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Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

Started Feb 7, 2021 | Discussions
freedom21
freedom21 Forum Member • Posts: 81
Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

Hi,

I have the sensation that non-native lenses with manual focus, are not as sharp as any Samsung Nx lens... It is always difficult for me to archive the same level of sharpness. Even when using focus peaking, I'm talking about video and photo... what do you guys think?

Also, are both the Samsung NX 85mm/Samayng 85mm not sharp at f1.4? They aren't as sharp (in f1.4)  as the 45mm at f1.8 for sure...

Thanks

Flip21, Ups! sorry, i mean, Freedom21

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“The truth will set you free, but first it will p* you off.” - Flip21

kypfer Contributing Member • Posts: 985
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

Having grown up with "Brownie" and "Instamatic" cameras I've long since accepted that "sharpness" is over-rated … I don't need to see every hair on the pimple if the face is unattractive!

The depth of field on an 85mm @ f/1.4 (or similar) is so narrow as to be almost un-usable. Most lenses of this calibre need to be stopped down to maximise their potential, however, they are very easy to focus in poor light, both manually and automatically, which does give them some advantage in certain circumstances.

When comparing "native" lenses with other manufacturers' products, ensure that both items are of a similar age and technology. If you're taking an optic from the'70's or '80's, however good it was in it's day, it's unlikely to compare well with a top-of-the-line lens of recent manufacture … technology has moved on!

 kypfer's gear list:kypfer's gear list
Pentax *ist D Pentax *ist DS Pentax *ist DL2 Pentax K200D Samsung NX5 +7 more
noncho
noncho Regular Member • Posts: 348
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

NX 85 1.4 is perfectly usable @1.4 and the difference to F4 is not so dramatic as with other lenses. The portraits are not only very close face and shoulders...

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 noncho's gear list:noncho's gear list
Canon EOS-1D X Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 Canon EF 85mm F1.2L II USM Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake +11 more
freedom21
OP freedom21 Forum Member • Posts: 81
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

kypfer wrote:

Having grown up with "Brownie" and "Instamatic" cameras I've long since accepted that "sharpness" is over-rated … I don't need to see every hair on the pimple if the face is unattractive!

The depth of field on an 85mm @ f/1.4 (or similar) is so narrow as to be almost un-usable. Most lenses of this calibre need to be stopped down to maximise their potential, however, they are very easy to focus in poor light, both manually and automatically, which does give them some advantage in certain circumstances.

When comparing "native" lenses with other manufacturers' products, ensure that both items are of a similar age and technology. If you're taking an optic from the'70's or '80's, however good it was in it's day, it's unlikely to compare well with a top-of-the-line lens of recent manufacture … technology has moved on!

For me I just love detail. You could always blur your footage in post... What i mean is that, comparing to Samsung Lenses, all manual lenses I used, seem not as sharp.. I'm talking about recent lenses like the Samyang 85mm, the 10mm, the Canon EOS 50mm, F1.8, and others... But I'm talking about using the Samsung lenses in auto...

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“The truth will set you free, but first it will p* you off.” - Flip21

kypfer Contributing Member • Posts: 985
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

freedom21 wrote:

... But I'm talking about using the Samsung lenses in auto...

Just a thought … have you tried using the Samsung lenses in manual?

Is it possible that your manual-focus technique is somehow "not quite right" or even that the focus-indication on the camera is out of adjustment?

Possibly a case for setting up a focus-testing rig, to check if the lenses are actually focussing, but not quite where you were expecting them to.

 kypfer's gear list:kypfer's gear list
Pentax *ist D Pentax *ist DS Pentax *ist DL2 Pentax K200D Samsung NX5 +7 more
freedom21
OP freedom21 Forum Member • Posts: 81
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness

kypfer wrote:

freedom21 wrote:

... But I'm talking about using the Samsung lenses in auto...

Just a thought … have you tried using the Samsung lenses in manual?

Is it possible that your manual-focus technique is somehow "not quite right" or even that the focus-indication on the camera is out of adjustment?

Possibly a case for setting up a focus-testing rig, to check if the lenses are actually focussing, but not quite where you were expecting them to.

Thanks for replying me...

My manual focus techinique is indeed poor, I'm used to use auto-focus all the time However, I did some tests, and I found that the 85mm from samyang at 1.4 is really soft, If I compare it to f2.0.

By the way, do you know the samyang 35m T1.5 cine lens? I want to buy a manual focus lens, but I want to achieve the best bokeh, but this youtube review made me afraid that this lens isn't right for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEVeSuMK_vQ

https://vimeo.com/60962773

what do you think?

Thanks

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“The truth will set you free, but first it will p* you off.” - Flip21

kypfer Contributing Member • Posts: 985
Re: Lenses with adapters vs native lenses - sharpness
1

freedom21 wrote:

kypfer wrote:

freedom21 wrote:

... But I'm talking about using the Samsung lenses in auto...

Just a thought … have you tried using the Samsung lenses in manual?

Is it possible that your manual-focus technique is somehow "not quite right" or even that the focus-indication on the camera is out of adjustment?

Possibly a case for setting up a focus-testing rig, to check if the lenses are actually focussing, but not quite where you were expecting them to.

Thanks for replying me...

My manual focus techinique is indeed poor, I'm used to use auto-focus all the time However, I did some tests, and I found that the 85mm from samyang at 1.4 is really soft, If I compare it to f2.0.

By the way, do you know the samyang 35m T1.5 cine lens? I want to buy a manual focus lens, but I want to achieve the best bokeh, but this youtube review made me afraid that this lens isn't right for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEVeSuMK_vQ

https://vimeo.com/60962773

what do you think?

Thanks

Sorry, can't help, I don't know the lens and I don't take movies. My fast manual 35mm is a Fujinon f/1.9 in 42-screw mount. I've had it for years, but they really are quite scarce, so I'd not suggest you try to find one!

 kypfer's gear list:kypfer's gear list
Pentax *ist D Pentax *ist DS Pentax *ist DL2 Pentax K200D Samsung NX5 +7 more
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