Lens Comparison Tests

Here's some comparison tests I did with Olympus E-620  using several sets of lens in four categories - close-up, long, standard and wide-angle shots. All of them were shot under controlled lighting from the same location on tripod, same time, and same angle. 

100 percent crops on the center on each lense and camera. Not the perfect comparison since I didn't have time but gives me an idea on the resolution difference between these lenses as well as the importance of real good lenses. Lenses are not created equal for sure.

1. Close-up Shots

Close-up image quality produced with 35mm, 42mm and 50mm 'standard/close-up lenses' on a dSLR charged couple device [CCD] was examined and compared against each other to single out which one is the best and to find out whether legacy lenses are still relevant in the DigitalPhotography era.

Test Settings
Focus: Manual
ISO: 100
Shutter Speed: 2 secs.
Aperture: f5.6
WB: 5800K
Lighting: single 18w energy saving fluorescent 'cool daylight'
Wall/Ceiling Color: Matte White

Three close-up pictures similar to the one shown below were taken in turn by using three different lenses under 'controlled environment' and as they are - no post processing. The three pictures were then cropped to the same pixel count [w/o any PP].

ZD 35mm f3.5 (Macro Lens)

ZD 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 ED @35mm (Zoom Lens)

Zuiko 50mm f1.2 (Legacy Lens)

Now look closely... find any difference in the image quality?

 

Yes of course, as usual the Zoom lens (middle) is the worst and the all-glass in metal barrel Japanese Legacy Lens (left) has the 'edge' over both China made plastics. Now, who says legacy lenses are dead?

2. Long Shots
These are commonly used medium telephoto lenses; 135mm, 200mm and 40-150mm Zoom.

The Tokina RMC 135mm f2.8 and Tokina RMC 200mm f3.5 prime lenses are all-glass/all-metal barrel legacy lenses made for Olympus OM-system SLR while the ZD 40-150mm f3.5/4.5 "Mk-1" with metal mount is made by Zuiko Digital Japan [not China made plastics] specifically designed "from the ground up" for the 4-thirds system dSLRs.


Test Settings

Focus: Manual
ISO: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/60 secs.
Aperture: f5.6
WB: 6200K
Lighting: Outdoor. 90% Cloudy

Test Shots
Comparison amongst ZD 40-150mm f3.5/4.5 mk1, Tokina RMC 135mm f2.8 and Tokina RMC 200mm f3.5 lenses on Olympus E-620.

The following pictures were shot with those telephoto lenses at approx. 50ft (15m) away.

(Note: on the 4-thirds dSLR the effective focal length (efl) is double wrt 35mm full frame. e.g: the image magnification produced with a 200mm lens is the same as the image produced with a 400mm lens on a full frame SLR).

Images produced with the three lenses are then cropped to the same pixel count for comparison.

Tokina RMC 200mm f3.5

ZD 40-150mm f3.5/4.5 "Mk-1" Zoomed to 150mm

Tokina RMC 135mm f2.8

Results

The 135mm produces 'soft focus' or simply unsharpened picture which makes it only suitable for portraiture. The 200mm prime legacy lens produces the sharpest image - just a tad better than 40~150mm Zoom as one should expect from the Zoom vs Prime optics.

Conclusions

No doubt ZD 40-150mm f3.5/4.5 "Mk1" is a good SQ-grade (economy) zoom lens Olympus has offered. Click HERE for a through review by Wrotniak. The new bundle lens (made in China?) ZD 40-150mm f4/5.6 ED is not as good though.

The Tokina RMC 200mm f3.5 is still relevant and can produce better result on dSLR than the 'best' bundle zoom lens from Olympus's Zuiko Digital.


3. 'Standard' Shots
These are regular lenses normally used.

35mm Macro, 50mm Legacy, 14-42mm Zoom, 40-150mm Zoom

TEST SHOTs

Settings (manual)

Aperture: f5.6
Speed: 1/160sec
ISO: 200
Subject-camera distance: about 3m

Exposure Compensation: -0.3 eV

Contrast and sharpness were set to the LOWEST

Typical Test Shot Image with each lens.

Each lens test area is cropped within the perimeter of the highlighted rectangle.

Image Quality Comparison

Zuiko Digital (Japan) ZD 40-150mm f3.5

Zuiko Digital (China)- ZD 14-42mm f4.5/5.6

Zuiko Digital (China) ZD 35mm f3.5 macro

Zuiko (Japan) 50mm f1.2

Result:
Even from the same maker, Japanese made lenses are still better than the other two lenses made in China! Why aa?? Poor IMS [QA+QC+...]? or China uses inferior materials?

4. Wide-Angle Shots
These are the lenses Uncle.D use for wide-angle shootings; ZD 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 ED, RMC Tokina SL 17mm f3.5 rectilinear and Zuiko 28mm f2.8.

test results later...