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Sharpest Lenses Wide Open
- Thread starter Kram
- Start date
polypal
Active Member
Generally Carl Zeiss lenses for V series Hasselblad hardly need stopping down to improve IQ.
It is just one ot the many excellent properties these lenses have.
Please note the 120 S-Planar is not a particularly fast lens.
Nevertheless it is an outstanding design that although more than 40 years old can still compete with later lens designs.
It is just one ot the many excellent properties these lenses have.
Please note the 120 S-Planar is not a particularly fast lens.
Nevertheless it is an outstanding design that although more than 40 years old can still compete with later lens designs.
cs_foto
Member
I agree that compared to other brands out there these lenses are pretty good when used wide open or in worst case scenario they give you a nice signature effect (same with Leica)
but in my opinion people looking into squeezing the maximum sharpness and resolution out of the V system should always avoid shooting wide open...
hey don't get me wrong there are no rules right? but fact is that stopping down the lens to its optimum aperture will always improve technically your images and this is very noticeable when you blow up pictures 1-2 meters wide..
wbulte
Active Member
Well, to be more accurate: you should find out what the best aperture is for the lens you are using.
For example: the Sonnar CF 5.6/250 does not improve in any noticable way by stopping down. The MTF charts clearly show this.
Wilko
polypal
Active Member
For optimum results try the 100 mm Planar, does not matter which even the early non T* versions are exceptional.
The other lenses to recommend are the 120 S-Planar and the 120 Makro Planar.
All 150 lenses except the last CFi version are pretty soft compared to the 100 and the 120 Planars.
The 80 mm Planar is not the best design from Carl Zeiss.
The 250mm f5.6 Sonnar. This lens needs to be stopped down only to increase DOF - that is providential, because otherwise the maximum opening at f5.6 would be a drawback.
About other lenses which I use, all of C type, 80, 120 and 150mm are anyway good at full opening, but IQ increases almost a little by stopping down - particularly in 80mm. 50mm Distagon needs a generous stopping down to obtain good IQ at he edges of pictures at middle and short distances: the consequence of retrofocus scheme in MF, I suppose. Maybe things go differently with CF floating elements type, but I have not experience of it.
Anyway, in "average" photography of every day, never mind too much about IQ related to opening: remember that you are using Zeiss lenses, "feel" your subject, enjoy your Hasselblad gear and shoot, shoot, shoot!
About other lenses which I use, all of C type, 80, 120 and 150mm are anyway good at full opening, but IQ increases almost a little by stopping down - particularly in 80mm. 50mm Distagon needs a generous stopping down to obtain good IQ at he edges of pictures at middle and short distances: the consequence of retrofocus scheme in MF, I suppose. Maybe things go differently with CF floating elements type, but I have not experience of it.
Anyway, in "average" photography of every day, never mind too much about IQ related to opening: remember that you are using Zeiss lenses, "feel" your subject, enjoy your Hasselblad gear and shoot, shoot, shoot!
polypal
Active Member
Thanks for the replies everyone. The 120/5.6 S-Planar has become my favorite lens. I own the 100/3.5 too, but am really into macro right now.
Not sure if I uploaded the images correctly but the bike fender and the tree bark were shot with the 21mm extension tube.
Not sure if I uploaded the images correctly but the bike fender and the tree bark were shot with the 21mm extension tube.
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polypal
Active Member
Favorite lenses?
The 120 S-Planar, the 110 Planar and the 100 mm Planar.
Each of these lenses serve a specific purpose:
The 120 S-Planar ideal for macro and repro.
The 100 mm for all subjects from 1,5 m till infinity
The 110 mm lens for conditions where light levels are low or
minimum dof is required.
The 120 S-Planar, the 110 Planar and the 100 mm Planar.
Each of these lenses serve a specific purpose:
The 120 S-Planar ideal for macro and repro.
The 100 mm for all subjects from 1,5 m till infinity
The 110 mm lens for conditions where light levels are low or
minimum dof is required.