Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/04/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>> >> I think you'd call this an ultra wide zoom. >> >> The 12-24 is a DX lens and is really an 18-35. >> This having established itself in the film 90's as the most popular and >> useful lens for photojournalists and lots of other type folks with >> cameras. >> >> This 14-24 does not replace that lens! It really is a 14-24! >> >> 14mm is way wider than 18mm. >> And 35mm had much more reach than 24mm. >> >> And 14-24 f2.8 in a full frame fast lens and weights 1,000g. >> >> 465g is what the 12-24 DX weights its a stop slower and again designed >> for a >> smaller format. >> >> So calling it a better lens is like calling the 38 Biogon a "better lens" >> than a 50 Summicron. >> Its not even apples and oranges >> Apples and pears. >> >> It's petunias and permanganates. >> >> >> >> >> Mark William Rabiner >> markrabiner.com > Mark William > > I don't know anything about petunias nor permanganates. My wife does as > she has a nice garden. > > But I know something about lenses -having in my cabinet more or less 200 > different from any known manufacturer- and I *know* that a 12-24mm on a > DX camera see a different field than a 14-24mm on a FX camera. > > But, important but, I have seriously tested sharpness, vignetting and > distortion in both lenses. And this at different apertures and focals > and you can believe me the later is much better than the former. I'm > awaiting for my D300 a new Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 that is said to be better > than Nikkor 12-24mm f4. I don't know. The 12-24mm wwas satisfactory for > me. When it arrives I'll tell you I promiss just it could be an orange > or an apple. > > Warm regards. > > F?lix > Felix you're testing the sharpness of two lens each one designed for a different format. Do you test a Hasselblad lens against a Leica lens? You'd need to make the same size print and judge output. A larger format optic is designed around not having to be blown up as much. So for the 14-24 full frame to be sharper than the 12-24 which only has to cover APS-C format is a hard pill to swallow. Also its a 2.8 lens a stop faster and also an ultra wide. Less of a chance an ultra fast ultra wide is going to be sharper than a plain less fast wide. An f4. An ultra fast ultra wide angle zoom I'd expect to be lots of things if its from a reputable lens group like nikon. Super sharp no. Also a Tokina lens expected to be better than a Nikor lens that's written where? That's an even tougher sell. I don't know anyone whose going to believe that. Mark William Rabiner markrabiner.com