ole sarg Loc: south florida

It is my contention that one cannot tell which lens was used to take a given photograph.

RULES:

1. A single subject

2. Artificial light so that exposure is the same

3. Same camera

4. Same focal length, aperture setting and same time

5. Three different lenses same company
a. kit lens
b. medium priced lens
c. expensive pro lens

5. No data given on shot except for point 4

6. Which shot is taken with which lens!

I think the same could be done with various camera brands. It would be interesting to see the difference in real world terms instead of lab conditions. The same could be done with various cameras within the same brand.

In short, I think most of the talk about which is better is nonsense.

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

I will wait for the results, but your rules omit the size, and quality of the files submitted, as well as the enlargement factor at which they are viewed.
I know I can see, on my computer screen, a difference in image quality (sharpness, fringing, et.al.) amongst various lenses of different cost and quality. I suspect I would have to print at poster size to see those on paper. My presumption has always been that one gets what one pays for, but that the differences are not obvious. Incidentally, this same rule holds true for audio equipment: All speakers produce a version of the music, and as cost increases distortion disappears, but not in the same proportion that the investment increases. In other words, $2,000 speakers do not sound twice as good as $1,000 speakers. There are always bargains to be found, and a third party lens can and often does outperform brand manufactured product. In my opinion, it comes down to what one need, wants, and how demanding the photographer is.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yeah, there are so many variables. However, if each poster uses the same specs for their own images, the comparison should be valid.

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

Sarg, Not sure what you're after but here are images comparing Canon 35-80 entry lens with Canon 24-105 L lens. I took images at 60mm with both lenses and then cropped identical sections for each full image. You can see there is a difference. Best J. Goffe

35-80_Full


24-105_Full




24-105 Enlargement

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Big difference with the enlargement. Otherwise, not so much.

blackest Loc: Ireland

It looks to me the 105 is sharper, I assume the aperture is the same. I found one recommendation to sharpen images was to turn off or lower noise reduction, better to do it in pp.

Maybe the most noticeable visible defect in lenses is ca, sharpness, saturation and tone also vary.

Wallbanger Loc: Madison, WI

This first example posted pretty much sums it up. There is in fact a difference between (most) budget glass and high end glass. There can even be significant differences between two "budget" lenses from first and third party manufacturers.