I don't think my financial situation is an issue, when choosing a lens. I just want my efforts to match the results. I don't want to pay 100% more to get 5 % better images as long as they meet my needs or the needs of those who are using my photographs.
My problem with the Tokina AT-X was that I noticed it didn't quite do the job. I noticed that shots in low light were not always sharp enough to publish in a book or show at a 1.5 x 1.5 meter screen in a Power Point presentation. That's when I started wondering if there was a problem with the lens. So, I started testing this pro level AT-X lens (retail price new app. 1100 USD five years ago) against some consumer lenses like the Tokina 2.8-4.6 28-70mm (ebay: 29 USD) and a Pentax F 35-80mm (ebay 31 USD). I certainly found that the AT-X lens didn't make the grade, considering the price tag. Used the right way (higher ISO, better light etc.) the consumer lenses are much better value for money - that is until I get the AT-X fixed. As it works now, I won't even bother to carry the weight of it! As I suspected, the differences between the edge details are quite small, but still noticeable.. 28mm: http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p9195677.html 35mm: http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p9195678.html I still think the Pentax M 2.8 35mm is doing quite well compared to the zoom lenses. Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: Rob Studdert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 16. november 2004 14:14 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: RE: Annother pile of test shots On 16 Nov 2004 at 1:51, Jens Bladt wrote: > The Sigma shot really has a lot of purple fringing. Mine doesn't have a lot, > just a little, hardly noticeable. Avoiding CA totally is not possible in the > real world, where light is ruled by the laws of the rainbow :-). Some computer > programs can even deal with this. I agree there are ways to deal with CA to a point, for instance I "fixed" the Sigma shot that I referred to, the lens seemed to have a pretty linear CA curve and was pretty sharp to the edges, not all lenses are this linear particularly wide angle zoom lenses. > I believe my test serve me well. They tell me to do somthing about the > Tokina AT-X (probably a new bayonet and a CLA), which used to be superior to the > other lenses in my small test - or replace it. They also tell me that the two > other lenses are not too bad, and can successfully be used at smaller apertures > than F5.6. The lessons to be learned from the edges of the images do not really > differ from those of the centre. Granted the tests worked for you, I assumed you shared them so that they may be useful to others. > I don't need sharp edges if the centre isn't > sharp. I am not an artists, doing photographs for exibitions or sale. I see where we differ, regardless of the use I'm more inclined to prefer lenses with a uniform look across the frame (apart from the A50/1.2). > I just do photographs for books and presentations. > No one, but me, will look at my photographs as such - only at the subjects > they show, perhaps the composition and colours. So, I don't need expensive > lenses, which i DK retails for what is similar to three weeks pay, before > tax. I'd rather use a Tokina, a Sigma or a Pentax consumer lens - and then > take 4 weeks leave! :-) Well we do see them occasionally :-) I've no problems with what anyone else purchases and I've no idea of your financial position, I was just commenting on the tests. A good holiday means a likelihood of many more great shots so they balance each other out ultimately. Cheers, Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998
