Max resolution from a lens

Vantage-Point · 02-27-2012, 08:52 AM

Hello All,
How can anyone determine at which aperture a lens will produce its maximum resolution?

joe.penn · 02-27-2012, 08:58 AM

View the charts here:

http://www.photozone.de/reviews

bdery · 02-27-2012, 09:12 AM

Set your camera to program line - MTF, and look the aperture it selects in good light. There's your max resolution according to the people who designed the lens.

Only works with Pentax bodies, no other brands offers this that I know.

stormtech · 02-27-2012, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by bdery

Set your camera to program line - MTF, and look the aperture it selects in good light. There's your max resolution according to the people who designed the lens.

Only works with Pentax bodies, no other brands offers this that I know.

Yep - pretty neat feature which I like.

And to add - only works with Pentax lenses.

lytrytyr · 02-27-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by stormtech

And to add - only works with Pentax lenses.

And to add: only works with new Pentax lenses!

civiletti · 02-27-2012, 02:17 PM

Optimum aperture gives maximum IQ for an image in the optical plane. If you want high IQ across the frame when the field has considerble depth, a smaller aperture would probably yield better results. Expose, examine, decide.

john mood · 02-27-2012, 07:05 PM

Great info. Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with. Tried on my new DFA 50 macro thru a range of iso settings. It tried to maintain f5.6 then upward.
My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily.

stormtech · 02-27-2012, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by john mood

Great info. Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with. Tried on my new DFA 50 macro thru a range of iso settings. It tried to maintain f5.6 then upward.
My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily.

Which option for the program line did you use when you tried this?

I've only tried the MTF so far, but am going to experiment with the other options also (landscape, portrait, etc) to see what values the camera chooses.

**Aristophanes** · 02-27-2012, 08:10 PM

f/8 to f/11

joe.penn · 02-27-2012, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by john mood

My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily.

5.6 should be sweet-spot on the DFA100, as shown here on the chart: Pentax SMC-D FA 100mm f/2.8 macro - Review / Test Report - Analysis

John Poirier · 02-27-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by V'cuz

Hello All,
How can anyone determine at which aperture a lens will produce its maximum resolution?

Use the lens and decide for yourself.

bdery · 02-28-2012, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

And to add: only works with new Pentax lenses!

It works with my F50 f1,7 and also with my Sigma 17-70.

Originally posted by john mood

Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with.

Just make sure you use the MTF program line. You also have other options for program line (another perk of Pentax) but they won't yield the same info.

lytrytyr · 02-28-2012, 06:18 AM

Originally posted by bdery

It works with my F50 f1,7 and also with my Sigma 17-70.

By "new," I mean with a chip.

Good to see that the Sigma is also recognized.

john mood · 02-28-2012, 09:55 PM

It was set on "normal". I've never have use P and didn't even know there were options in the menu. As I've said before, you can own a Ferrari and be called Juan without ever competing at Le Mans.
Some day when I get tired of shooting Av, I might try something else, but when you're on the Mulsanne straight at 200 mph, leading the pack, why down shift?

bdery · 02-29-2012, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by john mood

I've never have use P and didn't even know there were options in the menu.

Originally posted by john mood

Some day when I get tired of shooting Av, I might try something else

I always use my camera on P mode. why? Simply because P mode is ALSO Tv and Av. Just swivel the rear jog dial and you're in Av, use the front dial and you're in Tv. Press the green button and for everyday shooting, or when you want max resolution, or when you hand your camera to someone else, you're safe in P mode.

That's one of the features I like the best about my Pentax. I really only need P and M.

02-27-2012, 08:52 AM	#1
Vantage-Point Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York Posts: 516	Max resolution from a lens Hello All, How can anyone determine at which aperture a lens will produce its maximum resolution?

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02-27-2012, 08:58 AM	#2
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	View the charts here: http://www.photozone.de/reviews

02-27-2012, 09:12 AM	#3
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Set your camera to program line - MTF, and look the aperture it selects in good light. There's your max resolution according to the people who designed the lens. Only works with Pentax bodies, no other brands offers this that I know.

02-27-2012, 12:38 PM	#4
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Originally posted by bdery Set your camera to program line - MTF, and look the aperture it selects in good light. There's your max resolution according to the people who designed the lens. Only works with Pentax bodies, no other brands offers this that I know. Yep - pretty neat feature which I like. And to add - only works with Pentax lenses.

02-27-2012, 01:26 PM	#5
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by stormtech And to add - only works with Pentax lenses. And to add: only works with new Pentax lenses!

02-27-2012, 02:17 PM	#6
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Optimum aperture gives maximum IQ for an image in the optical plane. If you want high IQ across the frame when the field has considerble depth, a smaller aperture would probably yield better results. Expose, examine, decide.

02-27-2012, 07:05 PM	#7
john mood Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ninole, Hawaii Photos: Gallery Posts: 74	Great info. Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with. Tried on my new DFA 50 macro thru a range of iso settings. It tried to maintain f5.6 then upward. My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily.

02-27-2012, 08:05 PM	#8
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Originally posted by john mood Great info. Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with. Tried on my new DFA 50 macro thru a range of iso settings. It tried to maintain f5.6 then upward. My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily. Which option for the program line did you use when you tried this? I've only tried the MTF so far, but am going to experiment with the other options also (landscape, portrait, etc) to see what values the camera chooses.

02-27-2012, 08:10 PM	#9
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	f/8 to f/11

02-27-2012, 08:11 PM	#10
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by john mood My DFA 100 tried to maintain f4 from iso 80 thru 6400. New info daily. 5.6 should be sweet-spot on the DFA100, as shown here on the chart: Pentax SMC-D FA 100mm f/2.8 macro - Review / Test Report - Analysis

02-27-2012, 09:50 PM	#11
John Poirier Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gabriola Island Posts: 619	Originally posted by V'cuz Hello All, How can anyone determine at which aperture a lens will produce its maximum resolution? Use the lens and decide for yourself.

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02-28-2012, 05:52 AM	#12
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by lytrytyr And to add: only works with new Pentax lenses! It works with my F50 f1,7 and also with my Sigma 17-70. Originally posted by john mood Never knew this tidbit about setting P and see what it comes up with. Just make sure you use the MTF program line. You also have other options for program line (another perk of Pentax) but they won't yield the same info.

02-28-2012, 06:18 AM	#13
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by bdery It works with my F50 f1,7 and also with my Sigma 17-70. By "new," I mean with a chip. Good to see that the Sigma is also recognized.

02-28-2012, 09:55 PM	#14
john mood Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ninole, Hawaii Photos: Gallery Posts: 74	It was set on "normal". I've never have use P and didn't even know there were options in the menu. As I've said before, you can own a Ferrari and be called Juan without ever competing at Le Mans. Some day when I get tired of shooting Av, I might try something else, but when you're on the Mulsanne straight at 200 mph, leading the pack, why down shift?

02-29-2012, 05:55 AM	#15
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by john mood I've never have use P and didn't even know there were options in the menu. Originally posted by john mood Some day when I get tired of shooting Av, I might try something else I always use my camera on P mode. why? Simply because P mode is ALSO Tv and Av. Just swivel the rear jog dial and you're in Av, use the front dial and you're in Tv. Press the green button and for everyday shooting, or when you want max resolution, or when you hand your camera to someone else, you're safe in P mode. That's one of the features I like the best about my Pentax. I really only need P and M.