But it's not definitive. The DA 12-24 samples were mine, and they were hand held. CA is dependent very much on the angle of the light. I would be surprised if the DA 14 were not better at 14mm than the DA 12-24, but I wouldn't jump to any conclusions based on what you've read here. Paul On Mar 25, 2007, at 7:07 PM, Jack Davis wrote:
> Thanks, Godfrey. Exactly the sort of information I had in mind. > Detailed and meaty. > Considerate of you to take the time. :) > > Jack > > P.S.: Pop Photo's review actually included the word "pro" in > describing > its build and image quality. MERCY! > --- Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> On Mar 25, 2007, at 12:20 PM, Jack Davis wrote: >>> Anyone made at least a semi serious side-by-side DA 14 v DA >> 12-24(at >>> 14) image comparison? >>> Godfrey? >> >> I recently looked at a couple of DA12-24 RAW demo files. There >> weren't any that were captures at exactly 14mm. My prior impressions >> >> that it is a good lens but has more CA and more rectilinear >> distortion than the DA14 does at lens openings and focal lengths >> which bracket the DA14 were borne out. The f/8 exposures were >> significant improvements over the f/4 exposures. But I don't own one >> >> so I can't do an exhaustive side-by-side unless someone wants to loan >> >> me one for testing. >> >> But those test shots inspired me to do some more exhaustive DA14 test >> >> shots on a variety of targets. My summary: >> >> - Some corner/edge light falloff is apparent until about f/5. >> - Rendering characteristics vary depending upon focus setting and >> lens opening, most are excellent particularly at f/4.5 and smaller >> lens openings if working in the very near range. >> - Corner and edge sharpness are satisfactory wide open but improve >> greatly when stopped down to f/5-5.6, after which they continue to >> improve a little but very slowly to f/11 or so. >> - Much after f/11, diffraction effects begin to intrude on sharpness. >> - Flare resistance is excellent even wide open. >> - There is a small amount of CA, consistent at all lens openings, >> which can be removed easily in Lightroom or Camera Raw. >> - It is a demanding lens to focus critically when wide open and >> focusing near the close-focus limits. At f/5.6 the DoF at normal >> shooting distances is so great that it covers a multitude of sins, >> but wide open and at close range you have to have it on the money. I >> >> go to manual focus and use Pentax Magnifier FB 2x for critical focus. >> - Using a tripod with this wide a lens is essential to getting the >> best resolution. Moving to the K10D, the incremental resolution >> upgrade is most advantageous for this lens and the DA21 Limited. >> >> I've had the DA14 since I first bought the DS body and it is one of >> my most consistent performers. I've made well over 3000 exposures >> with it. The more I use it, the more I learn to exploit it, the more >> >> I like it. >> >> Compared to the Sigma 14mm f/2.8 and Canon EF14/2.8L that I tested, >> the DA14 is a jewel and incredibly inexpensive for its quality. >> Regards field of view coverage, comparing what I get from it against >> >> my old work done with Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AI-S, Zeiss Biogon 21/3.5, >> and Leica Elmarit-M 21/2.8 ASPH lenses, it holds its own very well. >> It's not quite up to what I could get from the Hasselblad 903SWC's >> Biogon 38mm f/4.5 ... but then very very few lenses in this class >> are. >> >> BTW: set to Program mode and the MTF line, the camera tends to keep >> it at f/5.6 most of the time, which is right in line with my >> evaluations which indicated best performance between f/4.5 and f/5.6. >> >> Godfrey >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels > in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. > http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
