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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Lens test database

Evin Grant

Evin Grant

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I'm going to start testing various still lenses on my Nikon D2x which has an almost identical size and pixel count to the Red One. When I do get #199 I will begin to test cinema lenses and add actual Red frame grabs to that database. I'll include both web viewable and downloadable full res files. I'm going to try and keep the testing consice and consistent. I'll be doing this in my spare time so don't get antcy. I'd like to test at three different apertures and at medium distance and infinity. If any of you have suggestions for lenses you'd like to see or specific informaion you'd like me to incude please post it here.

I'll be starting with these Nikon lenses: (but give me some time)
17-35mm f2.8 AFS-D
28mm f1.4 AF-D
24mm f2.8 AF-D
35mm f2 AF-D (Newer formulation than AI)
50mm f1.4 AI
50mm f1.4 AF-D
60mm f2.8 AF Macro
85mm f1.4 AIS
105mm f2.8 AI Macro
135mm f2 AIS

This will not be a "Mesurbators" test, I'll post 100% crops but no trumpets or rescharts. I feel a subjective test gives a more useful indication of a lenses quality than pure numbers. I'm also open to testing annyone elses Nikon mount lens if you're curious how it stacks up. I'll test Canon FD lenses when I get the Red but there currently is no EOS camera with a dense enough sensor to match Red one.

Let the games begin.
I'll try to post the 50mm f1.4 this weekend.
E.
 
thanks Evin! if you can get hold of a Voiktlander 12mm that would just make it even more special.
 
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Sorry Ace, I can't attach that lens to my D2x. Even though it has a mirrior lockup it's a pre-relese, so it goes back down immediately after the exposure. that means attaching that lens to my camera will essentially ruin both. We'll have to wait for Red One.
 
Evin Grant said:
Sorry Ace, I can't attach that lens to my D2x. Even though it has a mirrior lockup it's a pre-relese, so it goes back down immediately after the exposure. that means attaching that lens to my camera will essentially ruin both. We'll have to wait for Red One.
Click to expand...

Wait for your RED camera and do the lens tests on it. Also do you have the proper lens test targets for the required tests? Or an eqvulanit sensor to record the results.
 
chuck colburn said:
Wait for your RED camera and do the lens tests on it. Also do you have the proper lens test targets for the required tests? Or an eqvulanit sensor to record the results.
Click to expand...

I forget to ask . What is a "Mesurbators test" And also a "trumpet or rescharts"

Chuck
 
hey Evin,
If you get a chance and have them available can you include these manual lenses, 180 2.8,105 2.5, 20 2.8 , 35 2.0 and a 55 micro 2.8.
Aloha
-A
 
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  • #9
Mesurbators are people who care more about the numbers than the pictures.
Numbers can help you determine if a lens resolves more but it tells you little about how the character of the lens might respond in diffrent situations.
I'm not intending to create an excell sheet of MTF graphs or LPM numbers.
Those can be found many other places on the web. Trumpets and res charts are the tools to measure resoution. I'm trying to create a call sheet of glass that you can refrence when you need either a particular look, or to fill a gap in your own arsenal. I'm starting with the glass I own plus what I'm buying for Red. I'll continue on from there.
My tests will still tell you if a lens is sharp and after looking at a few results you'll be able to see the differences yourself.
But sometimes you may want a softer lens for close ups and a crisp lens for wide shots. This has more to do with micro contrast than lines of resolved detail. That's why even though the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 has a higher rated resolution I prefer the Nikkor, it's smoother although not as smooth as the Leica M Summicron.
 
Evin Grant said:
Mesurbators are people who care more about the numbers than the pictures.
Numbers can help you determine if a lens resolves more but it tells you little about how the character of the lens might respond in diffrent situations.
I'm not intending to create an excell sheet of MTF graphs or LPM numbers.
Those can be found many other places on the web. Trumpets and res charts are the tools to measure resoution. I'm trying to create a call sheet of glass that you can refrence when you need either a particular look, or to fill a gap in your own arsenal. I'm starting with the glass I own plus what I'm buying for Red. I'll continue on from there.
My tests will still tell you if a lens is sharp and after looking at a few results you'll be able to see the differences yourself.
But sometimes you may want a softer lens for close ups and a crisp lens for wide shots. This has more to do with micro contrast than lines of resolved detail. That's why even though the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 has a higher rated resolution I prefer the Nikkor, it's smoother although not as smooth as the Leica M Summicron.
Click to expand...

Hello Evin,

I see now said the blind man.

Chuck
 
as he picked up his hammer and saw.
-A
 
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  • #13
This is a Trumpet...
nikon_d2x-res-cropped-003.jpg
 
Evin is a great asset to the Reduser community, most of you know of his extensive work on Dvxuser, it will be great for him to kick off the article section of Reduser.
 
JVC's new HD camera ( HDSDI output ) is with Nikon lenses as well.

Stewart
 
Evin very nice. Thank you very much for your hard work. Can't wait to see what you come up with. I know you are a Nikon guy, but what about us poor SOB's in the canon camp. I know no one has said if and when an EF mount will be made. But if so do you think the tests you do on the Nikon glass would be pretty close to what we will see with Canon glass of at about the same focal lengths.
 
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Greg Voevodsky said:
thanks Evin. You rock!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm just being a good soldier in the red army.
red-army.jpg


Canon makes some fine glass, I just can't give a very good representation of it's quality until there is a viable solution for mounting EOS lens on the Red.
I personally liike Nikons wides better, but Canon has some real gems, like the 24mm f1.4 and 35mm f1.4.
 
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