Impressed by first shots with 14-54ii ZD

shinndigg wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

jimrpdx wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

jimrpdx wrote:

Danielvr wrote:

Impressive, since distortion corrections aren't encoded in 4:3 just micro4:3.

They are actually, but maybe geometric distortions were less of a concern with the longer flange distance and telecentric lens designs.

Do you have a site source on that Dan? Reviewers began dual-testing for corrections with m43 gear, and no one mentioned it in 4Thirds sites that I visited. I'd like to know that before more 4T lenses attack my wallet..

Olympus Workspace corrects for distortions. I deleted my tests on the 12-60SWD when it stopped working. Can’t remember if C1 corrects or not. The Zuiko 50/2 has barrel distortion, so I guess an experiment might be possible. The moustache distortion of the 12-60SWD was just so easy to see.

Andrew

That would explain the nearly-perfect straight lines with the 14-54 at its widest Bummer that such things weren't mentioned until the micro format; the 50/2 impressed imaging-resource with its "terrific resistance to chromatic aberration, distortion and vignetting". No doubt the µ43 distortions are worse, so the native FT lenses are working harder to improve the image before silicon programming takes over.

Zuiko had Standard, High Grade and Super High Grade lenses. SHG lenses were excellently optically corrected, large and expensive. They are not as good as the very best modern lenses which use modern materials, processes and design software. Still, pretty much all modern lenses use software correction to reduce size and weight.

The 50/2 is nominally HG, but many people thought it fitted SHG IQ. The 14-54 was a kit lens and Standard Grade, but a good copy can go head to head with the HG 12-60 SWD. My 14-54 is best at the wide end, like my 12-40 Pro, but my 12-60 was best at the tele end and added something extra to my bag.

I believe the 14-54 was HG, as the "Run of the mill "14-45 kit lens was standard. These came as a kit lens starting with the E300. Back in the day, I lusted over the 14-54. Weather sealed, Definitely optically superior to the 14-45.

If I recall, the 14-54 was optically corrected rather than corrections made in camera. But I'm not 100% sure if that.

Edit: the 14-54's were considered "Standard" in the sense of they were standard focal range zooms.

If you want an example of a real Standard performance, the Zuiko 9-18 fits perfectly.

I’ve just been using my 50-200SWD, after a long break. It is better than I remember, looks like it’s not so far off the Panasonic MFT lens, maybe better at the edges.

Andrew

I see you are right!  The 14-54 was sold as part of a kit but is weather sealed and HG.  It is largely optically corrected but FT lenses do also have software corrections.

Andrew