11-17-2010, 08:00 PM
[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1290014913' post='4219']
Agreed. It would be somewhat academic because it would only answer the question whether there are significant differences between Canon, Nikon etc. glass. In other words, the test might merely help to decide for or against a specific lens mount. That's why I suggested to test only a few good lenses.
Stopping down the EF lenses for the test would not be an issue. I am sure you have an old EOS body. You can stop down the lens and thereafter put it on the EVIL test body.
[/quote]
Testing a bunch of "highy quality standard zooms from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sigma, Tamron" would not tell anything about the "differences between Canon, Nikon etc. glass" because you can't generalize from the performance of a bunch of middling zooms (even high-quality ones are forced to make specific compromises depending on the how the designer weights the importance of the many variables (center, edge, sharpness, CA, vignetting, distortion, size, weight, range, etc)).
Conversely, if you narrow your test to comparing say 50/1.4 primes, which might be considered the 'entrance-exam', it still won't tell you which manufacturer makes a good zoom/tele/WA/etc.
Finally, unless you are planning to either develop your own back based around a certain lens-mount or are stuck on film, comparing lens mounts is useless because you need something on both sides of the lens mount, not just glass on one side.
Agreed. It would be somewhat academic because it would only answer the question whether there are significant differences between Canon, Nikon etc. glass. In other words, the test might merely help to decide for or against a specific lens mount. That's why I suggested to test only a few good lenses.
Stopping down the EF lenses for the test would not be an issue. I am sure you have an old EOS body. You can stop down the lens and thereafter put it on the EVIL test body.
[/quote]
Testing a bunch of "highy quality standard zooms from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sigma, Tamron" would not tell anything about the "differences between Canon, Nikon etc. glass" because you can't generalize from the performance of a bunch of middling zooms (even high-quality ones are forced to make specific compromises depending on the how the designer weights the importance of the many variables (center, edge, sharpness, CA, vignetting, distortion, size, weight, range, etc)).
Conversely, if you narrow your test to comparing say 50/1.4 primes, which might be considered the 'entrance-exam', it still won't tell you which manufacturer makes a good zoom/tele/WA/etc.
Finally, unless you are planning to either develop your own back based around a certain lens-mount or are stuck on film, comparing lens mounts is useless because you need something on both sides of the lens mount, not just glass on one side.