wparsonsgisnet Posted June 16, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 16, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sean just published his initial evaluation of the new 35mm 'lux-a lens. It appears focus shift is much improved, among other things. A more-detailed review is forthcoming, involving a 4-lens comparison. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 16, 2010 Posted June 16, 2010 Hi wparsonsgisnet, Take a look here New (Initial) Review of new 35mm 'lux-a from Reid Reviews. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jeff S Posted June 16, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 16, 2010 He does raise an interesting point about focus shift happening on many lenses, including the 35 Summicron asph. Like his earlier tests on the Summicron asph, I did my own controlled tests and my sample exhibited the same focus shift as his. Yet, we hear virtually no gripes about the Summicron asph in this regard. Strange how some issues take on a life of their own. It will be interesting to see what happens to the market price of the former Summilux. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted June 16, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted June 16, 2010 Jeff, it is strange. I have the impression from the posts here that the 'cron doesn't have a shift problem. I confess that I haven't tested my 'lux-a, so I guess I'd better do that. I did some shots to post here and didn't see shift in my copy, Think I'll look. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 17, 2010 Share #4 Posted June 17, 2010 Bill, my point is that although my Summicron asph exhibits some shift, primarily at 2 apertures, it is of no practical significance in my actual prints. Much ado about nothing. And I suspect the same with the prior Summilux asph. People just seem to jump on some issues. May be a pixel peeping phenomenon. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted June 17, 2010 Share #5 Posted June 17, 2010 I'm personally waiting for a comparison of the new Lux against the 35/2 Cron Asph to see if there are any performance gains at overlapping apertures in the f/2 to f/4 range. I would expect that at f/5.6, both offer optimal performance. If the only gain is an additional stop of light, and that will run an extra $2K, it could be tough to justify. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted June 17, 2010 Share #6 Posted June 17, 2010 As far as I understand, ALL lenses have focus shift. However, for most lenses, it is such a small effect that it makes no practical difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted June 17, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Had a chance to borrow one from the Leica Academie for two days during the Forum meeting in Zingst. From the tests I did it looks like they have done whet they set out to do with regards to focus shift. Not sure I like the new mount, but the optical quality is outstanding. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 17, 2010 Share #8 Posted June 17, 2010 As far as I understand, ALL lenses have focus shift. However, for most lenses, it is such a small effect that it makes no practical difference. Yep, that's Sean's point...and my experience. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrogers Posted June 18, 2010 Share #9 Posted June 18, 2010 My understanding what that both the cron and lux asph exhibit similar focus shift, but the lux's narrower depth of field wide open makes it more difficult to compensate for the shift. The lenses are adjusted with DOF something near centered wide open, so at F2.0 the lux has already started to shift, while the cron is near centered. By f2.8 and 4, a slightly misadjusted lux can shift outside the DOF more readily than a similarly misadjusted cron. Even if it doesn't, a small focus error in the wrong direction, and you get an unsharp result. That said, I agree it is much ado about nothing. I've had both a cron and a lux asph, and kept the lux (cron optical quality at all apertures, plus an extra stop). The focus shift has never been a problem that I've noted, the lens is fantastic, and I'm not replacing it. Until later, Clyde Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted June 18, 2010 Share #10 Posted June 18, 2010 HI there I've spent a few boring hours testing focus shift on the new 35 'lux. It's certainly there, but the difference from the old lux is that the point of focus at f1.4 remains in focus right through the aperture range. With the older lux asph, depending on it's adjustment, what was in focus at f1.4 might easily be out of focus at f2.8 or f4. As Sean said, focus shift is inherent in all lenses, just depends whether it matters. I must say that never having owned the previous 35 'lux I can't easily do a comparison, but I'm pretty sure that it's no issue with the new lens - which I think is lovely: Some pictures with the new lux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted June 20, 2010 Share #11 Posted June 20, 2010 Sean just published his initial evaluation of the new 35mm 'lux-a lens. It appears focus shift is much improved, among other things. A more-detailed review is forthcoming, involving a 4-lens comparison. Regards, I love Sean's reviews, but his format sucks. You would think that a paid site would make it friendly to the viewers rather than accommodate his paranoia of people stealing his copy. I have a paid subscription, but his format is to painful to me so I no longer use the sub. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalex Posted June 20, 2010 Share #12 Posted June 20, 2010 I love Sean's reviews, but his format sucks. You would think that a paid site would make it friendly to the viewers rather than accommodate his paranoia of people stealing his copy. I have a paid subscription, but his format is to painful to me so I no longer use the sub. That would make sense. His site is weirdest format I have seen so far. There is no mobile viewing, flash reader sucks and it just looks old. I guess its time to update it. You are 100% correct he is concentrating on theft prevention rather then improving reader experience. Totally his choice but .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artspraken Posted June 21, 2010 Share #13 Posted June 21, 2010 Sean will probably earn more if he moves to an ad based model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
63strat Posted June 22, 2010 Share #14 Posted June 22, 2010 I love Sean's reviews, but his format sucks. You would think that a paid site would make it friendly to the viewers rather than accommodate his paranoia of people stealing his copy. I have a paid subscription, but his format is to painful to me so I no longer use the sub. If I could read it on my iPhone I would renew my sub... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted June 22, 2010 Share #15 Posted June 22, 2010 If I could read it on my iPhone I would renew my sub... Ditto for iPad too. That's what I use mostly for casual browsing & research which is where photo sites fit into my world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 22, 2010 Share #16 Posted June 22, 2010 Sean will probably earn more if he moves to an ad based model. I doubt that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkochheiser Posted June 22, 2010 Share #17 Posted June 22, 2010 Ditto for iPad too. That's what I use mostly for casual browsing & research which is where photo sites fit into my world. +1 I have a few more months to run on my sub but with it only useful on my desktop I doubt that I'll renew. Too bad because the content is great. Kent Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share #18 Posted June 22, 2010 I believe we have 2 advantages from Sean's current model: 1. He does not take ads, so we can expect that he is not influenced by someone else. 2. He has a large subscriber base, so he isn't influenced by fear of loss of revenue, either. In short, you should expect to get a very fair, accurate review. This is my experience -- based on buying subsequent to reading his reviews. By my lights, he's right on. I am an early adopter of ReidReviews and also an early commenter. I wrote not long after he started the site and asked him to lighten the background so the extra contrast with the print would make it easier to read. He did so right away. So, if you want something, send him an email. His model ONLY includes revenue from subscribers, so expect him to continue to make the site uncopy-able. You should also expect his reviews to maintain the superb quality we have seen. I would not buy a lens for my Leica's without looking on his site first. This and VueScan have been the most valuable and least expensive additions to my photography inventory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalex Posted June 22, 2010 Share #19 Posted June 22, 2010 He can keep his uncopy-able format all he wants, all we are saying is that his site needs to be redone to bring it into 21st century Make a portable device site, ipad, don't rely strictly on flash and dark backgrounds. My eyes start to hurt very fast when i read them. I'm sure if he updates his site, he will get more subscribers. Reading on a computer is not the norm. iPads, iPhones, Android, WebOS devices is where most people love to read these days. Steven Huff updated his site and it works great on my Palm Pre Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 22, 2010 Share #20 Posted June 22, 2010 Why would Sean change his business model? He must be earning a fortune from the way he does it now. What is it? $30 per subscriber per year? If he has 1,000 subscribers, that's his mortgage paid, I suspect. (I'm guessing here) It takes an awful lot to earn thirty grand by internet advertising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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