Flare if you dare...

[sir_c]

Hi,

After building up some collection of 50mm lenses I thought it be a nice idea to see how flare resistant they are. The shots were all done hand-held so motion blur is very well possible *grin*.

The candidates were the following:

• Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4
  
• Cosinon Auto 55mm f/2.8
  
• Helios 44M-6 58mm f/2
  
• Mamiya/Sekor 50mm f/2
  
• Pentacon Auto 50mm f/1.8
  
• SMC Takumar 55mm f/2
  
• SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8
  

I did one series wide open and one at f/4; due to lack of a tripod I could not use smaller ones, the shutter speed was 1/15th of a second here.

Full open: http://www.flickr.com/photos/castones/sets/72157611296605087/
At f/4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/castones/sets/72157611296633733/

Even at f/1.4 the Zeiss is pretty good here, there is a small hotspot below in the image, but other lenses are much more pronounced I must say.


The Mamiya is a stinker here, I guess there is no multicoating on this one. Generally speaking I like its colour rendition quite much, but here some serious veiling is going on and also a very bright hotspot is present.


Cosinon also made some interesting lens (not), instant soft-focus here as if one takes pictures in the foggy Scottish Highlands... No hotspot though...



Greetings


Crispian

[soikka]

Interesting test, thanks!

[mUg]

The Pentacon has an "unusual" (if i can call it this way) behavior, to me, wide open flaring but leaving a corner almost clear, while being pretty clean by f4...

The Takumar wasn't that bad...i wonder a bit about the non SMC versions :/

[sir_c]

[peterqd]

Thanks for the interesting test Crispian. I think it would be a great idea to do it again using a tripod if possible (not necessarily to avoid camera shake, but to ensure that the position and direction of every shot is identical). I'd also like to see the benefit of using a hood in this situation.

[the_Suede]

This is one aspect where the T* coating really shines... Or rather DOESN'T shine

[Screamin Scott]

I assume there were no filters on any of the lenses?

[sir_c]

[Carlsson]

Nice test!

Please no lens hoods.
I never use lens hoods for street photography, it's much more sneaky without.

[peterqd]

[Carlsson]

Yes of course, sorry Peter.

[mUg]

[Orio]

The above set of photos prove that there is a reason why you spend more for Zeiss lenses and that it's not all in the "more or less sharp" department.

The following photos were taken last year in Piacenza at the Christmas market, with a Distagon 1.4/35 on the 5D, without lens hood.
Many light sources directly in the image field. In the last picture, there is even a powerful spotlight aimed directly at the front lens.

I think these images speak for themself about why I love this lens:

[Carlsson]

Orio, this is an amazing lens.
It's not just the lack of flare, I see great colors, great depth and 3D.
And a great photographer of course.

This one is still on my list...

[Mal1905]

Very interesting results sir_c, will certainly keep my eyes open for updates.

Orio, wow! That lens has produced some really amazing images here.

[sir_c]

Hi,

Since it is freezing outside and I did not want to get any frostbite in my pants I decided to do a smaller test at home in addition to the above.

I got triggered by a remark about filters and hoods and I decided to see the difference with and without filters. Shocking, if this test is anywhere near representative...

I grabbed my regarded C/Y Planar 50mm f/1.4 and made two shots @ f/2.8. One with the bare lens and one with a B+W UV filter fitted (which is quite a respected brand afaik) which came with my lens.

Now you guess which pic belongs where. I hope to find some time in the near future to dig deeper into this, especially cos' I want to see how my newly-bought Super-Tak 50/1.4 performs

[no-X]

B+W filters are known for good build quality, but poor MC layers (compared to Hoya).

[Attila]

I didn't know this I just heard B+W provide best quality it is not impact lens IQ I am not sure about Hoya.

[no-X]

Hoya filters has poor sleeves (or how is the metal part with thread called in english), but their MC layers are really the best (at least significantly better than B+W). I know some photographers, who buys best quality filters from both manufacturers and their opinion is the same...

[Attila]

Thank you!

[sir_c]

Seems that I am not alone regarding the filter flare. I did some small google research and I found some articles on this subject.

One on the regarded Luminous Landscape site: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-feb-05.shtml

One with some example pictures: http://www.vanwalree.com/optics/filterflare.html

So... I'm taking off those suckas and only fit them when I'll be shooting in the rain or on beaches etc.

Grtx


Crispian

[Screamin Scott]

All filters will have an impact on IQ, how much depends on the filter & the shooting situation. Your best filters are no exception, they just may be a bit better in controlling flare & other distortion, but it's still there. I have always only mounted "protective" filters when there was either blowing sand or sea spray. Other than that, just limited use of special effects filters (like polarizers, ND or star filters)...I protect the front element of my lens with hoods & lens caps

[greg]

I see there are two points I must consider from this thread.

1 Buy Zeiss

2 Use hoods - not filters

Thanks to everyone for this tutorial.

[Orio]

Like Custer said, "the best UV filter is no UV filter"

[koji]

I do use a protect filter(not UV filter), here is an example.



Guess what the lens used, using Kenko protect filter (seven layer coating).
The sun is inside of this shot, unless i get too much ghosting I do not take
filter out. This was a test for ghosting.