Pictars! Me just got a new lens! Yay!!!

[fuzzybabybunny]

http://fuzzybabybunny.smugmug.com/gallery/2660669/5/140740191#140740664

All of the pictures were made via focus stacking using Helicon Focus, meaning for each photo I took about 5 photos, each focusing at a different depth. Then I used Helicon Focus to stack these photos into one single photo, resulting in really wide depth of field and excellent sharpness. Even shooting at f/8, when you're photographing something this close, depth of field is still very shallow.

I just got the Tamron 17-50mm in the mail today. Been wanting/needing this lens for a while. Not too sure what this means for my 30mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.4 primes.

I bought the international (gray market) version + 7-year Mack Warranty for around $400. I normally buy used, but no one seems to sell this lens used for under $370. For $30, might as well go new with a bona-fide warranty.

As for the sharpness, I can definitely notice that it's softer at f/2.8 than at f/8, which is to be expected, but according to the MTF charts here the difference should be hardly noticeable, and since I CAN notice it, it worries me that I might have gotten a slightly soft copy. It's tack sharp though at f/4 and beyond, but I wish it was the same wide open, as the above website suggests.

 

[foghorn67]

I might be interested in your 30 1.4

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
I might be interested in your 30 1.4

But but but.... me loves my little primes. My 50mm and 30mm would be by far the two hardest lenses to part with. I've simply taken way too many good pictures with both

 

[FilmCamera]

Cool....I hadn't heard of this Helicon Focus but your photos just interested me. That stuff would be awesome for product photography.

Have you tried it with any landscapes?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
Cool....I hadn't heard of this Helicon Focus but your photos just interested me. That stuff would be awesome for product photography.

Have you tried it with any landscapes?

It definite will work for landscapes.

During Spring Break I took landscape pictures with the intention of putting them through Helicon Focus. Unfortunately, I've been really busy and haven't been able to even touch the photos yet. So, uh, I'm halfway there.

 

[imported_bum]

Well take some photos and post them then

 

[FilmCamera]

The problem I have with non-canon lenses is that the zoom is in the opposite direction, and I can't stand that.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I bought a Tamron 28-75 F2.8, and it too arrived soft at 2.8. I sent it back to them for calibration and it came back much sharper.

If not that, then you can do what most do: keep RMAing "soft" lenses back until you get a sharp copy. Many people over at DPreview go through 3 or 4 copies until they get the one.

 

[ElFenix]

that's a good range. i probably should have bought that instead of the 28-75




how should i test for sharpness?

 

[Yossarian]

damn, blocked by websense (personal storage site)

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
that's a good range. i probably should have bought that instead of the 28-75




how should i test for sharpness?

Eh. What do a lot of people do in my experience?

They place both camera/lens and lens box on well-lit flat surface. Place front of lens element about 3 feet away from box. Use center-point AF and the camera timer. Take the following series of photos at ISO 100 (assuming the 17-50 lens):

F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 17mm
F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 35mm
F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 50mm.

Load all 12 photos in photoshop, view at 100%, and compare "fuziness" of text on box. Compare these shots to those taken by others in same/similar circumstances to compare your copy to theirs.

There is also this test:

http://www.focustestchart.com/chart.html.

 

[Sukhoi]

How do these Mack warranties work? Do you get it right when you purchase the lens, or once you have the lens delivered do you then send Mack paperwork/pictures and pay them for the warranty?

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
How do these Mack warranties work? Do you get it right when you purchase the lens, or once you have the lens delivered do you then send Mack paperwork/pictures and pay them for the warranty?

I bought one with my EOS-20D. It came at the same time as the camera. I had to go online and register it but it didn't kick in until after the Canon warranty expired.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
How do these Mack warranties work? Do you get it right when you purchase the lens, or once you have the lens delivered do you then send Mack paperwork/pictures and pay them for the warranty?

I bought one with my EOS-20D. It came at the same time as the camera. I had to go online and register it but it didn't kick in until after the Canon warranty expired.

There are two types of Mack warranties.

One kicks in after the manufacturer one expires. The other kicks in right after you buy the lens, and is a replacement for the manufacturer's warranty. Since I bought a gray market version of the lens with no USA warranty, I got a 7 year Mack warranty to compensate. Still saved a bit over the USA version with a 6 year warranty.

You have to register the product with Mack within 30 days of purchase.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I bought a Tamron 28-75 F2.8, and it too arrived soft at 2.8. I sent it back to them for calibration and it came back much sharper.

If not that, then you can do what most do: keep RMAing "soft" lenses back until you get a sharp copy. Many people over at DPreview go through 3 or 4 copies until they get the one.

Hmmmm... good to know that it was a calibration issue and not like a "your lens is inherently soft due to variances in the hard optics" kind of issue.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Here is one such "test" I conducted.

Comparing the...

Canon EF 24-105 F4L @ F4 and F5.6
Tamron 28-75 F2.8 @ F2.8. F4.0, and F5.6
Canon EF 35 F1.4L @ F1.4, F1.8, F2.8, F4.0, and F5.6

 

[Sukhoi]

I see. Sounds like a good idea to look into one of those warranties if I end up getting any used lenses.

 

[Joony]

Wow, this Helicon Focus thing is interesting...but expensive!

edit: What kind of lightbox do you use by the way, and what sort of lighting?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: ElFenix
that's a good range. i probably should have bought that instead of the 28-75




how should i test for sharpness?

Eh. What do a lot of people do in my experience?

They place both camera/lens and lens box on well-lit flat surface. Place front of lens element about 3 feet away from box. Use center-point AF and the camera timer. Take the following series of photos at ISO 100 (assuming the 17-50 lens):

F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 17mm
F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 35mm
F2.8, F4.0, F5.6, F8.0 @ 50mm.

Load all 12 photos in photoshop, view at 100%, and compare "fuziness" of text on box. Compare these shots to those taken by others in same/similar circumstances to compare your copy to theirs.

There is also this test:

http://www.focustestchart.com/chart.html.

cool, thanks