Thanks, Godfrey. Exactly the sort of information I had in mind. Detailed and meaty. Considerate of you to take the time. :)
Jack P.S.: Pop Photo's review actually included the word "pro" in describing its build and image quality. MERCY! --- Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Mar 25, 2007, at 12:20 PM, Jack Davis wrote: > > Anyone made at least a semi serious side-by-side DA 14 v DA > 12-24(at > > 14) image comparison? > > Godfrey? > > I recently looked at a couple of DA12-24 RAW demo files. There > weren't any that were captures at exactly 14mm. My prior impressions > > that it is a good lens but has more CA and more rectilinear > distortion than the DA14 does at lens openings and focal lengths > which bracket the DA14 were borne out. The f/8 exposures were > significant improvements over the f/4 exposures. But I don't own one > > so I can't do an exhaustive side-by-side unless someone wants to loan > > me one for testing. > > But those test shots inspired me to do some more exhaustive DA14 test > > shots on a variety of targets. My summary: > > - Some corner/edge light falloff is apparent until about f/5. > - Rendering characteristics vary depending upon focus setting and > lens opening, most are excellent particularly at f/4.5 and smaller > lens openings if working in the very near range. > - Corner and edge sharpness are satisfactory wide open but improve > greatly when stopped down to f/5-5.6, after which they continue to > improve a little but very slowly to f/11 or so. > - Much after f/11, diffraction effects begin to intrude on sharpness. > - Flare resistance is excellent even wide open. > - There is a small amount of CA, consistent at all lens openings, > which can be removed easily in Lightroom or Camera Raw. > - It is a demanding lens to focus critically when wide open and > focusing near the close-focus limits. At f/5.6 the DoF at normal > shooting distances is so great that it covers a multitude of sins, > but wide open and at close range you have to have it on the money. I > > go to manual focus and use Pentax Magnifier FB 2x for critical focus. > - Using a tripod with this wide a lens is essential to getting the > best resolution. Moving to the K10D, the incremental resolution > upgrade is most advantageous for this lens and the DA21 Limited. > > I've had the DA14 since I first bought the DS body and it is one of > my most consistent performers. I've made well over 3000 exposures > with it. The more I use it, the more I learn to exploit it, the more > > I like it. > > Compared to the Sigma 14mm f/2.8 and Canon EF14/2.8L that I tested, > the DA14 is a jewel and incredibly inexpensive for its quality. > Regards field of view coverage, comparing what I get from it against > > my old work done with Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AI-S, Zeiss Biogon 21/3.5, > and Leica Elmarit-M 21/2.8 ASPH lenses, it holds its own very well. > It's not quite up to what I could get from the Hasselblad 903SWC's > Biogon 38mm f/4.5 ... but then very very few lenses in this class > are. > > BTW: set to Program mode and the MTF line, the camera tends to keep > it at f/5.6 most of the time, which is right in line with my > evaluations which indicated best performance between f/4.5 and f/5.6. > > Godfrey > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
