Originally posted by Class A Why would you keep the FA50 next to a Nokton 58mm?
For the AF? I'm not questioning that it does make sense to keep both, just wondering what your reasons are.
It is a rare occasion but I'm disagreeing with you on this. There are 50/1.4 lenses which create shallow DOF but keep the area in focus contrasty. Zeiss and Sigma spring to mind. Also, the FA* 85/1.4 is an example of another "fast" (I agree, this is daft terminology) lens which is soft where it should be but remains sharp and contrasty in the in-focus area.
I don't think a lens should give you a forgiving, glamour, soft-filter effect automatically. I prefer to apply this in PP if I want to and rather have the "pop" of lenses which keep a subject sharp even when the DOF is razor thin.
I can't tell how many times on DP Review or other forum some guy gets a "fast" 1.4 lens, goes to a nightclub for a shoot, the goes online and complains about his "fast" lens is soft.
I agree the "fast" 50's have excellent contrast in general, and near centre, yes, sharp, but of what? Tip of nose sharp, but ears fuzzy wuzzy?
Talking about the qualities of lens sharpness on shallow DOF without the context of subject matter is also somewhat daft. The added variable of subject and distance to only serves to emphasize that the shallow DOF creates, across, frame, much larger soft areas than, say, the DA 15/4.
I find the my FA 50/1.4 extremely sharp at 3.5 90% across the frame in portrait use, has excellent contrast, but yellows and browns need PP (too banana). The bokeh can be hit or miss. It's needs big light from somewhere, as lots of little fractals make it messy. Takes awesome big light sidelit and b+w photos.