Here's the second part of the test of the Vivitar 28mm f/2, K01 at the Vivitar Bestiary. These shots are 100% crops from the center of each image to show detail. My normal workflow was followed; this includes histogram, white balance and some minor sharpening. Of course viewing at 100% is a bit of a torture test and not that realistic unless you intend to print so large that this will be the normal viewer experience.

These are ISO400 and handheld at quite low shutter speed. Focus trap was used to get the same distance from the subject. I green metered before the first shot and then used that setting as a baseline for all three exposures. Why did I do things this way? Why not use a tripod? Because this is how I take pictures! I believe the results are still revealing.


shells at f/2



Some nice colours and textures are starting to become visible, though still too muted. This could do with being a bit punchier, no doubt. ISO400 noise noticeable but in no way distracting. In fact, I rather like it.


shells at f/2.8



Whoops! Unsteady hands. But despite the motion blur there is more contrast and definition to the items. The veins in the white pebble are visible and there is far more interest in the shells.


shells at f/4



The detail has really come together here, even though I am hand holding at 1/20s. I would have no problem using a lens that resolves like this. Of course PP could enhance the contrast and improve sharpness without image degradation: this is just a starting point.

[jct us101]

Interesting...although the subject isn't really there.

[Ash]

Not a bad lens there.
Slight loss of detail wide open but looks like it's all there again by f/2.8

[rparmar]

Not a bad lens there.
Slight loss of detail wide open but looks like it's all there again by f/2.8

I agree. If you look at some of the other threads I've posted each of these lenses seems just fine stopped down one and very tight stopped down two.