Lens MTF Conclusions

The Holding Tank

Hardware

MTF Study

| Lens MTF Area Summary and Figure of Merit |

| MTF Data Overview | Photodo / Canon MTF Cross Validation |

| Contax, Nikkor and Leica R lenses vs Canon |

| List of Canon Data Comparisons | List of Photodo Data Comparisons |

| Database Download |

20mm Region

| Figure of Merit | MTF Area Average | Conclusions |

Conclusion

20mm f2.8 and Tokina 17mm f3.5 are best, 16-35mm f2.8L worse, the two slower EF-S lenses not bad except for the edge. The new EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS is the best except for beyond the 10mm circle.

We see that the 17-40mm f/4L has similar simulated performance to the Tokina 17mm measured performance, this conclusion also holds at maximum aperture.

It is moot if the 16-35mm zoom would be a worthwhile replacement for the kit zoom although it does increase the area of satisfactory contrast. However the new 16-35mm f2.8L II shows much improved edge performance and is actually better than the 17-40 unlike the original lens.

The 10-22mm zoom provides better contrast than the kit lens but less detail coverage.

The kit lens still holds up well against the 20mm and again replacement would be moot.

Finally, the 17mm Tokina shows significantly better contrast although the detail is not better than the kit lens. It must be said that the Tokina is measured Photodo data and the interpolation between 20 lp/mm and 40 lp/mm is probably pessimistic (compare the interpolated Photodo trace and Canon trace for the 20mm f2.8 @ 30 lp/mm). So the expectation is that in real life the Tokina will be superior.

An alternative to the Tokina at 17mm is the EF 17-40mm f/4L which provides very similar performance and similar maximum aperture.

See simulations of the expected real world image sharpness for this range of focal lengths in my lens simulation page.

Max Ap

Here we see the Tokina 17mm and EF 20mm have superior contrast, and to a lesser extent detail to the 16-35mm zoom. The new version of the 16-35 @f2.8 is showing similar performance to the 17-40 @ f4. The new EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS has similar performance to the 16-35mm.

In terms of MTF contribution to Bokeh all the lenses degrade away from the centre of the optical axis. The degree of separation between these lenses is not large.

MTF Study

| Lens MTF Area Summary and Figure of Merit |

| MTF Data Overview | Photodo / Canon MTF Cross Validation |

| Contax, Nikkor and Leica R lenses vs Canon |

| List of Canon Data Comparisons | List of Photodo Data Comparisons |

| Database Download |

| Figure of Merit | MTF Area Average | Conclusions |

Last Updated 05/06/2008

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