135 STF first take (includes several large images) |
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wblc ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 29 October 2005 Country: United Kingdom Location: United States Status: Offline Posts: 289 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 11 June 2006 at 20:55 |
My STF arrived a few days ago. First impressions: it's a substantial chunk of glass, I need some more practice with it, and the bokeh with this lens is simply outstanding.
I've managed to take a few shots to compare the STF to other lenses. For all shots: - 7D mounted on a tripod - 2 second self timer - AS off - Auto white balance - Aperture mode for non-STF - STF aperture ring used to set aperture - JPEs straight from the camera, Sharp+1, contrast-1. Image layouts created using PWP, but no other post processing. Here's a comparison between the STF and the original 135/2.8, both wide open, with the focal point on the central small white flower in the foreground: ![]() Here’s a comparison with the focal point on the rock several feet behind the flower. ![]() In comparison to the STF, the edges to the OOF highlights are noticeable with the Orig 135 and there is more noticeable CA, although you need to pixel peep to see it. It’s also clear from the second comparison that the STF is sharper wide-open. Here’s a comparison between the STF and the original 85/1.4. I kept the camera location the same, so angle of view is different between the two. I’m not really sure whether this is an appropriate way to compare lenses of different focal lengths, but my judgements are subjective and non-scientific, so it seems as good a way as any. ![]() As with the orig 135, the 85 shows much more obvious edges to the OOF highlights and it also shows more CA around the white flowers, even at 2.8. Here’s a comparison with the 80-200 HS G at 135mm, f2.8. ![]() Same results in comparing OOF areas, but the 80-200 shows slightly better control over CA. I also did some comparisons with the lens stopped down. Here are four shots of the same scene with progressively smaller apertures. ![]() As the STF is stopped down, the edges to OOF areas become more pronounced, and the circular shape of OOF highlights becomes more apparent. In the second image, I noted the aperture setting as “T5.0”. This is an approximate value because the aperture ring offers continuous adjustment between T4.5 and T6.7, and I set it approximately halfway between 4.5 and 5.6. Finally, here is a comparison of the STF and the original 135, stopped down to T6.7 and 5.6, respectively. The physical aperture size appears to be similar, but not exactly the same size, with the lenses set this way. ![]() With the STF stopped down, there’s a small OOF point of light above the left flower that is more noticeable and not much different in appearance than the Orig 135 image, but the rest of the OOF background is still smoother with the STF. For me, this lens is a keeper. The "smooth transition" really works, even stopped down; where other lenses show edges to OOF highlights, this one does not. If you're a bokeh fan and like working with this focal length, this lens is for you. Review to be posted soon. Edited by wblc - 20 December 2006 at 08:25 |
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craiginscotland ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Posts: 1195 |
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This is the first time i have seen the stf in action and it certainly lives up to reputation, simply beautiful.
The bokeh is stunning, so smooth. Cheers. |
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gsaronni ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 02 October 2005 Country: Spain Location: Irun Status: Offline Posts: 1693 |
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Never seen a so remarkable comparison. This lens is evev better than its reputation.
Excellent review Regards |
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35/1.8 | 50/1.4 | 50M | 100/2
CZ 16-80 | Tamron 70-300 USD XZ-2 | A700 | A77 M2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsaronni/ |
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omerbey ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Moderator emeritus Joined: 11 December 2005 Location: Turkey Status: Offline Posts: 2516 |
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thanks wblc.
I think we'll see much more reviews and raves about this lens in a short while. |
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kiklop ![]() Admin Group ![]() Dyxum owner Joined: 14 July 2005 Country: Croatia Location: Rovinj Status: Offline Posts: 10563 |
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WOW .. thank you for this comparision.
I hardly wait some new feedbacks about this unique piece of glass. Thanks for sharing p.s. May i ask you if you are interested in a dedicated webpage with this contest? |
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We may have questions waiting for answers !
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wblc ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 29 October 2005 Country: United Kingdom Location: United States Status: Offline Posts: 289 |
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Kiklop, yes, I'd be happy to put this in a dedicated web page. What do I need to do?
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ab012 ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Joined: 10 September 2005 Country: Australia Status: Offline Posts: 2675 |
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congrats wblc~
watch out -its addictive:) Funny how the arrival of the STF suddenly means that 'faults' are found in the 85 1.4 bokeh ;) |
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Bernard
fun fun fun |
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kiklop ![]() Admin Group ![]() Dyxum owner Joined: 14 July 2005 Country: Croatia Location: Rovinj Status: Offline Posts: 10563 |
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Nothing :) I will do the job and use your original posts. If needed you update this post (let me know) and i will then make the changes on the webpage. All credits and copyright will be yours; Something like Haoda focusing screen and 5D by Gubbe or Sigma 400mm F5.6 review by Samir. |
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We may have questions waiting for answers !
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ab012 ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Joined: 10 September 2005 Country: Australia Status: Offline Posts: 2675 |
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btw Kiklop and wblc:
If you want I can send you the following highlight samples to add to wblc's comparison shots (as eg tag along with his dedicated page) ______________ highlight example: STF ![]() 135 2.8 ![]() Edited by Kiklop - 17 January 2007 at 18:32 |
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Bernard
fun fun fun |
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PeterP ![]() Groupie ![]() Joined: 13 February 2006 Country: United Kingdom Location: Thailand Status: Offline Posts: 68 |
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Sorry to be so dim - but I have absolutly no idea what STF means. could someone give us a quick idiots guide?
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kiklop ![]() Admin Group ![]() Dyxum owner Joined: 14 July 2005 Country: Croatia Location: Rovinj Status: Offline Posts: 10563 |
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Thank you Bernard !!
You are invited to share as many information about this fantastic lens as you wish and i will then use this in a dedicated webpage. Thank you ! |
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We may have questions waiting for answers !
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Its Atomic ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 19 January 2006 Location: Melb, Australia Status: Offline Posts: 262 |
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Wow. The first comparison really is impressive in terms of showing the differences in bokeh, simply outstanding for the STF. Thankyou for sharing.
If we had a definitions page, for lens reviews (sharpness, bokeh, CA, etc), I think this first comparison would be ideal for explaining what bokeh is, and what "good bokeh" looks like. |
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brettania ![]() Admin Group ![]() Dyxum factotum Joined: 17 July 2005 Country: New Zealand Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 20650 |
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Its an AF mount but MF only lens with a nomimal f2.8 aperture which is conditioned by the use of an "apodisation" filter that presents an effective max aperture of f4.5 to the sensor/film. STF means Smooth Trans Focus (the on-lens appelation) or Smooth Transition Focus. A good explanation/review here. |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Location: moving Status: Offline Posts: 5327 |
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wblc - thank you so much for adding these photos.
Not wanting to distract from this healthy addition to STF info. But its a sad fact that this is probably one of the best samples of images in one place taken with the STF. The net really needs a decent point of reference for this lens. In fact this is the only COMPARISON sample set I've seen. The only other decent link is this, but its a fair amount of scrolling and the images load quite slowly: lots of STF images (careful with that one, there are samples images from lots of lens on that site, whenever I bump into it an hour just seems to pass while I have a good rumamge around) And this: pretty good actually Thanks again Edited by DcapVividOptic - 12 June 2006 at 10:11 |
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2005 = Dynax 7D and various prime lenses and Maxxum 7D
then I moved to Nikon, then I added some Olympus 30-Nov-2018 = Panasonic G80 + 12-35/2.8 <<< planning to shoot with just this camera/lens in 2019 |
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