Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/09/26

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Subject: [Leica] Software correection of abberations on MFT systems
From: henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:23:18 -0700
References: <B48C4AE65ECF42FDB5ACDDA670CA7570@qck8vqhgou8blu>

On Olympus bodies the 12-35 appears to correct for distortion, but not CA. 
Distortion levels are very low and much lower than other manufacturer's 
24-70/2.8 lenses, for example in the output image. That is in line with what 
Olympus does for its own lenses. Panasonic bodies correct for distortion and 
CA; Olympus bodies do not. The 7-14 Panasonic is also corrected for its 
distortion on the OM-D which would otherwise be very noticeable. Olympus 
lens are corrected for distortion on Panasonic bodies, just as on Olympus 
bodies.

As for third party lenses, it would depend. Are these lenses AF lenses 
designed for the m43 cameras, or are they non-electronic lenses designed for 
other systems? If the former, possibly corrections are applied in line with 
the maker's lenses; if the latter, no. Since the latter are designed without 
software corrections in mind in the first place, that should be no problem.

The issue with Panasonic lenses not being corrected for CA on Olympus bodies 
is known. However, in general the lens behaves very well and has very high 
image quality. Photozone once again states that 'they are not against MFT', 
but seem to be harsher on m43 lenses with respect to such things as 
distortion than lenses for larger formats. They note the 'considerable 
distortion' of the 12-35 at 1.5% but gloss over the distortion of the Nikon 
and Canon lenses at nearly twice those levels. For the new Canon at 2.8% 
they state: 'The vignetting and distortion characteristic is above average 
for a lens in this class'. Also, they state:

 'While it is, of course, a f/2.8 lens regarding its speed potential, the 
depth-of-field capabilities are actually not quite as impressive. In MFT 
land you are "losing" about 2 f-stops here which obviously reduces the 
creative potential of the lens quite a bit.' 

How did a narrow depth of field become a holy grail?

That's a rather narrow concept. As anyone who has shot with medium format 
and larger knows, often the 'creative potential' of a greater depth of field 
is what one struggles with. The depth of field is what it is. If you want 
narrow, shoot 11x14. If you want deep, shoot a P&S. All have creative 
potential.

The high price of the 12-35/2.8 is a factor. But it is half the price of the 
Canon 24-70.

I read photozone at times. The reviews are informative, but you have to pay 
attention to how they test and what their biases are.

'Cheap 'n cheerful' has resulted in a lens that provides similar performance 
for half the price. Doesn't seem like a bad trade-off to me.

Henning



On 2012-09-26, at 8:22 AM, A. Lal wrote:

> LUgers may recall some months ago I posted to this list a question about 
> using non-makers'  lenses on the micro four thirds system. Specifically, I 
> was interested to know how an Olympus body would handle a Panasonic lens 
> and vice versa.
> 
> Well the answer, disappointingly, according to the review of the Panasonic 
> 12-35/2.8 zoom on photozone is that software corrections do not work with 
> non-makers' lenses. While a Panasonic body will correct the 12-35 lens' 
> significant distortions and chromatic aberrations, an Olympus body will 
> not. This leads to the obvious question of how third party lenses will be 
> handled by MFT bodies. Apparently software will be needed to correct for 
> optical defects. The 12-35 Panasonic zoom is pretty poor in terms of 
> distortion and chromatic aberrations and is very likely typical of upper 
> consumer- grade lenses in today's marketplace. Make 'em cheap 'n cheerful 
> to keep margins up, correct in software seems to be the way forward for 
> the big MFT manufacturers.
> 
> The review is here:
> 
> http://www.photozone.de/m43/766_pana1235f28
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 


Henning Wulff
henningw at archiphoto.com






Replies: Reply from alal at poly.edu (A. Lal) ([Leica] Software correection of abberations on MFT systems)
In reply to: Message from alal at poly.edu (A. Lal) ([Leica] Software correection of abberations on MFT systems)