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 |

35mm Region

| Figure of Merit | MTF Area Average | Conclusions |

Conclusion

Here the 35mm f2 has the best contrast followed by the 35mm f1.4L, the 24-70mm f2.8L comes in close to this with the 16-35mm f2.8 not much better than the 18-55mm kit zoom. This follows through for detail but with the two prime lenses leading clearly, and the three zoom all of lower performance. At this focal length the 16-35 f2.8L II has slightly better full frame edge performance equivalent to the 17-40.

The new EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS has similar performance to the 17-40 up to the 10mm image circle radius after which the performance falls off.

Both 35mm primes are clearly superior to both types of 28mm and 24mm lens, although the 35mm f1.4L is very expensive and quite heavy for a prime.

The 16-35mm zoom puts on a better show here but has limited superior detail coverage compared to the kit lens.

Again, the 24-70mm zoom holds it’s own against the prime lenses for contrast but is outclassed in this case for detail by both the prime lenses.

As far the 1.6X crop factor frame is concerned all lenses other than the kit zoom are providing superior contrast performance across 100% of the frame, but only just for the 16-35mm. In terms of 1.6X crop factor detail this is satisfactory over 100% of the frame for all but the kit lens, but only just for the 24-70mm zoom.

The 17-40mm f4L zoom has more contrast that the prime lenses but falls down somewhat on the fine detail, a critical area for a 1.6X crop factor DLSR application. Having said that the performance is probably better out to 10mm leaving only distortion and flair as issues.

Max Ap

Interestingly both the 16-35mm and 24-70mm zooms with the contrast contest, however they are slower than both primes. Amazingly the 35mm f1.4L beats the 35mm f2 for contrast beyond about 16mm offset from the optical axis.

The new EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS has similar performance to the 16-35mm.

The lenses are very close for detail which is particularly impressive for the fast f1.4L.

For the MTF impression of Bokeh, the zooms smaller apertures let them win, however despite the 35mm f2’s speed advantage the f1.4L is expected to show better Bokeh beyond 15mm offset.

The 17-40mm f4L does very well here but it is the slowest lens.

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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