[mee]

I've processed each through Lightroom and then through Nik tools. All shot at roughly both 50mm and f/4-4.5

Can you spot which is which?

Lenses from which to chose:

DAL 18-55
DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
DA 18-135
DA 50 (aka 'plastic fantastic')

Update SPOILER: Correct answers on post #7 on page 3!

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Last edited by mee; 02-26-2018 at 06:55 PM.

[bxf]

I'm afraid ripples in the pool water are different from one image to the other. This test is invalid.

I'm not bothering to scrutinize the images, but really, the first thought that came to my mind is: yes, they are not all the same, but are there really enough differences to say that this-or-that is significantly better than these-and-those? Do these differences make the image more or less likeable? Do we always have to analyze everything to death?

Just a thought.

[mee]

I'm afraid ripples in the pool water are different from one image to the other. This test is invalid.

I'm not bothering to scrutinize the images, but really, the first thought that came to my mind is: yes, they are not all the same, but are there really enough differences to say that this-or-that is significantly better than these-and-those? Do these differences make the image more or less likeable? Do we always have to analyze everything to death?

Just a thought.

The ripples invalidate the game for you? Ok.

You know there is more in each image than a few water ripples at which to look. The focus is set to the door straight ahead (center focus point) and not the water anyways.

[FantasticMrFox]

The ripples invalidate the game for you? Ok.

You know there is more in each image than a few water ripples at which to look. The focus is set to the door straight ahead (center focus point) and not the water anyways.

I'm pretty confident he was being ironic, poking fun at people immediately declaring tests invalid because of some minor differences in the images

But seriously, I cannot tell. I was trying to make the first and easy step and identify the 18-55 and 18-135 for their bad(ish) corner performances wide open. But even focusing at the tiles in the upper right corner, I could only see ever so slight differences.

But for the sake of it:

A - 50-135
B - 50
C - 18-55
D - 18-135
E - 16-50

Probably performing at chance level here

Oh, and it would be easier to evaluate at 100% But I guess that's not the point of this exercise.

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Last edited by FantasticMrFox; 04-09-2016 at 04:19 PM.

[stevebrot]

At least one was taken at f/5.6 or narrower rather than f/4-f/4.5. Care to guess which one?


Steve

[bertwert]

At least one was taken at f/5.6 or narrower rather than f/4-f/4.5. Care to guess which one?

Good point...

Yep, mee you should have done it all at f/8.

[mee]

I'm pretty confident he was being ironic, poking fun at people immediately declaring tests invalid because of some minor differences in the images

But seriously, I cannot tell. I was trying to make the first and easy step and identify the 18-55 and 18-135 for their bad(ish) corner performances wide open. But even focusing at the tiles in the upper right corner, I could only see ever so slight differences.

But for the sake of it:

A - 50-135
B - 50
C - 18-55
D - 18-135
E - 16-50

Probably performing at chance level here

Oh, and it would be easier to evaluate at 100% But I guess that's not the point of this exercise.

Thanks for playing! I completely missed the sarcasm in bxf's post if there was any...

In any case, I plan to share the 'unedited' versions in a few days. That will give a bigger hint I think.

Good point...

Yep, mee you should have done it all at f/8.

But if I did them all at f/8 people would complain (did a search on past 'which is which' and that very complaint came up -- because past one was done at f/8)

Though you're welcome to play along too if you wish.

[mgvh]

No clue which is with each lens, and they all are very close, but my prefs would be:
A
B-C-D all have plus/minus that even out
E
(And I'm wondering if A was shot at f8)

[stevebrot]

In any case, I plan to share the 'unedited' versions in a few days. That will give a bigger hint I think.

You mean versions that were not cycled through Nik?

At face value, this game is sort of corny until one considers that:

• Two lenses in the test are decidedly consumer grade
• One is being shot wide open
• One is being shot just over 2 stops down
• Three, two of which are marketed as pro-quality, are stopped down about a stop

With a standard profile import into Lightroom with no lens adjustments applied, I would expect that the DAL 18-55 would stick out like a sore thumb with the DA 50/1.8 and the two DA* lenses being very close to indistinguishable except for CA from the 50/1.8. The DA 18-135 would likely have corner softness almost on the same level as the 18-55.


Steve

[mee]

You mean versions that were not cycled through Nik?

Yes. No lens correction, sharpening, or any of that funny business either.

At face value, this game is sort of corny until one considers that:

• Two lenses in the test are decidedly consumer grade
• One is being shot wide open
• One is being shot just over 2 stops down
• Three, two of which are marketed as pro-quality, are stopped down about a stop

With a standard profile import into Lightroom with no lens adjustments applied, I would expect that the DAL 18-55 would stick out like a sore thumb with the DA 50/1.8 and the two DA* lenses being very close to indistinguishable except for CA from the 50/1.8. The DA 18-135 would likely have corner softness almost on the same level as the 18-55.

uh huh. Care to make some choices with what you see currently?

---------- Post added 04-09-16 at 07:16 PM ----------

No clue which is with each lens, and they all are very close, but my prefs would be:
A
B-C-D all have plus/minus that even out
E
(And I'm wondering if A was shot at f8)

None were shot at f/8 although, now that I think of it, one was shot at higher than f/4.5 for obvious reasons. hehe

[stevebrot]

Care to make some choices with what you see currently?

I know which two were done with the DA 18-55 and DA 18-135, but that is about it.


Steve

[mee]

I know which two were done with the DA 18-55 and DA 18-135, but that is about it.

Please provide some guesses then

[FantasticMrFox]

Come on people, stop debating f-stops and lens performance and simply give your guesses.

[swanlefitte]

On my phone without reading glasses c looks best. The pic is above ut 1 1/4 by 2.75 inches for me.
D second.

[northcoastgreg]

Other than

Can you spot which is which?

No, not really. I don't own any of these lenses and at this image size it's hard to see any differences. Just guessing, I would say A=50-135; B=50; C=16-50; D=18-55; and E=18-135.