My Panasonic 15mm f1.7 lens softness at wide open

Hi,

I found that my pana 15mm f1.7 lens seem has softness issue. When the it is wide open at f1.7 to f2.0, the output images is not sharp at all even the in focus object. While shop down to f2.8, the output images are much much sharper.

Attached is the sample shots from my lens. The focus point was on the eye of the figure. But the cropped f1.7 image shows quite "soft". Is it normal? or Do I expect too much from this lens?


F1.7 original


F2.8 original


F1.7 chopped


F2.8 chopped

Thank you very much

1. Cuttle

Aside from DOF, it's fairly normal for any lens to be softer at the smallest and largest aperture settings.

Wasabi Bob said:

Aside from DOF, it's fairly normal for any lens to be softer at the smallest and largest aperture settings.

Click to expand...

Especially close up.

Looks like at 1.7 the focus was not on the eye, but behind it.

LittleWeHo said:

Looks like at 1.7 the focus was not on the eye, but behind it.

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Yeah, looks like the focal plane was on the forehead (that was the sharpest part) and not on the eye.

Although people here don't seem to like it, shooting a test chart (or at least a book or something where it is easy to tell focus point) with enough distance in between (so that minimum focus distance is not the issue) is probably a better way to test sharpness. Shooting random subjects with varying depths is a lot harder to evaluate.

By any chance you are approaching close to minimum focus distance? Try backing off and see if this is the case. Aperture changes affect the sharpness but not as much as what you have shown.

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies from all of you.

I performed another test shots on the ruler at f1.7 and f2.8. The focus point is on the 10cm. The softness at f1.7 is obvious in the cropped photo.

I also took shots with my another lens (42.5mm f1.7) at f1.7 and f2.8 respectively for comparison. Both f1.7 and f2.8 are very sharp as shown in the cropped photo below.

The original images:


15mm f1.7 @f1.7 original


15mm f1.7 @f2.8 original


42.5mm f1.7 @f1.7 original


42.5mm f1.7 @f2.8 original

The cropped images:


15mm f1.7 @f1.7 cropped


15mm f1.7 @f2.8 cropped


42.5mm f1.7 @f1.7 cropped


42.5mm f1.7 @f2.8 cropped

Thank you very much!

My PL 12mm f1.4 lens is super sharp in the center at f1.4 at closest focusing distance (or any distance for that matter).

If your f1.7 image is in fact focused correctly, I would consider that unacceptably soft for a lens of that price.

Cuttle said:

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies from all of you.

I performed another test shots on the ruler at f1.7 and f2.8. The focus point is on the 10cm. The softness at f1.7 is obvious in the cropped photo.

I also took shots with my another lens (42.5mm f1.7) at f1.7 and f2.8 respectively for comparison. Both f1.7 and f2.8 are very sharp as shown in the cropped photo below.

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There is some magnification going on with the 42.5mm, but the results qualitatively do agree with Lentips review, wide open 42.5mm f/1.7 is sharper in the center (68 lpmm) than 15mm f/1.7 (55 lpmm). Edge sharpness however are the same at roughly 49 lpmm. Sharpness improves rapidly with 15mm as you change the aperture, which also matches your results qualitatively.

https://www.lenstip.com/412.4-Lens_...mmilux_15_mm_f_1.7_ASPH_Image_resolution.html

https://www.lenstip.com/440.4-Lens_..._1.7_ASPH._POWER_O.I.S._Image_resolution.html

Unfortunately, imaging resource did not test the 15mm f/1.7. Their test chart and scene tends to show the lens performance well. I don't have either lens so can't tell you if the exact results are typical of a 15mm f/1.7 or if you just have a soft copy. Some 15mm f/1.7 owners will need to chime in.

Looks like you have a front-focus on your lens. 1. Try to do a shot in manual focus mode 2. Try to do a shot with electronic shutter. 3. Put the lens to repair.

Back-front focus is the problem with Panas lenses, I take a ruler when going to buy one of them.

I just switched to Panasonic from FF Nikon. I have this lens too - so I will test when I get home if I have the same softness at 1.7 compared to 2.8.

I'm still very new to Panasonic, is there a way to adjust front-backfocus, the same way on Nikon (+ / -) ?

Unklemac said:

I just switched to Panasonic from FF Nikon. I have this lens too - so I will test when I get home if I have the same softness at 1.7 compared to 2.8.

I'm still very new to Panasonic, is there a way to adjust front-backfocus, the same way on Nikon (+ / -) ?

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Nope. Only repair\replace. Do tests before buying it. 42.5 has the same problem. But don't confuse with shift-focus, this is another problem.

12mm F1.4 is 2-3x more expensive...but seems to be the best wide angle lens for m43.

Tempted to get the 15mm F1.7 for indoor pics ($410 new from Hong Kong) but it's barely wide enough for group shots I fear, and IQ is good but not as good as the 42.5mm F1.7 (which I like a lot)...

While looking for 15mm reviews (imagine-resource's sharpness tool - they have not reviewed it) I stumbled onto the 12mm. Very good results in the imaging-resource testing. Tempting but it's so darn expensive.

BTW, are there tariffs on lenses imported into USA from Hong Kong or Taiwan? Consumer electronics used to not have any tariffs is my recollection???

Cuttle said:

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies from all of you.

The cropped images:


15mm f1.7 @f1.7 cropped

42.5mm f1.7 @f2.8 cropped

Thank you very much!

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This certainly is not very sharp, but sharpest at or very near to 10 cm. Also sharpness decreases faster when going nearer, just as it should be.

If possible, you migght consider to return the lens for another sample.

Peter

2 comparisons:

G9, out of camera JPG, cross focus point on g letter in gauge, electronic shutter



Just to make sure, I did another set, G9, out of camera JPG, cross focus point on center of gauge picture, electronic shutter



So yes, lens is less sharp wide open, and sharpens stopping down. Problem in real life? Not really. I got superb environmental portraits with this lens, wide open. Also, running RAWS trough DXO helps every lens, no matter how "weak" it might be.

--

So I guess I have a bad copy of 15mm too. It looks more of a case of backfocus + softness mixed in.

I did 10 shots as close as I could get to my "focus checker" and moved back just a hair, compared, and took out the worst cases.

I made sure everything was well aligned to my "focus checker". Focus is on the little square.

These are the best ones:


Panasonic 15mm @ 1.7 - Cropped 200%


Panasonic 15mm @ 2.8 - Cropped 200%




Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 @ 15mm f2.8 - Cropped 200%

The 12-35 f2.8 Panasonic is sharper wide open then the Prime lens - mainly because of the backfocus.

I also tried manual focusing, but the image was still soft.

Unklemac said:

So I guess I have a bad copy of 15mm too. It looks more of a case of backfocus + softness mixed in.

I did 10 shots as close as I could get to my "focus checker" and moved back just a hair, compared, and took out the worst cases.

I made sure everything was well aligned to my "focus checker". Focus is on the little square.

These are the best ones:


Panasonic 15mm @ 1.7 - Cropped 200%


Panasonic 15mm @ 2.8 - Cropped 200%


Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 @ 15mm f2.8 - Cropped 200%

The 12-35 f2.8 Panasonic is sharper wide open then the Prime lens - mainly because of the backfocus.

I also tried manual focusing, but the image was still soft.

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Come on people, just shoot from further away! Sharpness when focusing close is a completely different matter than normal shooting. Many lenses have to be stopped down when shooting close-ups, but that does not mean they are defective.

I was going to buy this lens but this thread made me rethink it and come up with an alternative. Not sure whether 15/30mm will be wide enough for situations in which I can't move backwards (indoor group shots such as this weekend's high school reunion which is what I want the lens for). I thought (assumed) it was sharp wide open like my 42.5mm lens (my favorite m43 lens so far), but reviews show it clearly is not.

So instead of buying the 15mm new for $410 (not much more than used - grey market from Hong Kong, so no warrantee) I stumbled onto the Panny 12mm F1.4 lens. I figure it's wider, sharper, and 1/2 stop faster...all good things.

I saw only one used lens on ebay and new were almost $1k. I won the auction a few days ago, supposedly will get it Thursday. Hard to believe seeing it just got to a major city on Georgia late last night (seller is in Georgia).,..plus is rt 95 still closed in Carolinas? I'm in NYS.

I paid a lot for the lens - $740 plus $40 for slow ground shipping (argh) so I hope I'm happy with it. I think I'll use it 2x more than I would use the 15mm lens. Not confident it'll be much better than the 12-32 kit lens at sunset/sunrise pics (for flare) but I think it'll be great for low light shots of people (including selfies!) and hopefully night/stars.

Due to the cost and weight/size of this lens, I'm less likely to get the 8-16mm lens (and is partly how I mentally "justified" getting it). Maybe I'll get a 3rd party wide prime.

BTW, lenses used to have no US duties on them, but will the new China tariffs apply to lenses and cameras? Hong Kong is considered to be China, right? (even though ebay lists it as "Hong Kong") There's always Taiwan, I assume no tariffs are slated for them.

junk1 said:

I was going to buy this lens but this thread made me rethink it and come up with an alternative. Not sure whether 15/30mm will be wide enough for situations in which I can't move backwards (indoor group shots such as this weekend's high school reunion which is what I want the lens for). I thought (assumed) it was sharp wide open like my 42.5mm lens (my favorite m43 lens so far), but reviews show it clearly is not.

So instead of buying the 15mm new for $410 (not much more than used - grey market from Hong Kong, so no warrantee) I stumbled onto the Panny 12mm F1.4 lens. I figure it's wider, sharper, and 1/2 stop faster...all good things.

I saw only one used lens on ebay and new were almost $1k. I won the auction a few days ago, supposedly will get it Thursday. Hard to believe seeing it just got to a major city on Georgia late last night (seller is in Georgia).,..plus is rt 95 still closed in Carolinas? I'm in NYS.

I paid a lot for the lens - $740 plus $40 for slow ground shipping (argh) so I hope I'm happy with it. I think I'll use it 2x more than I would use the 15mm lens. Not confident it'll be much better than the 12-32 kit lens at sunset/sunrise pics (for flare) but I think it'll be great for low light shots of people (including selfies!) and hopefully night/stars.

Due to the cost and weight/size of this lens, I'm less likely to get the 8-16mm lens (and is partly how I mentally "justified" getting it). Maybe I'll get a 3rd party wide prime.

BTW, lenses used to have no US duties on them, but will the new China tariffs apply to lenses and cameras? Hong Kong is considered to be China, right? (even though ebay lists it as "Hong Kong") There's always Taiwan, I assume no tariffs are slated for them.

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If you get into astrophotogrpahy then you are all set with this wonderful lens.

Thanks, did not research it very much for astro but wondered if it would be good for it. Didn't have much time to decide on bidding on it.

I previously used the original F1.4 Sigma 30mm on my Rebel 450d/XSi (12MP) for astro. My GF7 is a lot better in terms of noise, and I surmise the Panny is a better lens.

Albert Valentino said:

If you get into astrophotogrpahy then you are all set with this wonderful lens.

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