This test is not meant to be scientific and could be full of faults, but it helps me and I am sharing it so it might help others as well.
All tests done on a tripod, under incandescent light with the 2 sec timer. Used LV and manual focus under max. magnification. EXIF should be intact with the 100% crops.
The shot taken with the 31mm FA limited was always brighter by almost 1-stop even though the iso, aperture and shutter were the same, and thus the exposure was reduced by 1 stop in PP (I know it's unfair, it totally baffles me why the FA31 image is so much brighter and has the histogram shifted to the right by 1-stop when the camera exposure is set identical ???????).
Here are the Images, what a surprise.
FA31 limited at f2.8 the whole image FA*28-70 at 31mm f2.8 the whole Image FA31,f2.8 100% crop FA*28-70 at 31mm f2.8 100% crop FA43 at f2.8 the whole Image FA*28-70 at 43mm f2.8 the whole Image FA43 at f2.8 100% crop (Looks like a mis-focus) FA*28-70 at 43mm f2.8 100% crop
(Photozone measured the highest MTF value of any lenses with the FA43 at f4, it was beyond the scale and out resolved the K10D sensor in that test)
With the doll at an angle to eliminate BF/FF focus issue)
FA43 at f4 100% FA*28-70 at f4 at 100% crop FA77 at f2.8 full image FA28-70 at 70mm f2.8 full image FA77 at f2.8 100% crop FA28-70 at 70mm f2.8 100% crop-Possible misfocus, I will test this further CONCLUSION
(Even though I used the LV and did MF, I would not trust the 100% crops too much as there is so much that can go wrong with them. I would rely more on the full images for rendering, and use the 100% crops just as a guide.)
Everyone knows how great the FA limiteds are, and I can say of the many lenses I've used, the FA limteds have easily lived up to their reputation and they are easily the best lenses I've ever used. I am shocked beyond belief how the FA* 28-70 f2.8 has performed against them...UNREAL.
Last edited by pcarfan; 05-08-2010 at 07:41 PM.