Samsung 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S Reviewed

viking79 wrote:

I finished my review for the 16-50mm I think.

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?p=4794

Comments/feedback always welcome. I try not to get too Samsung biased, so point me out on it if I do. I took out the section how it does better at 50mm than the A7R with 24-70mm at 70mm, and about the same in the corners. I will leave that comparison for when I get the NX1.

Bottom line is lens is great as people here with it already know. No longitudinal CA at 50mm which is really excellent for portraits. It has some heavy field curvature, but for the style of lens it is no issue. This is pretty typical for an f/2.8 zoom. Resolution is great center and partway at most settings, corners are a bit weak (in part due to heavy field curvature).

Note, my charts show best focus, so the center and corners data are from different test shots, so if you focus center you would get worse corners or vice versa.

Lateral CA is strong at wide angles, but let me try again in latest Lightroom to make sure it isn't another issue with it, or maybe the profile. One click of remove CA button removes it effectively though. It could also be related to the field curvature, the fact the corners are a bit more out of focus might make the number higher. I report worst case Lateral CA. Let me double check data and see if worse matches center focus point set.

I will review it again and get some better photos of the lens when I get the NX1 (and all the existing lenses I still have).

Eric

You've done a fine job, Eric (as usual).

By coincidence I happened to spot this review a few days back, without appreciating it was new.

I like the objective manner, and also like the way you've explained stuff for ignorami like me, such as why a fair whack of field-curvature isn't such a big deal in this lens category. Good one.