Simple test of two 50mm lenses - help me decide

[no-X]

Here are two simple shots taken by two 50mm lenses at f/4 as an comparision of sharpness, contrast and CA.

I took more than 10 shots for each lens and picked up the sharpest for each one, so missfocus is not possible. They were processed in exactly the same way. Please don't compare the file-size - despite shot B has slightly bigger file size in jpeg format, it was in fact smaller than shot A in RAW - so file size says nothing about quality

Both are well known quality lenses (so difference is subtle) and many forum members use them, but I will not reveal it yet.

Which lens would you prefere?

lens A


lens B

[visualopsins]

Tough tough tough decision! (I didn't vote yet)

'A' has more contrast, but 'B' is sharper -- see string on middle window, right side.

Also slightly different magnifications, some maybe due some to change in taking position?

[std]

To me lens 'A' looks slightly sharper on border and with lower CA than lens 'B'.

[ylyad]

B seems slighty sharper in the center, but softer on the edges. A is more balanced in my mind from sharpness point of view, and that's why I vote A - the differences being very subtle anyway both are definitely quite OK

[Nesster]

A is more evenly sharp, B sharper in center and less so at the edge, though this is very subtle. B is a tiny bit warmer, or yellower. A maybe does shade gradations more gracefully than B, in this sample, and actually may hold onto highlights a bit further into the bright end as well.

I'd pick A on balance.

[Orio]

I prefer sdim6198hrokjs, it seems a little bit more resolvant, although I can not be sure that is is for real or isn't perhaps a slightest difference in the focus.

However on the practical side (=daily use) I'd consider these lenses equivalent.

[symphonic]

I'd pick A for slightly better contrast, but there's really almost no difference, perhaps a different scene would reveal more.

[metallaro1980]

the picture sdim6198hrokjs.jpg is more warm
the sdim6160hrrmv4.jpg has a green cast in the right....
am i right?

i prefer sdim6198hrokjs.jpg

[timo832000]

look at the moiree in pic B so I think B is sharper.

Did you compare Leica Summicron 50 with Zeiss Planar 50 ??

[Arkku]

[aleksanderpolo]

I picked A, and am I seeing more distortion on B or am I "seeing things"?

[BRunner]

Both lens are very close... But I slightly prefer lens A because of lower CA.

[MF-addicted]

[Geoff C. Bassett]

Prefer B for center sharpness. But both lenses are so close that I would just pick what costs less.

Lens B also somehow seems to have a wider FOV.

[Joosep]

6198 here too.

[DiegoV]

I also picked A because of the edge-to-edge sharpeness, which I think is better than the B lens. B seems to be a little less sharp on the edges and has more CA than A.

However I also agree with Orio... the differences are very subtle and on a daily use I'd be happy with any of the two.

[MF-addicted]

So any new comments or will you tell us the names of the lenses used.

[visualopsins]

[MF-addicted]

[visualopsins]

[metallaro1980]

are we to the "Guess Who" quiz-show ?

[a20010494]

I picked B because looks slightly sharper in the center, which is what i like .
There's no C: Foveon?

[Arkku]

I looked at the images again and was wondering: am I just imagining or does A have a strange colour cast to the right edge?

[AhamB]

[Riku]

Lens A is better