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Doug Larvey
Guest
How sharp? My goodness. Every review is the same. Not sharp enouph at f2.8. Or f1.4 or wide open.
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Smaug01
Veteran Member
From my viewpoint, the reviewers are just pointing out a fact that should be considered in a purchase decision.
Some lenses, macro or the big fast pro telephoto lenses for example, ARE sharp wide open.
Some lenses, macro or the big fast pro telephoto lenses for example, ARE sharp wide open.
So a review about a lens should describe how it performs at various settings. Are you suggesting sharpness shouldn't be featured in a lens review?
markyboy81
Senior Member
Razor sharp. A mere hint of softness and it gets deleted!
threw the lens
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What else do you expect reviews to write about then ... how well it makes you coffee or whether it gives you a biscuit afterwards?
Gerry Winterbourne
Forum Pro
Not true. From OpticalLimits review of the Pentax DA 70/2.4 Limited (my emphasis) https://www.opticallimits.com/pentax/618-pentax70f24?start=1:
"Pancake lenses tend to produce a very even resolution across the frame and the Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited is no exception in this row. The center resolution is already excellent at f/2.4 whereas the borders and the outer corners follow on a very good level. At f/4-f/5.6 the quality is exceptionally high across the whole image frame. Beyond, the usual diffraction effects start to reduce the resolution again.
I don't remember ever seeing a review that describes sharpness in terms of what's "enough". It's a matter of fact that most lenses are relatively soft wide open compared to their best. It's the job of reviewers to quantify by how much.
Zaax
Senior Member
If you showed one of your better composed photos that was not super sharp to a non-photographer I bet that they would not notice any issues. Most people look at the subject. Like most people here I look at a lot of photos everyday but rarely ever think about sharpness.
stratman1976
Senior Member
Reviews are supposed to just pose the facts. You decide for yourself what matters and suits your needs.
In a proper review, sharpness is merely a description of the characteristics of a lens. It gives the consumer information.
bobn2
Forum Pro
Are you questioning the Cult of the Ultra-Sharp Lens?
onlyfreeman
Senior Member
I think it's a conspiracy, lens designers used to prioritize 3D pop, rendering, bokeh etc, but now it's only sharpness.
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dmanthree
Forum Pro
I guess it depends on your expectations, and end use. For me, well, I like sharpness since you can *never* add it after the fact. Never. You can soften up a shot, apply effects, but you can never fix a dull shot.
So yes, I prefer glass that's pin sharp.
So yes, I prefer glass that's pin sharp.
dmanthree
Forum Pro
True, but if you need sharpness, like in a landscape photo, what do you do with that lens that isn't good enough? I'll take a sharp lens every time and won't bother with lenses that can't get it done. Can't tell you how many I've sent back.
dmanthree
Forum Pro
Not Sigma. They've said that for some lenses they've dialed back the sharpness a bit to allow other attributes to improve. But those Art lenses are still really sharp.I think it's a conspiracy, lens designers used to prioritize 3D pop, rendering, bokeh etc, but now it's only sharpness.
Brian Kimball
Leading Member
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If you use a slow shutter to add motion blur, is it 4D pop?I think it's a conspiracy, lens designers used to prioritize 3D pop, rendering, bokeh etc, but now it's only sharpness.
Chaplain Mark
Veteran Member
Lens sharpness is critical, for me.
Nothing in my photography hobby is more frustrating than my images turning out not as sharp as I saw them at the time of shooting.
Reviews, however are another issue....I take issue with how frequently reviews seem to just parrot each other.
Nothing in my photography hobby is more frustrating than my images turning out not as sharp as I saw them at the time of shooting.
Reviews, however are another issue....I take issue with how frequently reviews seem to just parrot each other.
onlyfreeman
Senior Member
Of course, the fourth dimension is time, so adding more time into the photo increases the 4D pop.If you use a slow shutter to add motion blur, is it 4D pop?I think it's a conspiracy, lens designers used to prioritize 3D pop, rendering, bokeh etc, but now it's only sharpness.
Glen Barrington
Forum Pro
how sharp it is or how soft it is. Same goes for noise. Neither should get in the way of the viewing experience.
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I'm no genius, but I play one on the internet.
glenbarrington.blogspot.com
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I'm no genius, but I play one on the internet.
Glen Barrington - My Dynamic Range
A personal blog about Photo Editing, m43s photography, and shooting techniques.
glenbarrington.blogspot.com
Glen Barrington
Forum Pro
Ahh! So innocent!
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