Lens flare of DA*55 Vs FA50 macro

pakinjapan · 08-25-2018, 05:36 PM - **2 Likes**

I post questions about the DA*55 here, thank you a lot for all the answer and Yesterday I buy and go out to test the 55.

I replace FA50 macro with the *55 and overall, I love image taken using both lenses. I need a WR lens, that why I get the *55. It is also a bit faster, that is a bonus.

See Image below,
55's lens flare is somewhat surprised me the most. On the flare resistance concern, I expect *55 to beat the old 50 macros to dead. Maybe I expect too much.
However, I think it is a lot easier to fix the flare on 55 but it is so many of them!
The old FA50 macro is a lot harder to fix when viewing at the pixel level.

I will use this lens to take a photo in high contrast night scene and pointing camera at very strong spotlight like what seen in the sample image below very often, so feel free to leave comments, tips, and technic to avoid flare. So far, my only technic is to find a better angle.

I also have a bit of trouble trying to use *55 on live view, manual focus at infinity
However, its autofocus is not that bad. I see people talk about this lens's slow autofocus but I find it is a lot better than I expect.

Last edited by pakinjapan; 08-26-2018 at 07:37 AM.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-25-2018, 06:32 PM

watching this thread, as I'm in the market for a DA*55 also....

**kiwi_jono** · 08-25-2018, 07:02 PM

That is a bit surprising. The DA*55 does have an extra element and bigger amount of glass area but then, as you say, it has more modern coatings.

This sort of shot does show up fare nicely. I wonder how the DFA*50 f1.4 will fare / flare in this scenario!

**Just1MoreDave** · 08-25-2018, 08:08 PM

The review here mentions flare.

**Madaboutpix** · 08-26-2018, 04:47 AM

Beautiful blue-hour/night scenes. Did you use the generously-sized dedicated hood that comes with the DA*55? Otherwise, you might have been able to shield the lens a little with your hand, perhaps?

pakinjapan · 08-26-2018, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by Madaboutpix

Beautiful blue-hour/night scenes. Did you use the generously-sized dedicated hood that comes with the DA*55? Otherwise, you might have been able to shield the lens a little with your hand, perhaps?

Thank you, and yes, I did use the dedicated hood.

torashi · 08-26-2018, 07:06 PM

Are you using a filter in front of the lens? That can cause highlight mirroring.

pakinjapan · 08-26-2018, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by torashi

Are you using a filter in front of the lens? That can cause highlight mirroring.

Nope, no filter.

The lens has (a kind of) infinity focus problem.
I will get a replacement and test at the same location / lighting again. I will update this post if i can find a different.

Dan · 08-26-2018, 10:16 PM

That's an interesting comparison. Thanks for posting.

In my experience a faster lens will be more prone to flare, ceteris paribus. The coatings are not all that much better on the 55, so I would expect the 50 macro to have better flare performance in a situation like this. If you are going to shoot scenes with bright lights at f/8 or f/11 in most cases you will be better off with a slower lens (assuming that it's a good lens, which certainly is the case with the FA macro). The DA*55, on the other hand, would have a big advantage at f/1.8-f/2.8. :-)

Sometimes it's better to have less glass between the image and the sensor.

Dan

**Rondec** · 08-27-2018, 11:14 AM - **2 Likes**

My 55 does flare when shooting straight into the sun, but no usually so much when shooting night time scenes.

08-25-2018, 05:36 PM - 2 Likes	#1
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041	*Lens flare of DA55 Vs FA50 macro** I post questions about the DA55 here, thank you a lot for all the answer and Yesterday I buy and go out to test the 55. I replace FA50 macro with the 55 and overall, I love image taken using both lenses. I need a WR lens, that why I get the 55. It is also a bit faster, that is a bonus. See Image below, 55's lens flare is somewhat surprised me the most. On the flare resistance concern, I expect 55 to beat the old 50 macros to dead. Maybe I expect too much. However, I think it is a lot easier to fix the flare on 55 but it is so many of them! The old FA50 macro is a lot harder to fix when viewing at the pixel level. I will use this lens to take a photo in high contrast night scene and pointing camera at very strong spotlight like what seen in the sample image below very often, so feel free to leave comments, tips, and technic to avoid flare. So far, my only technic is to find a better angle. I also have a bit of trouble trying to use 55 on live view, manual focus at infinity However, its autofocus is not that bad. I see people talk about this lens's slow autofocus but I find it is a lot better than I expect. Last edited by pakinjapan; 08-26-2018 at 07:37 AM.*

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08-25-2018, 06:32 PM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	watching this thread, as I'm in the market for a DA*55 also....

08-25-2018, 07:02 PM	#3
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	That is a bit surprising. The DA55 does have an extra element and bigger amount of glass area but then, as you say, it has more modern coatings. This sort of shot does show up fare nicely. I wonder how the DFA50 f1.4 will fare / flare in this scenario!

08-25-2018, 08:08 PM	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The review here mentions flare.

08-26-2018, 04:47 AM	#5
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,446	Beautiful blue-hour/night scenes. Did you use the generously-sized dedicated hood that comes with the DA*55? Otherwise, you might have been able to shield the lens a little with your hand, perhaps?

08-26-2018, 07:22 AM	#6
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041 Original Poster	Originally posted by Madaboutpix Beautiful blue-hour/night scenes. Did you use the generously-sized dedicated hood that comes with the DA*55? Otherwise, you might have been able to shield the lens a little with your hand, perhaps? Thank you, and yes, I did use the dedicated hood.

08-26-2018, 07:06 PM	#7
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	Are you using a filter in front of the lens? That can cause highlight mirroring.

08-26-2018, 09:05 PM	#8
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041 Original Poster	Originally posted by torashi Are you using a filter in front of the lens? That can cause highlight mirroring. Nope, no filter. The lens has (a kind of) infinity focus problem. I will get a replacement and test at the same location / lighting again. I will update this post if i can find a different.

08-26-2018, 10:16 PM	#9
Dan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 325	That's an interesting comparison. Thanks for posting. In my experience a faster lens will be more prone to flare, ceteris paribus. The coatings are not all that much better on the 55, so I would expect the 50 macro to have better flare performance in a situation like this. If you are going to shoot scenes with bright lights at f/8 or f/11 in most cases you will be better off with a slower lens (assuming that it's a good lens, which certainly is the case with the FA macro). The DA*55, on the other hand, would have a big advantage at f/1.8-f/2.8. :-) Sometimes it's better to have less glass between the image and the sensor. Dan

08-27-2018, 11:14 AM - 2 Likes	#10
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,663	My 55 does flare when shooting straight into the sun, but no usually so much when shooting night time scenes.