4 Mamiya standard lenses at infinity

[caspert79]

Contestants:
- Mamiya EF 50mm f/1.4
- Mamiya EF 50mm f/1.7
- Mamiya SX 55mm f/1.8
- Mamiya/Sekor 50mm f/2

Camera: Sony A7RII

First the fastest lens wide open:
comp14 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Solid center performance at this setting with relatively good contrast and good detail.

The 2 second fastest lenses wide open:
com1718 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Like the EF f/1.4, solid performance in the center of the EF f/1.7. The SX 55/1.8 has good detail as well, but is more glowy.

The lenses @ f/2:
comp2 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Cleanest center crops from both EF lenses. The corners of the EF 50/1.4 look best.

Then, f/2.8:
comp28 by devoscasper, on Flickr

This confirms what Stephan already established: the corners of the EF 50/1.4 are remarkably good at this setting.
Center crops of all lenses look pretty crispy by now.

f/4:
comp4 by devoscasper, on Flickr

f/5.6:
comp56 by devoscasper, on Flickr

f/8:
comp8 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Corners look near perfect now of the EF 50/1.4. The SX 55/1.8 and M/S 50/2 really good as well. The EF 50/1.7 weakest in this regard.

f/11:
comp11 by devoscasper, on Flickr

All lenses sharp now from center to the corners. The image of the EF 50/1.4 remains superior. I'm pretty sure I have no other standard lens in my collection that matches its corner performance.

[D1N0]

recognisable cool colour balance from the 50/2

[cbass]

Did you just go on a mamiya spending spree?

[Doc Sharptail]

[caspert79]

[caspert79]

[iangreenhalgh1]

If the Mamiya SX 1.8 55 is like the other 1.8/55s from Pentax, Petri, Fuji et al, then it would be the one I would choose, not because of any outstanding technical proficiency, but for it's characterful rendering that I find far more pleasing aesthetically than the more sterile character of the more highly corrected later 50s.

That is the great failing of these imperical tests - they focus purely on the technical and ignore the aesthetics of the rendering, the character of the lens, and for me, that is what really matters above all.

[caspert79]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yes, these tests do indeed make a lot of sense from the point of view of selecting a lens for landscape work. Good luck with your search, I don't have any recommendations as I generally use less than FF sized sensors and small apertures like f11 for landscape work, so it all becomes a bif of a moot point as most lenses will work fine in such cinditions. On my FF Sony a850, I'd probably use my Planar T* 1.7/50 for it's superior microcontrast which helps when shooting through things far away - helps bring out the tiny details in landscapes. Another lens I do find very good for such things is the humble plastic Zenitar 2/50, it is very sharp with very good microcontrast, and weighs so little it can fit in any pocket.

[caspert79]

[Ernst Dinkla]

[caspert79]