21MM 3.4 Super Elmar Issue

[algrove]

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Thanks to all of you that have responded. I have learned a few things especially zone focusing 1 or 2 stops off. That is new for me.

 

I should point out that with any of my serious landscape or long exposure work I use a tripod. So at f/16, slow shutter speeds, and a cable release I get outstanding sharpness and very pleased with my current 35MM Cron. My test shots with the 21MM were hand held and may not have been a fair way to evaluate the lens.

 

The more open test shots with manual focus were very nice but at f/16 the trees and foothills behind my test shoot, at infinity, were very soft and would not have been acceptable.

 

I'm going to breakout the tripod today for further testing and will let all of you who have kindly shared your expertize, how it turns out.

 

Agree this is not good to forget the tripod in this case. I always use tripod for landscape work, no matter the light.

So the lens Manual states that stopping down beyond 5.6 yields no better reduction in vignetting. I only go beyond 5.6 for depth of focus reasons. Personally I always set my lens at minimum one stop less than my actual setting to be safe ,i.e., for f11, I would use f8 in the depth of field scale.

 

In addition when placing the infinity symbol at say f8, I play it also conservative and never go beyond the center of the infinity marking against my depth of field number I am aiming to use. This can be a very important point when wanted to ensure infinity is in focus. Maybe others have a different approach, but what part of infinity rests opposite that f stop number (on the right side of the depth of field scale) I watch very closely. For some. it is easy to get sloppy here.

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[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello jferebee,

 

Since you are bringing along your tripod anyway you might try this test to see if it can help you tell what is causing your lack of sharpness:

 

Put the camera & lens on the tripod. Adjusting the shutter appropriately for each exposure:

 

Pick a subject very far away & frame it in the viewfinder.

 

Set the focus barrel for the MARK for Infinity. Leave the camera at this point of focus for the entire test.

 

Set the aperture to F16. Adjust exposure accordingly. Expose gently with a cable release.

 

Set the aperture to F11. Adjust & Expose as above.

 

Set the aperture to F8. Adjust & Expose as above.

 

Set the aperture to F5.6. Adjust & Expose as above.

 

Set the Aperture to F4. Adjust & Expose as above.

 

Set the Aperture to F3.4 (1/2 stop larger than F4). Adjust & Expose as above.

 

Compare the final image sharpness & depth of field for each exposure side by side & compare. See which lens apertures give you the best sharpness at Infinity.

 

The sharpest apertures at Infinity may be the best apertures to use when zone focussing.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Mark2007]

i love super elmar 21