Lens trial on L1/D3

[spylaw4]

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I've had to shoot this comparison looking across the street from my study window as my mobility is limited at the moment. Not very inspiring subject but it will do for starters. The 3 shots are an initial comparison between the 90/2.8 R Elmarit, a Contax 35mm/2.8 and the standard Vario-Elmarit set to 35mm.

All were shot with AutoWB, ISO200, f5.6 in RAW , spot exposure, moved straight into Lightroom and sized for the forum with no other adjustments. The lighting conditions were as constant as possible over the couple of minutes it took to change lenses and shoot.

I find the results fascinating and your comments re the differences (and why) would be much appreciated.

 

90mm Elmarit R - why should this be so dark?

[ATTACH]37913[/ATTACH]

 

35mm Contax Distagon - nearest to the actual light but a little washed out in colour.

[ATTACH]37914[/ATTACH]

 

14-50mm Vario-Elmarit

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[spylaw4]

This is a quick process of the Vario-Elmarit shot to give a rough idea of what the above should look like.

 

[ATTACH]37917[/ATTACH]

[audidudi]

For various technical reasons, you can't always rely upon the meter reading when you're shooting with "other" lenses on your L1/D3. In my experience, you use the meter reading as your starting point then adjust as necessary from there using the LCD and/or histogram readout (and Yes, at times, the required adjustment can be so large as to exceed the +/- 2-stops of exposure compensation that's available and force you to set the shutter speed manually).

[spylaw4]

Interesting Jeffrey - thanks - does this apply to the Oly 4/3 lenses as well?

[Riley]

thanks Brian

odd b/se, with MF lenses i usually overexpose

[audidudi]

Interesting Jeffrey - thanks - does this apply to the Oly 4/3 lenses as well?

No, only lenses not designed for the 4/3 system. As I understand it, what happens is that the meter can be confused by the extra light that's bouncing around the mirror box due to the larger and not telecentric image circles these lenses project and, obviously, this is a non-issue for lenses designed for the 4/3 system.

 

More light hitting the meter = meter compensates with less exposure = darker images. Also, more light bouncing around the mirror box = less contrast in the images = some otherwise very fine 35mm-format lenses that are not particularly well suited for use on a 4/3 camera body.

[dugby]

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Brian, Thankyou for going to the trouble to produce these shots.

 

Is your Contax Distagon one of the newer CZ lenses ? Which mount is it ?....Nikon?

 

I have noticed the Contax CZ lenses that I am interested in (ultra wide) seem more readily available off ebay, than the Leica R equivalents.

 

Gosh if Jeffery's CV 12mm just didn't have such a long-neck...with the mirror clearance issue, I'd love to have that one.

[spylaw4]

Dugby, I really would not know - but maybe you can enlighten me!

Bought off eBay at a very reasonable price, the details are as follows:

Carl Zeiss Distagon 2.8/35 T* Ser 5849837 (Japan made). Contax/Yashica mount.

I got a Roxsen adapter also off eBay.

There are limited number of the wide CZ lenses on eBay right now - but they seem popular and the costs high. IMO it might be better getting the Oly 11-22 for only a little more or break the bank for the 7-14! But they are hardly compact!

Given the gloomy nature of the 90 Elmarit R (not to mention the weight) - I may change that one for a Contax C/Y mount 85mm. But the 50mm R lens shown in the "D lens vs R lens" thread shows promise.

 

Oh - decisions, decisions!