Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
11-25-2011, 08:43 AM   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Pepe Guitarra's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,223
Chose the best lens please!!

Sorry, it should read CHOOSE! This Thanksgiving day was cloudy and cold in Southern California, so I decide to shot flowers using my K5 and some of my best lenses. This was a good opportunity to find out (without all those technical analysis) what lens produced the best shots. I decided to use three nice 135mm lenses: The Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f3.5, the Jupiter 37A 135/3.5 and the Tair 11A 138/2.8, I threw three more lenses just to check, among those one of the best: the SMC Takumar 85mm f1.9. Please look at the photos and compare them, I appreciate if you comment on which photo is sharpest, has best colors, etc., bottom line, which photo you like the best and why. I shot with the lens wide open, intermediate, and close (to the minimum workable aperture without causing difraction). I used a tripod and shot remotely using the 3 sec delay to allow for the mirror up vibration to stop. Any comments are welcome. Here are the photos:






























Last edited by Pepe Guitarra; 11-25-2011 at 11:27 PM.
11-25-2011, 09:18 AM   #2
Banned




Join Date: Jan 2009
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 9,675
Well this would be a lot more fun with a bikinigirl, but i go with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f3.5.
11-25-2011, 09:19 AM   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Pepe Guitarra's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,223
Original Poster
Here are four more photos taken with the lens wide open















Last edited by Pepe Guitarra; 11-25-2011 at 11:28 PM.
11-25-2011, 09:36 AM   #4
Veteran Member
aurele's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Paris, France
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,217
the Jena render color very well, very realistic.

the Tak 50 is really close in general rendering.

but i prefer the rendering of the Tak 28 and 85, it's a bit different, and i like it a bit more. But it's personnal.

i really dislike the fujinon

11-25-2011, 09:38 AM   #5
Veteran Member
Frogfish's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 4,490
QuoteOriginally posted by RonHendriks1966 Quote
Well this would be a lot more fun with a bikinigirl, but i go with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f3.5.
+ 1

Plus maybe the Tak 85. Although you really should shoot these at a) the same aperture and b) approx. same FoV for us to better judge them.
11-26-2011, 05:29 AM   #6
Inactive Account




Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney
Photos: Albums
Posts: 211
It's hard to separate themthey are mostly excellent glass, but the the Fuji is outstandingly awful.
11-26-2011, 09:49 AM   #7
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Pepe Guitarra's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,223
Original Poster
Agree with the Fuji, I bought it for parts. I need to repair one lens and can use some of its internal parts. However, I wanted to try it. It is very soft at all apertures.

11-26-2011, 09:56 AM   #8
Veteran Member
Nick Siebers's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madison, WI
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,165
I don't object to any of them, the Fuji certainly is soft but with this subject matter the results are nice, I think. The closer in to the flower the better the shots seem to me, and in particular I like the TAIR 11A. Might just be the warmer cast, though.
11-26-2011, 10:15 AM   #9
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Pepe Guitarra's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,223
Original Poster
I focussed at the minimum distance allowed by every lens and did not do any PP to the photos. I certainly believe the Carl Zeiss is a wonderful lens, but I also like the Tair 11Aa a lot (I have gotten more views and comments on Flickr on the Tair). It is a pre-set, but I love the preset, I have more control on the shots. The SMC Taks are always good, especially the SMC 85/1.9, which is a real legend, few were made. The 28/3.5 was the precursor of the K28/3.5, which I also have. However, the difference between the SMC Tak and the K28/3.5 is noticeable in my eyes, but very minimum. The benefit of the taks is the AV priority that provides shorter reaction time than the two steps of the K and M systems.
11-26-2011, 10:53 AM   #10
Veteran Member
RioRico's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Limbo, California
Posts: 11,263
Keep them all, of course.

IMHO the shots illustrate that these lenses aren't better-vs-worse, just different. Each has its own subtly distinct qualities. Cherish them all.
11-26-2011, 12:41 PM   #11
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 550
They all look nice to me. But I don't get the Fujinon being soft compared to the other photos it's not the sharpest of the bunch but aren't you comparing 135mm vs a 55mm lens at different apertures? Kind of an apples vs oranges comparison isn't it? It's definitely got the shallow depth of field at f1.4
11-26-2011, 12:53 PM   #12
Ash
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Ash's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,920
Carl Zeiss for me also - contrast and colours look most accurate and pleasant.
Jupiter also does very well in this regard.
11-26-2011, 02:23 PM   #13
Pentaxian
reeftool's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 9,543
They all look pretty good (except the Fuji) but I'll also vote for the Carl Zeiss.
11-26-2011, 02:41 PM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Buffalo/Rochester, NY
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,133
Beautiful images. I rather like the CarlZeiss Jena And Jupiter best.

I can't speak as to accurate color without seeing the roses myself so I'll wait for my all-expense paid trip before my review
11-26-2011, 02:43 PM   #15
Veteran Member
TOUGEFC's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Brisbane
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,561
First one.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
135mm, flickr, k-mount, lens, lenses, pentax lens, photo, photos, shot, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Why I chose the Q for journalism... wanderography Pentax Q 11 12-06-2011 09:17 PM
Finally chose my first two primes for K-7 pjthiel Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 26 05-01-2011 09:58 AM
Its a good thing Pentax chose MJPEG. nixcamic Pentax DSLR Discussion 4 05-02-2010 03:15 PM
Why I chose a Pentax DSLR dosdan Pentax DSLR Discussion 15 02-25-2008 01:30 AM
Finally chose one timmy71 Welcomes and Introductions 4 11-16-2007 08:14 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:57 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top