Image and lens evaluation
May 20, 2017 11:35:29 #
Question for the forum: Assuming two pictures of a subject was properly framed, exposed etc, and one was taken say at 50mm with a prime lens and the other at 50mm on a zoom lens, would there be a noticeable difference in how the image looks? I am trying to wrap my head around why a prime might be considered "better" except perhaps for maybe being better in low light scenarios.
May 20, 2017 11:48:06 #
Einreb92 wrote:
Question for the forum: Assuming two pictures of a subject was properly framed, exposed etc, and one was taken say at 50mm with a prime lens and the other at 50mm on a zoom lens, would there be a noticeable difference in how the image looks? I am trying to wrap my head around why a prime might be considered "better" except perhaps for maybe being better in low light scenarios.
If you did a relatively large side-by-side comparison you may see the difference. Post processing could have a greater affect.
May 20, 2017 11:49:32 #
May 20, 2017 11:52:36 #
Noticeable is the question. The prime lens has a larger diameter glass so at the same f/ stop, the prime will be collecting closer to the center of the lens (percentage wise). The closer you are to the enter of the lens, the sharper the image, the less distortion, the less chromatic aberration. The Zoom is "optimized" for all possible lens setting from min to max. Optimized means that every lens position gives a little clarity and resolution for the convenience of a single lens.
The question that must always be answered is "What are you going to do with the image?" Crop it more than 1:4, print it larger than 5X7? The more you crop, the larger you print, the more critical the gaze upon the image, the better the prime will perform compared to the zoom.
Will a f/2.8 zoom lens on a 24MB FF Sensor look better than a f/1.4 Prime on a 18MB sensor? .........?
The question that must always be answered is "What are you going to do with the image?" Crop it more than 1:4, print it larger than 5X7? The more you crop, the larger you print, the more critical the gaze upon the image, the better the prime will perform compared to the zoom.
Will a f/2.8 zoom lens on a 24MB FF Sensor look better than a f/1.4 Prime on a 18MB sensor? .........?
May 20, 2017 11:54:35 #
May 20, 2017 12:06:50 #
SS319 wrote:
third line - "center of the lens"!!! Damn fingers!
Must be a sailor thing: I understood exactly what you meant lol. Your response helped me think about this in a better way. At present, I am mainly viewing on my 27" monitor and haven't printed any images yet. The reason for my question is about a purchase I am to make soon which is causing me to evaluate which lens I can afford and what combination would give the best bang. D7200 is the body. I am contemplating adding the Tokina 11-20 and the Sigma 17-70. I already have an old 70-210. I am wondering whether I would be better served getting the body with the 18-140 and add the 11-20 at a later date. Were money no object, I would have a major GAS attack and get them all. Another factor is camera/image envy. Our son loaned me his D800 for a national park trip and the images blew me away. I don't think the 7200 will get me there, but I believe I was influenced by the greater ability of the sensor and want to try and get as close to that as I can.
May 20, 2017 12:17:09 #
Einreb92 wrote:
I am trying to wrap my head around why a prime might be considered "better" except perhaps for maybe being better in low light scenarios.
Speaking only to image quality, and for those living in the past, primes have always been considered to be "better".
For those living in today, many (expensive) zooms equal or surpass most primes.
But as a generalization, most cheaper primes offer more IQ for the buck than cheaper zooms and mostly at wider f-stops.
May 20, 2017 13:11:20 #
Einreb92 wrote:
Must be a sailor thing: I understood exactly what ... (show quote)
The D7200 will surprise you with its image quality...take the same landscape photo (same camera settings) with both cameras and you would be hard pressed to see the difference. In fact, my good friend has a 810 and we have done this test against my 7200...8x10 prints and the diff is negligible. He used his 14-24 lens and I used my 16-80. The D7200 is a very versatile camera and DX lenses are less costly than FX. Love the mega pixels of the D810 though when you have to crop or blow up.
May 20, 2017 13:16:32 #
May 20, 2017 13:19:10 #
May 20, 2017 13:36:05 #
It is easier to design a lens to be accurate at one focal length than many. A zoom lens is optimal at one focal length and a little less so on either side. Years back anything more than a 2 1/2 times zoom was considered unacceptable.
Today with computer design assisting, zooms are much better even at large zoom ratios. You can't really make a decision on an old rule of thumb. Pick a specific prime and zoom you are interested in and do your research on them.
Good luck.
--
Today with computer design assisting, zooms are much better even at large zoom ratios. You can't really make a decision on an old rule of thumb. Pick a specific prime and zoom you are interested in and do your research on them.
Good luck.
--
May 20, 2017 13:43:47 #
This might also help... If you go to this link then pick a couple of lenses that you are thinking about (like a Prime and a Zoom that covers the prime) and open each in a new tab.
Then on each tab if they did the full review there is a section on the Right that shows a graphic titled "Blur". If you click on it an interactive window will pop up and allow you to select different f stops and Zoom values for a Zoom lens and it will show you that lenses clarity at the given settings across the frame, the pop ups are also small enough that you can compare two or three lenses at t time this way.
This is the link for their Nikon DX Lens Reviews: http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/tag/dx/
Then on each tab if they did the full review there is a section on the Right that shows a graphic titled "Blur". If you click on it an interactive window will pop up and allow you to select different f stops and Zoom values for a Zoom lens and it will show you that lenses clarity at the given settings across the frame, the pop ups are also small enough that you can compare two or three lenses at t time this way.
This is the link for their Nikon DX Lens Reviews: http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/tag/dx/
May 20, 2017 15:13:39 #
Einreb92 wrote:
Question for the forum: Assuming two pictures of a subject was properly framed, exposed etc, and one was taken say at 50mm with a prime lens and the other at 50mm on a zoom lens, would there be a noticeable difference in how the image looks? I am trying to wrap my head around why a prime might be considered "better" except perhaps for maybe being better in low light scenarios.
Can't really answer this question without naming the two lenses, as it all depends on the lenses ( there are good primes, shitty primes, good zooms, shitty zooms, etc.). If you know what I'm getting at, there is really no telling unless you compare two specific lenses, or otherwise its like" Is there really a lot of difference between one granny smith apple and another granny smith apple?
May 20, 2017 15:25:57 #
MilanA wrote:
This might also help... If you go to this link the... (show quote)
Many thanks. I will try this when I am back at my desktop. I don't know if this is one I looked at before that didn't list non- nikon lenses.
May 20, 2017 15:34:19 #
sPeters: Tokina 11-20: 2.8 Pro DX; Sigma 17-70: 2.8-4.5. Both got good reviews across the web. For less $, I could outfit with 35mm and 50mm fast primes. Of course if I could get the right price for a D7200 with 18-140, it would seem a better path to go with the two primes and use the zoom for a walk around lens. Does that make sense?
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