Interesting Lens Test

**mhsp1948** · 12-10-2019, 07:20 PM - **1 Like**

I did an extensive lens test of the following lenses and here are the results listed in order of sharpest lens from 1 to 7. Not going into all the detail of the lens test using KP, K1 and two K1 MarkII cameras. These are not all the lenses I own but found it interesting in testing these and at the end list all the lenses I own.

1. HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
2. 31mm F/1.8 FA Limited Lens*
3. HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
4. HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
5. HD Pentax DA* 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW
6. HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
7. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 Ex Dc Hsm Lens*

Now I am sure others have found different results, but with my cameras and specific lenses this is the order mine ranked in sharpness.

Here is a complete list of he lenses for my KP, K1 and two K1 Mark II cameras:

HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
31mm F/1.8 FA Limited Lens*
HD FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6
DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM
ROKINON 85M-P 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens
HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited WR
DA* 300mm F4.0 ED (SDM)
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 Ex Dc Hsm Lens*
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR Lens
HD Pentax DA* 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW
HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

**sergysergy** · 12-10-2019, 07:26 PM

Could you share the aperture you used for each lens?

**jbinpg** · 12-10-2019, 07:27 PM

Please let us know how you determined the sharpness levels so we can differentiate between subjective and objective data.

swanlefitte · 12-10-2019, 07:31 PM

About what I would think.
How do you even rate zooms though? I could rate a zoom against itself at all focal lengths.

**mhsp1948** · 12-10-2019, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by sergysergy

Could you share the aperture you used for each lens?

f/5.6 for all the lenses and the duration of the test sergysergy

---------- Post added 12-10-19 at 09:14 PM ----------

Used f/5.6 and 50mm for all lenses accept the prime 31mm the wide zooms and the same indoor lighting so there would be no light variation and taking photos of side of brick fire place using a tripod. This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened.

stevebrot · 12-10-2019, 08:25 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mhsp1948

This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened.

Hmmmmm...so it is more of a general "this is sharper than that which is sharper than this other" ranking. Fair enough. I know my gear well enough to know which are my most competent lenses as well as the relative degree each has been blessed by pixies and which are much better than they have the right to be. I would expect the same might be true of most of us.

Steve

**jbinpg** · 12-10-2019, 10:07 PM - **1 Like**

Thanks for the details. Sharpness is only one lens characteristic. It matters more to some than others.

**UncleVanya** · 12-11-2019, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Thanks for the details. Sharpness is only one lens characteristic. It matters more to some than others.

It gets so complex trying to capture multiple focal length center, edge, corners, contrast, flare, sharpness, etc. I do like when pictures are included to help others see what the tester saw.

Ayrat · 12-11-2019, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by mhsp1948

3. HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
..
6. HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR

Kit lens is sharper than 24-70mm/2.8?

**mhsp1948** · 12-11-2019, 10:11 AM - **1 Like**

This is the order of the photos below - I did not save all my photos, these are the only ones left of my informal testing.

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 Ex Dc Hsm Lens*
HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW
31mm F/1.8 FA Limited Lens*
HD Pentax DA* 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

whojammyflip · 12-30-2019, 02:36 AM

Anyone looking into doing tests for sharpness would be well served by the MTF Mapper software, which is easily installed, and has test target print outs.

MTF mapper download | SourceForge.net

Slanted edge testing will give much greater insight into resolution characteristics of lenses, across the entire frame.

Its pretty quick to do, but you need to be able to print test targets which are totally flat (ie mount on a chip board and screw to something solid) and measure about 1m wide.

**mhsp1948** · 12-30-2019, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by whojammyflip

Anyone looking into doing tests for sharpness would be well served by the MTF Mapper software, which is easily installed, and has test target print outs.

MTF mapper download | SourceForge.net

Slanted edge testing will give much greater insight into resolution characteristics of lenses, across the entire frame.

Its pretty quick to do, but you need to be able to print test targets which are totally flat (ie mount on a chip board and screw to something solid) and measure about 1m wide.

Thank you whojammyflip

**mikesbike** · 12-30-2019, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by mhsp1948

f/5.6 for all the lenses and the duration of the test sergysergy

---------- Post added 12-10-19 at 09:14 PM ----------

Used f/5.6 and 50mm for all lenses accept the prime 31mm the wide zooms and the same indoor lighting so there would be no light variation and taking photos of side of brick fire place using a tripod. This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened.

Just one problem with this method, even for just getting an overall impression, is when testing zoom lenses, if the zoom range of the lens is tested at, or close to, either end- the shortest or the longest end of its FLs, it will be at a disadvantage to others that are at their mid-zoom range at 50mm.

12-10-2019, 07:20 PM - 1 Like	#1
mhsp1948 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mississippi Photos: Gallery Posts: 617	Interesting Lens Test I did an extensive lens test of the following lenses and here are the results listed in order of sharpest lens from 1 to 7. Not going into all the detail of the lens test using KP, K1 and two K1 MarkII cameras. These are not all the lenses I own but found it interesting in testing these and at the end list all the lenses I own. 1. HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW 2. 31mm F/1.8 FA Limited Lens* 3. HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR 4. HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR 5. HD Pentax DA* 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW 6. HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR 7. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 Ex Dc Hsm Lens* Now I am sure others have found different results, but with my cameras and specific lenses this is the order mine ranked in sharpness. Here is a complete list of he lenses for my KP, K1 and two K1 Mark II cameras: HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR 31mm F/1.8 FA Limited Lens* HD FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM ROKINON 85M-P 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited WR DA* 300mm F4.0 ED (SDM) Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 Ex Dc Hsm Lens* DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR Lens HD Pentax DA* 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

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12-10-2019, 07:26 PM	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	Could you share the aperture you used for each lens?

12-10-2019, 07:27 PM	#3
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Please let us know how you determined the sharpness levels so we can differentiate between subjective and objective data.

12-10-2019, 07:31 PM	#4
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	About what I would think. How do you even rate zooms though? I could rate a zoom against itself at all focal lengths.

12-10-2019, 08:06 PM	#5
mhsp1948 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mississippi Photos: Gallery Posts: 617 Original Poster	Originally posted by sergysergy Could you share the aperture you used for each lens? f/5.6 for all the lenses and the duration of the test sergysergy ---------- Post added 12-10-19 at 09:14 PM ---------- Used f/5.6 and 50mm for all lenses accept the prime 31mm the wide zooms and the same indoor lighting so there would be no light variation and taking photos of side of brick fire place using a tripod. This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened.

12-10-2019, 08:25 PM - 1 Like	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by mhsp1948 This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened. Hmmmmm...so it is more of a general "this is sharper than that which is sharper than this other" ranking. Fair enough. I know my gear well enough to know which are my most competent lenses as well as the relative degree each has been blessed by pixies and which are much better than they have the right to be. I would expect the same might be true of most of us. Steve

12-10-2019, 10:07 PM - 1 Like	#7
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Thanks for the details. Sharpness is only one lens characteristic. It matters more to some than others.

12-11-2019, 08:43 AM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by jbinpg Thanks for the details. Sharpness is only one lens characteristic. It matters more to some than others. It gets so complex trying to capture multiple focal length center, edge, corners, contrast, flare, sharpness, etc. I do like when pictures are included to help others see what the tester saw.

12-11-2019, 09:40 AM	#9
Ayrat New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12	Originally posted by mhsp1948 3. HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR .. 6. HD D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Kit lens is sharper than 24-70mm/2.8?

12-30-2019, 02:36 AM	#11
whojammyflip Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 417	Anyone looking into doing tests for sharpness would be well served by the MTF Mapper software, which is easily installed, and has test target print outs. MTF mapper download \| SourceForge.net Slanted edge testing will give much greater insight into resolution characteristics of lenses, across the entire frame. Its pretty quick to do, but you need to be able to print test targets which are totally flat (ie mount on a chip board and screw to something solid) and measure about 1m wide.

12-30-2019, 06:35 AM	#12
mhsp1948 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mississippi Photos: Gallery Posts: 617 Original Poster	Originally posted by whojammyflip Anyone looking into doing tests for sharpness would be well served by the MTF Mapper software, which is easily installed, and has test target print outs. MTF mapper download \| SourceForge.net Slanted edge testing will give much greater insight into resolution characteristics of lenses, across the entire frame. Its pretty quick to do, but you need to be able to print test targets which are totally flat (ie mount on a chip board and screw to something solid) and measure about 1m wide. Thank you whojammyflip

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12-30-2019, 04:17 PM	#13
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Originally posted by mhsp1948 f/5.6 for all the lenses and the duration of the test sergysergy ---------- Post added 12-10-19 at 09:14 PM ---------- Used f/5.6 and 50mm for all lenses accept the prime 31mm the wide zooms and the same indoor lighting so there would be no light variation and taking photos of side of brick fire place using a tripod. This was just for my own, not some technical evaluation, just for fun to see what happened. Just one problem with this method, even for just getting an overall impression, is when testing zoom lenses, if the zoom range of the lens is tested at, or close to, either end- the shortest or the longest end of its FLs, it will be at a disadvantage to others that are at their mid-zoom range at 50mm.