The 43mm ltd. lens is not "poor" wide open compared to other standard lenses. It is not as good wide open as it is stopped down (as any fast standard lens). At f4 and smaller openings the ltd. is absolutely amazing. It's major strengths are detail (make big enlargements!), intense color reproduction and bokeh characteristics.
I think the range of opinions about the 43mm reflect that it is quite different in "characteristic" from the 1.4 /1.2 50mm lenses. Some like its "characteristics" more than others. E.g. the ltd. seems to be produce slightly "cooler" colors. Also it does not show such "soft" out of focus images as do the 1.4/1.2 50mm lenses. In the out of focus images from the 43mm ltd, colors remain intense but detailed structures and color nuances tend to disappear, i.e. larger surfaces look "uniform" (no idea how to describe this better), edges are smooth and absolutely no "swirling". This bokeh characteristics is great for candid shots, street scenes, landscapes and even macro (with extension rings). I think this is what Pal describes with "3D-effect". It seems to be difficult to describe but it is quite exceptional ... Alexander > Ever since this lens came out I have been reading reviews that claim it is > the greatest, others claim is is poor at wide apertures but great at f8, a > few claim it isn't as good as the FA 50's. > > What's your experience? > > Thanks, Bill Lawlor __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com
