About Lens Testing

Nikon 300mm f 2.8 AFI

I’m experimenting with some new test subjects and procedures. The system I used in the past worked really well for printed results but I don’t think is so successful when transferred to web pages. 100% crops from focal lengths over about 50mm don’t show enough information so I’m trying a couple of new test subjects. Ideally I want something that works equally well with an 18 and a 400 - not much to ask. Something that doesn’t invade anyone’s privacy or endanger national security would be good too. This looks the most likely replacement. For new tests the plan is to take two frames at each setting - one with the houses in the center of the frame and one with them in the top right hand corner.
 

Frame 1 full frame with 100mm lens 100% crop made from center of image

Frame 2 full frame - same camera settings
100% crop made from top right hand of image

Test results at 100%

center               100mm f 4.5            corner

 Comparing two images of the same subject I think will make it much easier to see differences in performance. Placing the second test in the corner is the hardest test possible for any lens - performance there generally will be the worst you’ll see.

I’m also looking at including tests of distortion and vignetting - darkening in the corners. In the meantime I’m reshooting all the test images for the lenses I have access to at the moment. Lots of plans - just need more hours!

Technical Notes

All test pictures are shot in RAW format and processed with either Adobe Photoshop CS2 ACR or with Rawshooter Premium 2006. 

I find Rawshooter to be excellent with Canon files - So if you’re a Canon user and haven’t tried Rawshooter - Give it a try - the free download version is available from www.pixmantec.com So go get it! Incidentally I’ve done a fair amount of testing of RAW convertors too - rawdarkroom Anyone wondering - does shooting RAW make a difference? Oh yes.

I’d say with Canon the difference isn’t as much as with some other DSLR’s where the difference can be huge. Does it make a difference which RAW convertor you use? Yes to that one too. Generally I’ve found Rawshooter or Canon’s own Digital Photo Professional good for Canon files and Photoshop’s RAW convertor - ACR - good for Nikon. Fuji’s Hyper Utility software with RAW Convertor EX is still best for Fuji files but Capture One is so much nicer to use and has built in noise reduction. Incidentally Capture One seems to be a favorite amongst Canon users I know, so I’ll be testing that shortly - particularly with Canon 5D files. I did a test recently with some Canon 5D files and was surprised that ACR came last after Rawshooter and DPP. Obviously I need to do more testing .....

                                                 David Gold