28-45 zoom or 25 prime?

GarethC7 · 11-12-2014, 05:51 AM - **1 Like**

thanks, do post when that happens.

Victor Wolansky · 11-12-2014, 11:11 AM

just received the zoom... it is a massive piece of glass!!!!! was ready to make some comparisons, when I discovered someone took my memory reader at the office :-(((((( Will have to wait till tonight.

Victor Wolansky · 11-12-2014, 11:50 AM - **1 Like**

Well... I can say that the stabilizer is quite good.

Stabilizer ON, 1/8 3200ISO 45mm

Victor Wolansky · 11-12-2014, 11:55 AM

Stabilizer OFF, same settings

Attached Images

GarethC7 · 11-17-2014, 06:27 AM

Hi Victor, now that you've had a few days to check it out, what are your thoughts?

mrclark321 · 11-17-2014, 08:05 PM

hand held O hope

Victor Wolansky · 11-18-2014, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by mrclark321

hand held O hope

Of course, hand held :-) no point to have stabilization ON on a tripod.

---------- Post added 11-18-14 at 08:02 AM ----------

I had no chance to make a side by side test, I was shooting a week with one and a week with the other one, will do a side by side today. My first impressions is that I was not really able to see or distinguish a big difference on the results between the zoom and the prime other than I noticed some heavy CA on the borders on some of the 25mm photos, but that could easily be the polarizer that was on the lens at that moment, which I do not know how affects the image.

The images resulting from the zoom are pretty clean and sharp border to border even wide open, as I close down and get closer to f7 it gets a bit sharper, past that it start to get less sharp again, but I noticed the same on the prime. So at this point, considering the benefits of the change of focal length, the stabilizer, and being able to use my wide collection of filters with the zoom, the zoom is a clear winner, those 3 mm of difference on the FL are. It that big, neither something that can not be fixed by making a small panorama. So I'm pretty much sure I will keep the zoom and return the prime.

I will make some side by side photos today and post the results.

Victor Wolansky · 11-18-2014, 03:29 PM

so I went out with my tripod and took some photos of the same with the zoom and the prime, at different apertures all the way from f4 to f32, the Zoom is better at any aperture you test it, sharper, less CA, pretty much none, and less color fringe, the only thing to my point of view were the 25mm wins is no vignetting, the 28-45 have some vignetting. I will post the results to by blog soon, probably today if I have enough time. I'm sending the 25 back.

---------- Post added 11-18-14 at 03:38 PM ----------

I can say that the 28-45 is wide open as sharp as the 25mm mm is at f14 on the center, and actually much better on the corners. The 25mm has a lot of CA on the borders, at every single aperture, and it does not handle well the highlights, like in metallic parts, with a big highlight, the 25 always show either purple or green fringe, specially wide open, and the 28-45 pretty much free of that issue.

Victor Wolansky · 11-18-2014, 08:47 PM

here is a little post on my blog about the comparison, will add more photos and comparison soon.

Victor Wolansky Photography

boinger · 11-19-2014, 12:59 AM

Hi Victor,

Was looking through some of your pictures. How do you setup your jewelry lighting?

Victor Wolansky · 11-19-2014, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by boinger

Hi Victor,

Was looking through some of your pictures. How do you setup your jewelry lighting?

well, there is no easy answer for that because each piece requires a different setup depending on its properties and angles I want to capture, but you can see my album with behind the camera images, that might give you a better idea of what I do and how I do it.

Behind the camera

and here there is a list of my clients where you can see their galleries

Galleries

boinger · 11-19-2014, 12:30 PM

Amazing setups Victor,

What are those clamps you have clamped to the table ?

I could use some of those. That clear plexi frame... something you made yourself?

Victor Wolansky · 11-19-2014, 01:09 PM

the articulated clamps are Manfrotto Magic Arms, best invention after the camera in my opinion, you need to buy also what you are going to use on the tips of the arms, like super-clamps for example. The clear plexy frame, I suppose you are talking about what I used to hold pieces in place with fishing line? if so, yes, I made them myself sicne they need to be sort of the size of the object and not too much bigger or the object will wiggle since the fishing line is a bit elastic.

boinger · 11-19-2014, 11:27 PM

Which clamps do you have on the arms?

Yes I could see the cutting in the frame. I shoot jewerly for my own business. Nothing high end. Mainly to get a good representation of the product and getting a white background. Any easy way's to get a white background or do you just have to cut in PS?

Victor Wolansky · 11-19-2014, 11:31 PM

I usually shoot in a kind of neutral gray and then replace since I do both white and gradient BG, it works better for me, but if you only need white, you can place the piece over a piece of glass and the BG be far from the piece so it does not illuminate it even if is lite to be full white, but this can produce fringe if the lens is not a great one.

11-12-2014, 11:50 AM - 1 Like	#18
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	Well... I can say that the stabilizer is quite good. Stabilizer ON, 1/8 3200ISO 45mm Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Zoom or Prime	Luuk	General Photography	26	08-26-2014 10:22 AM
Yet another lens advice request: Wide prime or zoom or ? on a budget	mgvh	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	43	08-06-2014 09:03 AM
Image quality: DA 16-45 f4 or FA 28-105 f4-5.6 or something else?	fanofcc	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	18	10-10-2013 05:07 PM
Prime or zoom	GUS ALBERTON	Visitors' Center	4	01-16-2013 06:44 AM
DA 16-45/4 or 24 prime?	repaap	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	01-29-2011 04:20 AM

11-12-2014, 05:51 AM - 1 Like	#16
GarethC7 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 139	thanks, do post when that happens.

11-12-2014, 11:11 AM	#17
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	just received the zoom... it is a massive piece of glass!!!!! was ready to make some comparisons, when I discovered someone took my memory reader at the office :-(((((( Will have to wait till tonight.

11-12-2014, 11:55 AM	#19
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	Stabilizer OFF, same settings Attached Images

11-17-2014, 06:27 AM	#20
GarethC7 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 139	Hi Victor, now that you've had a few days to check it out, what are your thoughts?

11-17-2014, 08:05 PM	#21
mrclark321 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sarnia, Ontario Posts: 130	hand held O hope

11-18-2014, 07:54 AM	#22
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by mrclark321 hand held O hope Of course, hand held :-) no point to have stabilization ON on a tripod. ---------- Post added 11-18-14 at 08:02 AM ---------- I had no chance to make a side by side test, I was shooting a week with one and a week with the other one, will do a side by side today. My first impressions is that I was not really able to see or distinguish a big difference on the results between the zoom and the prime other than I noticed some heavy CA on the borders on some of the 25mm photos, but that could easily be the polarizer that was on the lens at that moment, which I do not know how affects the image. The images resulting from the zoom are pretty clean and sharp border to border even wide open, as I close down and get closer to f7 it gets a bit sharper, past that it start to get less sharp again, but I noticed the same on the prime. So at this point, considering the benefits of the change of focal length, the stabilizer, and being able to use my wide collection of filters with the zoom, the zoom is a clear winner, those 3 mm of difference on the FL are. It that big, neither something that can not be fixed by making a small panorama. So I'm pretty much sure I will keep the zoom and return the prime. I will make some side by side photos today and post the results.

11-18-2014, 03:29 PM	#23
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	so I went out with my tripod and took some photos of the same with the zoom and the prime, at different apertures all the way from f4 to f32, the Zoom is better at any aperture you test it, sharper, less CA, pretty much none, and less color fringe, the only thing to my point of view were the 25mm wins is no vignetting, the 28-45 have some vignetting. I will post the results to by blog soon, probably today if I have enough time. I'm sending the 25 back. ---------- Post added 11-18-14 at 03:38 PM ---------- I can say that the 28-45 is wide open as sharp as the 25mm mm is at f14 on the center, and actually much better on the corners. The 25mm has a lot of CA on the borders, at every single aperture, and it does not handle well the highlights, like in metallic parts, with a big highlight, the 25 always show either purple or green fringe, specially wide open, and the 28-45 pretty much free of that issue.

11-18-2014, 08:47 PM	#24
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	here is a little post on my blog about the comparison, will add more photos and comparison soon. Victor Wolansky Photography

11-19-2014, 12:59 AM	#25
boinger Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 17	Hi Victor, Was looking through some of your pictures. How do you setup your jewelry lighting?

11-19-2014, 11:14 AM	#26
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by boinger Hi Victor, Was looking through some of your pictures. How do you setup your jewelry lighting? well, there is no easy answer for that because each piece requires a different setup depending on its properties and angles I want to capture, but you can see my album with behind the camera images, that might give you a better idea of what I do and how I do it. Behind the camera and here there is a list of my clients where you can see their galleries Galleries

11-19-2014, 12:30 PM	#27
boinger Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 17	Amazing setups Victor, What are those clamps you have clamped to the table ? I could use some of those. That clear plexi frame... something you made yourself?

11-19-2014, 01:09 PM	#28
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	the articulated clamps are Manfrotto Magic Arms, best invention after the camera in my opinion, you need to buy also what you are going to use on the tips of the arms, like super-clamps for example. The clear plexy frame, I suppose you are talking about what I used to hold pieces in place with fishing line? if so, yes, I made them myself sicne they need to be sort of the size of the object and not too much bigger or the object will wiggle since the fishing line is a bit elastic.

11-19-2014, 11:27 PM	#29
boinger Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 17	Which clamps do you have on the arms? Yes I could see the cutting in the frame. I shoot jewerly for my own business. Nothing high end. Mainly to get a good representation of the product and getting a white background. Any easy way's to get a white background or do you just have to cut in PS?

11-19-2014, 11:31 PM	#30
Victor Wolansky Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 91 Original Poster	I usually shoot in a kind of neutral gray and then replace since I do both white and gradient BG, it works better for me, but if you only need white, you can place the piece over a piece of glass and the BG be far from the piece so it does not illuminate it even if is lite to be full white, but this can produce fringe if the lens is not a great one.