 400' Can painted black with black velvet on inside ) The purpose is to measure resistance to veiling flare - the lens that shows the black blacker is more resistant. The tinfoil which can reveal CA quite nicely ( and how it changes with focus ).

Next some charts, should be on exactly the same plane as the girls eyes. The charts are more to verify hat good focus has been found on the girl than absolute resolution.

There's a 300w arrilight on the stand in shot that gets turned on for the flare test.

then Xmas lights and a piece of metal grill - good for seeing front and rear bokeh.

It would have been better if the background was a normal scene, instead of the black duvatene, but that's what I was able to pull off that day.

It's best to test lenses side by side with well known ones, since this test does not produce any absolute data and you could not set it up exactly the same on another day.

Distortion and edge to edge resolution is easier to look at on a Lens Projector if one is available. It might be worth it to shoot an evenly lit white area to see how much falloff you are getting in the corners.

Hope this helps. Post what you end up shooting.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com