MTF Charts at ephotozine
XF 56mm f/1.2 APD
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MUST READ: Rico’s X-pert corner comparison XF 56 vs XF 56 APD
ephotozine published the XF 56 APD reivew. They end up highly recommending this lens, saying that it is “incredibly sharp with impressive background blur“! The CON is a “slight loss of light due to APD filter makes the choice of this lens a creative decision over the standard lens“.
15 Responses
Looking at the values past f/8: did they use LMO?
most likely, diffraction is worse with small sensors. I would expect that they want to give the lens every opportunity to do well so why wouldn’t they use the software correction capabilities.
And what’s wrong with that?
Diffraction has zip, zero, nada to do with sensors. Diffraction is a property of lenses alone. Do some reading.
Sounds like you need to do some more reading….you’re correct that diffraction is a function of the lens/aperture but it is also determined by the size of the airy disk…which is sensor dependant. Hnriot was correct that smaller sensor cameras are more susceptible to diffraction. For example, a 17-40mm lens on a Canon 7D will be diffraction limited at a larger aperture (smaller f stop) than a 5D3 with the exact same lens.
The flip side of this is how much does it really matter? For example, if my 17-40mm is diffraction limited by f8 on a 7D and f11 on a 5D3 the DOF is almost identical anyway due to sensor size differences…
My understanding is that a higher density sensor would make the lens diffraction more readily discerned but not the area of the sensor itself. Ultimately the diffraction limit is in the lens and the ability of the sensor to see the diffraction.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm
If you use their advanced calculator and keep pixel density the same the CoC doesn’t change.
So, no, I think I read plenty well.
It’s a little bit of both. Small sensor cameras are often diffraction limited at comparatively wide apertures. Fujifilm’s APS-C probably hits limits around 5,6-8, whereas FF usually hits between 8 and 11.
M43 starts and ends earlier, which is why super speedy lenses are necessary for smaller sensors.
When I saw this lens announced I thought it would be a great portrait lens to try to close the gap with the 85mm 1.4 on 35mm format when it comes to OOF area rendering. It’s a marginal gain but so is 85 1.4 vs 85 1.8. Still, for someone who likes to tinker for the last ounce of IQ this would be the lens to get on Fuji.
Considering this is equivalent to f/2.5 (because you have to move back with the APS-C cropped sensor to get the same field of view) this doesn’t in any way compare to an 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. There is no marginal gain, it’s a loss.
As for IQ, if you want to “tinker for the last ounce of IQ” upgrade the sensor size.
You need to let go of the old guards….Typical full frame silliness and you need to grow out of it to make any sense. Using this silly argument then you may need to ditch your heavy and old school DSLR for an even heavier MF system.Bigger sensor right? Take advantage of Internet and learn a bit of photography instead.
To hnriot’s defence, it is obvious that Fujifilm design their lenses to hit FF targets. Medium format and FF never had that relationship. All current makers of digital crop cameras design lens/sensor combinations to effectively compare to FF counterparts.
There are some misses, some amazing plugs, and some whacko designs. But in the main, we are looking at FF targets.
And the 56/1,2 targets the 85mm portrait lens. And the 23 targets a 35, the 35 a ~50, and so on. The f-stops on APS-C and other FF-target crop sensors do equate to images far different from their FF targets that share the same f-stop.
That said, hnriot’s maths were off. But then again, maths aren’t exactly the strong suit around here.
It’s not equivalent to f2.5. Do your math right.
f1.2 x 1.5 = f1.8. You’re welcome.
Your post does not make any sense…the 35mm FOV from the 56mm lens is 56×1.5 = 84mm….basically an identical FOV to a 85mm lens….so why would you need to ‘take a step back’??
I love my 56 APD, but I have to send it back already, since most likely the focus motor is broken already… after 1500 shots only…