halos with smc manual lenses

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 03:08 PM

Hi folks. I've just received a few fast k (as in 50mm f1.2), m, and a lenses with smc coating in my move back to manual lenses. After trying them out on my K20D in my living room with afternoon light to the side or behind me, I'm finding that white lettering on a black background tends to halo quite a bit. Also contrast isn't what I would think it should be at any fairly open aperture. My DA* 16-50mm doesn't show the haloing and the contrast is better at f2.8. Is this an indication of the advancement of technology, or am I missing something here?

Thanks a bunch for any insights..........Paul

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 03:16 PM

and is this an example of blooming?

cheers

Nesster · 02-23-2009, 03:34 PM

I don't see anything?

Ultra fast lenses in general have tradeoffs - for normal shooting often a slower lens produces better results. In next to no light of course the ultra fast comes into its own.

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 03:45 PM

sorry, no pics where attached. I meant that "is this an example of blooming" hypothetically.

thanks........Paul

Wheatfield · 02-23-2009, 04:49 PM

Pictures or it didn't happen,

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 05:16 PM

User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 05:19 PM

Getting the hang of this. The image is soft, and I realize it's f1.2, but a close inspection would show that the numbers have white halos around them, even when the aperture is stopped down a bit more. I was using shake reduction. ......Paul

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 05:34 PM

User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

warpedwoof · 02-23-2009, 06:48 PM

Never mind. Either my or the camera's shake reduction isn't working. User error.

thanks to those who replied..........Paul

stevebrot · 02-23-2009, 11:03 PM

Put on tripod
turn SR OFF
be double sure of focus

SR can introduce softness if no camera motion is present.

Another possible cause is hazing or fungus inside the lens.

And...finally...some "fast" lenses are simply soft at maximum aperture. While sharp enough one or two stops down, performance at maximum aperture is often merely "acceptable".

Steve

(One reason why I don't own any f/1.2 or f/1.4 glass...)

jawsy · 03-17-2009, 03:49 AM

I experienced the same effect on white objects on my K20D at f1.4. It occurs on or off shake reduction, on or off tripod, and generally in strong light conditions. I've come to the conclusion it's a fast lens characteristic. It hasn't bothered me as the only times I experienced the halo was when I shouldn't have been using such a wide aperture anyway.

02-23-2009, 03:08 PM	#1
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32	halos with smc manual lenses Hi folks. I've just received a few fast k (as in 50mm f1.2), m, and a lenses with smc coating in my move back to manual lenses. After trying them out on my K20D in my living room with afternoon light to the side or behind me, I'm finding that white lettering on a black background tends to halo quite a bit. Also contrast isn't what I would think it should be at any fairly open aperture. My DA* 16-50mm doesn't show the haloing and the contrast is better at f2.8. Is this an indication of the advancement of technology, or am I missing something here? Thanks a bunch for any insights..........Paul

02-23-2009, 05:16 PM	#6
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	halo example User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

02-23-2009, 05:34 PM	#8
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	cropped image User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

02-23-2009, 11:03 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Put on tripod turn SR OFF be double sure of focus SR can introduce softness if no camera motion is present. Another possible cause is hazing or fungus inside the lens. And...finally...some "fast" lenses are simply soft at maximum aperture. While sharp enough one or two stops down, performance at maximum aperture is often merely "acceptable". Steve (One reason why I don't own any f/1.2 or f/1.4 glass...)

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02-23-2009, 03:16 PM	#2
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	and is this an example of blooming? cheers

02-23-2009, 03:34 PM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	I don't see anything? Ultra fast lenses in general have tradeoffs - for normal shooting often a slower lens produces better results. In next to no light of course the ultra fast comes into its own.

02-23-2009, 03:45 PM	#4
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	sorry, no pics where attached. I meant that "is this an example of blooming" hypothetically. thanks........Paul

02-23-2009, 04:49 PM	#5
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Pictures or it didn't happen,

02-23-2009, 05:19 PM	#7
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	Getting the hang of this. The image is soft, and I realize it's f1.2, but a close inspection would show that the numbers have white halos around them, even when the aperture is stopped down a bit more. I was using shake reduction. ......Paul

02-23-2009, 06:48 PM	#9
warpedwoof Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: southwest Wisconsin Posts: 32 Original Poster	Never mind. Either my or the camera's shake reduction isn't working. User error. thanks to those who replied..........Paul

03-17-2009, 03:49 AM	#11
jawsy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422	I experienced the same effect on white objects on my K20D at f1.4. It occurs on or off shake reduction, on or off tripod, and generally in strong light conditions. I've come to the conclusion it's a fast lens characteristic. It hasn't bothered me as the only times I experienced the halo was when I shouldn't have been using such a wide aperture anyway.