Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-13 Thread Alan Chan
My impression is that most who have tried Velvia 100F are dissapointed as 
it has neither the sharpness or the color palette of the original Velvia. 
It is probably a good film anyway but apparently doesn't meet the 
expectations the Velvia name bring.
It seems like the most important design parametres for slide film in this 
digital age is small grain and the ability to scan well.
And the test in Japan CAPA magazine also indicates the 100F doesn't have the 
characterictis of the 50. In fact, some of the pics shown were quite 
differemnt in colour rendition. They aren't as vivid as the original.

regards,
Alan Chan
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Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Eactivist
I've even noticed how differnt lenses may perform in response to various 
films. Provia F in particular being a high resolution/low accutance film. It 
simply doesn't mate well with all lenses!


Pål

First time I've heard this. I switched lately from Velvia to Provia F because 
a lot on this list said it scanned better since Velvia is more color 
saturated. And that does appear to be true based on my recent scanning experience.

But what does low accutance mean? Huh?

Marnie aka Doe 



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Alan Chan
First time I've heard this. I switched lately from Velvia to Provia F 
because
a lot on this list said it scanned better since Velvia is more color
saturated. And that does appear to be true based on my recent scanning 
experience.
I have found the Provia 100F is not as contrasty as other slides, but it 
sure scans beautifully.

regards,
Alan Chan
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Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Anthony Farr
It's not so much that they prefer to use cheap lenses, more that:
1)they've never used an full metal bodied lens so they don't know
better, and
2)they'd rather pay less than more for the camera / lens package.

Give them time.  Let them first discover Pentax, then lure them towards the
quality stuff, maybe even the quality retro stuff (and then they'd need to
buy ~another~ camera with improved compatibility, wouldn't they?).

regards,
Anthony Farr

- Original Message - 
From: Rüdiger Neumann [EMAIL PROTECTED]

 From: Pål Jensen
 Perhaps this is a factor in the compatibility issues of the *istD?
Perhaps
 K and particularly M lenses are not that well suited for digital?


 So, you think that the entry level lenses like the FAJ 18-35, FAJ 28-80
and
 the FAJ 70-300 which are specialy made for the entry level *istD are
better
 then good the old lenses like the K 2/35, K 1.8/85 or K 2.5/135.

 I always read in the PDML that the user of the entry level *istD prefer
this
 new cheep plastic mount lenses, and therefore Pentax protect them for
using
 the the old stuff. Pentax made the software in a way, that you can not use
 the old lenses, which were for advanced users, if have mounted them by
 mistake on the entry level *istD camera.


 regards
 Rüdiger










Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Pål Jensen
Marnie wrote:

First time I've heard this. I switched lately from Velvia to Provia F because 
a lot on this list said it scanned better since Velvia is more color 
saturated. And that does appear to be true based on my recent scanning experience.

But what does low accutance mean? Huh?



REPLY:
Accutance is basically another word for sharpness. More precisely how parts of an 
image is separated from another adjacent parts. Provia F is in reality less sharp than 
Kodachrome 200; a very coarse grained film, but it has much higher resolution. Provia 
F is significantly less sharp than both Velvia and Kodachrome 25; it only about half 
as sharp but resolve more. In real life Provia F shown more deatil but the details are 
fuzzy whereas eg. Kodachrome show less detail but the details it shown are very sharp. 
I actually prefer high accutance before high resolution (within reason) and it is also 
what digital does well. I'm certain that digital will affect lens designers choice of 
compromises in lenses.

Pål 






Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Eactivist
Marnie wrote:

First time I've heard this. I switched lately from Velvia to Provia F because 
a lot on this list said it scanned better since Velvia is more color 
saturated. And that does appear to be true based on my recent scanning 
experience.

But what does low accutance mean? Huh?

REPLY:
Accutance is basically another word for sharpness. More precisely how parts 
of an image is separated from another adjacent parts. Provia F is in reality 
less sharp than Kodachrome 200; a very coarse grained film, but it has much 
higher resolution. Provia F is significantly less sharp than both Velvia and 
Kodachrome 25; it only about half as sharp but resolve more. In real life Provia 
F shown more deatil but the details are fuzzy whereas eg. Kodachrome show less 
detail but the details it shown are very sharp. 
I actually prefer high accutance before high resolution (within reason) and 
it is also what digital does well. I'm certain that digital will affect lens 
designers choice of compromises in lenses.

Pål 

Reply to Reply:

Thanks! That's very interesting. Guess I wasn't weird after all to really 
like Velvia. But it does make me sort of wonder where Velvia 100 will fall within 
those parameters.

Marnie aka Doe :-)



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-12 Thread Caveman
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

First time I've heard this. I switched lately from Velvia to Provia F because 
a lot on this list said it scanned better since Velvia is more color 
saturated.
That lot said that it scans better because of its lower Dmax and finer 
grain.

cheers,
caveman


Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Alin Flaider

  The film lenses suck for digital syndrome was immediately apparent
  with the full-frame EOS-1ds too. One of the culprits is the bayer
  pixels disposition in the sensor, that makes it more sensitive to
  colour fringe towards the edges of the image. When the oblique lines
  of red or blue sensitive pixels align with the hard edges in the
  image, it effectively amplifies any colour aberration.

  Servus, Alin

Mark wrote:

MR In the simplest terms: The sensors of DSLRs are generally smaller than
MR full-frame 35mm format (commonly by a factor of 1.5 - hence the 1.5x
MR focal length multiplication effect). Thus you need to enlarge an image
MR 1.5 times as much for a given print size. Therefore your lens must have
MR 1.5 times higher resolution for equal quality at a given print size.

MR Apparently this has caught quite a few people by surprise: There have
MR been people who found that their so-so quality lenses that gave decent
MR (but not great) performance on their film cameras simply didn't cut it
MR on their DSLRs. The 1.5x greater enlargement necessary showed up the
MR deficiencies of the lenses that went unnoticed at the lesser
MR magnification necessary when making prints from film.

MR If your DSLR effectively multiplies your focal length by 1.5, it also
MR *divides* the lens' resolution by 1.5. So you'll want to use top-notch
MR lenses whenever possible. I think the 31mm f/1.8 Limited would make a
MR fine normal lens for the *ist-D, though!



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Alin Flaider

   Looking for primes for digital is a wise decision. Waiting for full
   frame is even wiser. Personally I couldn't care less for current
   Pentax zooms in the *ist d equation. The focal ranges are all
   scrambled up to the point of rendering it useless. Trans-standards
   become what, portrait zooms ? Tele-zooms are pushed towards the
   long end, where image quality drops anyway. Wide angle zooms barely
   fit the standard lens bill: we're back in the era where 35-70 was
   an amazing lens.
   
   Servus,   Alin

Harold wrote:

HO As I more interested in the 320 end of the lens I will just have to keep
HO an eye out for a reasonably priced 300mm prime, preferably Pentax or any
HO 3rd party manufacturer who makes a decent 300mm f4.

HO From what other people have said about digital cameras and 35mm designed
HO zoom lenses I think I will wait until the ist D is on the market before
HO making any lens purchases!



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Lon Williamson
This wouldn't suprise me at all.  The first time I scanned film
and viewed at 100%, my first thought was:  This scanner is CRAP.
The inkjet prints delighted me with their sharpness compared to
the screen.
Rob Studdert wrote, in part:

When the Canon 1DS came out, lenses that seemed perfectly fine for
35mm all of a sudden sucked.


Is it possibly more a case of the fact that film shooters who hadn't owned a 
decent film scanner finally got to zoom into their images on a big screen?



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Pål Jensen
Mark wrote:

If your DSLR effectively multiplies your focal length by 1.5, it also
*divides* the lens' resolution by 1.5. So you'll want to use top-notch
lenses whenever possible. I think the 31mm f/1.8 Limited would make a
fine normal lens for the *ist-D, though!


REPLY:

Perhaps this is a factor in the compatibility issues of the *istD? Perhaps K and 
particularly M lenses are not that well suited for digital?
At least I know Pentax reps were concerned about these issues at the time of the MD-S. 
They feared customers that were not happy with the results with their current lenses. 
I've even noticed how differnt lenses may perform in response to various films. Provia 
F in particular being a high resolution/low accutance film. It simply doesn't mate 
well with all lenses!


Pål





Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Joseph Tainter
Alin wrote:

 The film lenses suck for digital syndrome was immediately apparent
  with the full-frame EOS-1ds too. One of the culprits is the bayer
  pixels disposition in the sensor, that makes it more sensitive to
  colour fringe towards the edges of the image. When the oblique lines
  of red or blue sensitive pixels align with the hard edges in the
  image, it effectively amplifies any colour aberration.
Hmmm. I am waiting for a full-framer. I won't buy the starkistdee 
myself, although I may have my lab buy one.

This alarms me. I carry a gaggle of good quality lenses, on which I have 
spent too much. I have been awaiting a full-frome digital slr on which 
to mount them. Now I may not be able to use some/all of them?

Is there a way to know in advance which lenses will/won't work with a 
full-frame digital slr?

Where can one find out more about this?

Should I stop waiting and just buy one of the 5 mp slr-like digicams?

Thanks,

Joe



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Pål Jensen
Harry wrote:

At the moment there is virtually no information coming from Pentax on
possible 'D' type lenses for the digital SLR.


REPLY:
They have promised more lenses in the fall particularly suited for the *istD. 
Personally I think it is both focal lenghts and optics optimized for a DSLR. 

Pål








Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Mark Roberts
Joseph Tainter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I carry a gaggle of good quality lenses, on which I have 
spent too much. I have been awaiting a full-frome digital slr on which 
to mount them. Now I may not be able to use some/all of them?

If you've bought top-quality glass I wouldn't worry. It's only the
marginal performers (consumer grade stuff, for the most part) that may
be inadequate.

-- 
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com



RE: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread tom
 -Original Message-
 From: Joseph Tainter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

 Is there a way to know in advance which lenses will/won't
 work with a
 full-frame digital slr?

I don't think it's a matter of them not working, it's a matter of
finding out some of your lenses aren't as good as others. You could do
the same thing now by enlarging all your negs to 11x14.


 Should I stop waiting and just buy one of the 5 mp slr-like
 digicams?

No, you should wait like everyone else for the *ist-D.

tv





Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Alin Flaider
Joseph wrote:

JT Hmmm. I am waiting for a full-framer. I won't buy the starkistdee
JT myself, although I may have my lab buy one.

JT This alarms me. I carry a gaggle of good quality lenses, on which I have 
JT spent too much. I have been awaiting a full-frome digital slr on which 
JT to mount them. Now I may not be able to use some/all of them?

  Likely there are lenses that will behave worse than others. However,
  I doubt there's any way to know for sure in advance.

JT Is there a way to know in advance which lenses will/won't work with a 
JT full-frame digital slr?
JT Where can one find out more about this?

  Maybe you should download and see for yourself some of the
  D1s full-frame images available on review sites.

JT Should I stop waiting and just buy one of the 5 mp slr-like digicams?

  Surely not for serious use. If it really burns, you might as well
  wait a bit more, pay a bit more and get the *istd.
  As a side note, I think I have enough patience for the full framer
  below $1000.
 
  Servus, Alin



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Mike Ignatiev
That depends on what do you intend to use it for.

For general purpose photography (which probably means, if one midrange zoom is 
enough and ISO400 and higher is not required), high end digicams are pretty good. 

I'd say, go for it, for under $400 one can get a very decent 4MP one. Canon G2 comes 
to mind. I know since I got one. 

Mishka

 Should I stop waiting and just buy one of the 5 mp 
 slr-like digicams?



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Pål Jensen
Rüdiger wrote:

So, you think that the entry level lenses like the FAJ 18-35, FAJ 28-80 and
the FAJ 70-300 which are specialy made for the entry level *istD are better
then good the old lenses like the K 2/35, K 1.8/85 or K 2.5/135.


REPLY:
No I don't. Fisrtly, they don't appeal to the same customers. Secondly, there are very 
few of those K lenses around but plentyful of M lenses that all were consumer grade at 
their time. Many of those are zooms. 
Theorethically at least, a lens like the 18-35 could be made with optical compromises 
that benefits a not full frame DSLR. Eg. sacrificing edge sharpness for center 
sharpness to a degree that may be seen as not very suitable for a lens used for film. 
Time will tell Anyway, it is almost certain that DSLR's will affect chosen 
compromises in new lenses and that some old lenses may have optical 
qualities/compromises that don't benefit DSLR's but unproblematic for film.  So far, 
the reports from Nikon and Canon users suggest that this is the case.

Pål






RE: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Pål Jensen
Tom wrote:

I don't think it's a matter of them not working, it's a matter of
finding out some of your lenses aren't as good as others. You could do
the same thing now by enlarging all your negs to 11x14.



REPLY:

But I also think it is a case of what the lens is good at. As I said in a previous 
post, I've noticed that different qualities in lenses yields different result with 
different films. Eg. Provia F, a high resolution - low accutance film, yield lousy 
images with lenses that have traded resolution for high accutance. For digital I 
believe a lower resolving lens with high  accutance may work extremely well, or?.

Pål





Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Leonard Paris
I'd suggest that, while a person waits, she/he should acquire a nice Pentax 
digital PS to use in the meanwhile.  That way, when the dream comes true, 
you will be that much ahead of the digital darkroom part of the game and 
not way behind the power curve.

Just a thought.

Len
---

   Looking for primes for digital is a wise decision. Waiting for full
   frame is even wiser. Personally I couldn't care less for current
   Pentax zooms in the *ist d equation. The focal ranges are all
   scrambled up to the point of rendering it useless. Trans-standards
   become what, portrait zooms ? Tele-zooms are pushed towards the
   long end, where image quality drops anyway. Wide angle zooms barely
   fit the standard lens bill: we're back in the era where 35-70 was
   an amazing lens.
   Servus,   Alin
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Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Rüdiger Neumann
Rüdiger wrote:
So, you think that the entry level lenses like the FAJ 18-35, FAJ 28-80 and
the FAJ 70-300 which are specialy made for the entry level *istD are better
then good the old lenses like the K 2/35, K 1.8/85 or K 2.5/135.

REPLY from Pal
No I don't. Fisrtly, they don't appeal to the same customers.

Why, entry level lenses for a entry level *ist and *istD. I have heard
several times the *istD is entry level therefore it do not need a aperture
simulator. The FAJ lenses are also entry level without aperture ring. So the
fit perfectly to the *ist and *istD.
A FA* 2.8/80-200 do not fit to the *istD as the powerzoom and the aperture
ring is meaningless.
regards
Rüdiger





RE: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-11 Thread Cotty
I'd like to see a 5 or 6 meg dp+s with a fixed lens of 28-35mm, with
an aperture of 1.4 or 2, made possible by the smaller sensor. A
companion 75 or 80mm would be nice too.


And a decent optical viewfinder, Tom. And real manual rangefinder focus aids.

I hate to say this, but the Mrs played with a friend's Powershot S40 (?
can't remember) and based on 2 days of that is now ready to dump her MX
and 3 lenses! After I picked myself up off the floor, and listened to her
reasons (loved it / inspired me / and haven't used the MX in months) I
started to ponder what to get her. An Optio came very close, and I
seriously considered the Leica Digilux, but in the end I snagged a new G2
- mainly because the batteries are the same as the D60 and it comes in
black g...but here' me thinking that I could bag it for a bit of street
shooting, and it will probably do fine, but all I want is a good
viewfinder (NOT LCD) and manual focus..




Cheers,
  Cotty


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Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Harold Owen
Will lenses such as the Pentax 80-320mm (which according to reports I
have read is slightly soft at the 200-320mm range) be improved with the
advent of the forthcoming Pentax digital SLR?

Digital cameras in general allow you to alter the sharpness, contrast
and saturation settings, and numerous imaging programs allow one to
adjust barrel and pincushion distortion. It is also my understanding
that a lens that is not sharp at the edges would be improved on a
digital camera due to the size of the ccd sensor.

My reason for asking this question is that I have the opportunity to buy
a Pentax 80-320mm at a reasonable price and whilst it would be a reasonable
consumer lens on a SLR could in theory be improved by tweaking controls on a
digital camera.

Does this make sense or am I barking up the wrong tree!

Harry

-- 
Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread dagt
No.

The dSLR's are more sensitiv to lens quality than film based kameras.  Partially, of 
course, because of the small sensor chips, as an unsharp photo will have to be blown 
more up to obtain the same picture size.  Of course it may be fixed to some degree 
with USM, but there is a limit before it just looks bad in a different way. 

But also because of the structure of the sensor itself.  The Bayer sensors are more 
sensitiv to chromatic abberations.

As you say, some things may be fixed with software, like distortion or lack of 
contrast, but other things are not so easy.
 
I have been warned by some dSLR enthusiasts (among them the guy mentioned here: 
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0307/03070801nikkor1224review.asp) that some of my 
lenses, especially zoom lenses, may not be good enough to use on a digital SLR, even 
if they are quite good with my current cameras.

DagT
  
 Fra: Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
 Will lenses such as the Pentax 80-320mm (which according to reports I
 have read is slightly soft at the 200-320mm range) be improved with the
 advent of the forthcoming Pentax digital SLR?
 
 Digital cameras in general allow you to alter the sharpness, contrast
 and saturation settings, and numerous imaging programs allow one to
 adjust barrel and pincushion distortion. It is also my understanding
 that a lens that is not sharp at the edges would be improved on a
 digital camera due to the size of the ccd sensor.
 
 My reason for asking this question is that I have the opportunity to buy
 a Pentax 80-320mm at a reasonable price and whilst it would be a reasonable
 consumer lens on a SLR could in theory be improved by tweaking controls on a
 digital camera.
 
 Does this make sense or am I barking up the wrong tree!
 
 Harry
 
 -- 
 Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
 



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Alin Flaider

  Harold, the 80-320 at the long end is not much better in the center
  than at the corners, and it doesn't improve a lot by stopping down
  either. I think it's a nice lens just by this consistency of image
  quality. However, I don't think that above 200 mm it'll fit the
  sharpness requirements of the *ist d sensor (60 lppm).

  Servus,   Alin

Harold wrote:

HO Will lenses such as the Pentax 80-320mm (which according to reports I
HO have read is slightly soft at the 200-320mm range) be improved with the
HO advent of the forthcoming Pentax digital SLR?

HO Digital cameras in general allow you to alter the sharpness, contrast
HO and saturation settings, and numerous imaging programs allow one to
HO adjust barrel and pincushion distortion. It is also my understanding
HO that a lens that is not sharp at the edges would be improved on a
HO digital camera due to the size of the ccd sensor.

HO My reason for asking this question is that I have the opportunity to buy
HO a Pentax 80-320mm at a reasonable price and whilst it would be a reasonable
HO consumer lens on a SLR could in theory be improved by tweaking controls on a
HO digital camera.

HO Does this make sense or am I barking up the wrong tree!



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Harold Owen

   Harold, the 80-320 at the long end is not much better in the center
   than at the corners, and it doesn't improve a lot by stopping down
   either. I think it's a nice lens just by this consistency of image
   quality. However, I don't think that above 200 mm it'll fit the
   sharpness requirements of the *ist d sensor (60 lppm).


Thanks for the information on the 80-320 Alin.

I was hoping that centre sharpness would have been a lot better than the
edges.

As I more interested in the 320 end of the lens I will just have to keep
an eye out for a reasonably priced 300mm prime, preferably Pentax or any
3rd party manufacturer who makes a decent 300mm f4.

From what other people have said about digital cameras and 35mm designed
zoom lenses I think I will wait until the ist D is on the market before
making any lens purchases!

Harry


 
-- 
Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]




Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Harold Owen

 I think the only one of the scenarios you mentioned that really works
 is edge sharpness improvements with small frame sensors.
 
 Otherwise digital is very brutal about showing lens flaws.
 
 When the Canon 1DS came out, lenses that seemed perfectly fine for
 35mm all of a sudden sucked.
 
 tv

From what you have said Tom regarding the Canon scenario, one is going
to have problems with some of the cheaper Pentax consumer zooms.

Just hope that the prime FA lenses will be more adaptable to the Pentax
*ist D.

At the moment there is virtually no information coming from Pentax on
possible 'D' type lenses for the digital SLR.

Harry




-- 
Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]




Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Harold Owen

 I have been warned by some dSLR enthusiasts (among them the guy mentioned
here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0307/03070801nikkor1224review.asp)
that some of my lenses, especially zoom lenses, may not be good enough
to use on a digital SLR, even if they are quite good with my current
cameras.
 
 DagT

Thanks for that link DagT the review of the Nikon 'DX' lens was
interesting.

I have a number of prime lenses that will hopefully work ok with the
*ist D when it arrives.

The small number of zoom lenses that I have will be used with film SLRs
if they are not good enought for use with a digital camera.


Harry   

-- 
Harold Owen [EMAIL PROTECTED]



RE: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Rob Studdert
On 10 Jul 2003 at 11:04, tom wrote:

 I think the only one of the scenarios you mentioned that really works
 is edge sharpness improvements with small frame sensors.
 
 Otherwise digital is very brutal about showing lens flaws.
 
 When the Canon 1DS came out, lenses that seemed perfectly fine for
 35mm all of a sudden sucked.

Is it possibly more a case of the fact that film shooters who hadn't owned a 
decent film scanner finally got to zoom into their images on a big screen?

Cheers,

Rob Studdert
HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA
Tel +61-2-9554-4110
UTC(GMT)  +10 Hours
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications/
Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Joseph Tainter
 I have been warned by some dSLR enthusiasts (among them the guy 
mentioned here: 
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0307/03070801nikkor1224review.asp)
that some of my lenses, especially zoom lenses, may not be good enough
to use on a digital SLR, even if they are quite good with my current
cameras.

Could someone explain why some existing lenses may not be good enough 
to use with a digital slr? Many of us are waiting for the right digital 
slr precisely so we can use our existing lenses with it.

Joe



Re: Will Digital SLRs improve consumer 35mm zoom lenses?

2003-07-10 Thread Mark Roberts
Joseph Tainter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I have been warned by some dSLR enthusiasts (among them the guy 
mentioned here: 
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0307/03070801nikkor1224review.asp)
 that some of my lenses, especially zoom lenses, may not be good enough
 to use on a digital SLR, even if they are quite good with my current
 cameras.

Could someone explain why some existing lenses may not be good enough 
to use with a digital slr? Many of us are waiting for the right digital 
slr precisely so we can use our existing lenses with it.

In the simplest terms: The sensors of DSLRs are generally smaller than
full-frame 35mm format (commonly by a factor of 1.5 - hence the 1.5x
focal length multiplication effect). Thus you need to enlarge an image
1.5 times as much for a given print size. Therefore your lens must have
1.5 times higher resolution for equal quality at a given print size.

Apparently this has caught quite a few people by surprise: There have
been people who found that their so-so quality lenses that gave decent
(but not great) performance on their film cameras simply didn't cut it
on their DSLRs. The 1.5x greater enlargement necessary showed up the
deficiencies of the lenses that went unnoticed at the lesser
magnification necessary when making prints from film.

If your DSLR effectively multiplies your focal length by 1.5, it also
*divides* the lens' resolution by 1.5. So you'll want to use top-notch
lenses whenever possible. I think the 31mm f/1.8 Limited would make a
fine normal lens for the *ist-D, though!

-- 
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com