Is it worth buying an expensive prime for lens adapter use?

Tom Hardwick · January 21st, 2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce S. Yarock

You want fast prime lenses because they let in more light, and are usually sharper.

A slight quibble here Bruce. They do indeed let in more light (the f/1.4 lets in twice as much light as the f/2) but in all the tests in all the world the sharpest lens in any maker's line-up is invariably the 50 mm f/1.8 (or thereabouts). The 1.4 is softer, the 1.2 softer still and the 0.95 is there for its wow factor.

tom.

Randy Panado · January 21st, 2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

A slight quibble here Bruce. They do indeed let in more light (the f/1.4 lets in twice as much light as the f/2) but in all the tests in all the world the sharpest lens in any maker's line-up is invariably the 50 mm f/1.8 (or thereabouts). The 1.4 is softer, the 1.2 softer still and the 0.95 is there for its wow factor.

tom.

Wouldn't it be safe to say that a 50 1.4 stopped down to 1.8 is sharper than a 50 1.8 wide open? If I'm not mistaken, I think Canon's nifty fifty 50 1.8 EF (plastic lens) isn't sharper than the 50 1.4 EF @ 1.8.

Tom Hardwick · January 21st, 2009, 03:27 AM

Your theory would indeed make sense Randy, but as I say I'm going on all the Mod and Pop Photographty tests done on these primes over the years. Also remember that most of the manufacturers do two lens lines, and if the posher f/1.4 is is twice the price of the f/1.8 used to 'sell the bodies' then they're not really comparable.

But c'mon guys - we're talking about strapping one of these babies to the front of a spinning, scratched screen - and photographing the result through a 20x zoom that cost very little considering its specification. All will be well.

tom.

Randy Panado · January 21st, 2009, 05:34 AM

Point taken and agreed.

January 21st, 2009, 03:27 AM	#18
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Your theory would indeed make sense Randy, but as I say I'm going on all the Mod and Pop Photographty tests done on these primes over the years. Also remember that most of the manufacturers do two lens lines, and if the posher f/1.4 is is twice the price of the f/1.8 used to 'sell the bodies' then they're not really comparable. But c'mon guys - we're talking about strapping one of these babies to the front of a spinning, scratched screen - and photographing the result through a 20x zoom that cost very little considering its specification. All will be well. tom.

January 21st, 2009, 05:34 AM	#19
Randy Panado Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 643	Point taken and agreed.