Canon 14mm F2.8 vs. NEX 16mm F2.8 w/wide converter: is it worth it?

I bought an FD-mount Tokina 17mm F3.5 off eBay, and am very disappointed with how soft it is when fully opened at F3.5:

http://www.moldcad.neostrada.pl/pictures/grab.png

Could anyone tell me whether this was normal for such a wide lens, back when Canon FD was a current standard? The seller is a very nice guy and he offers refund; should I return it or keep it and sharpen in post?

PS. My other FD glass is tack sharp!
 
Last edited:
You sure you have got focus? (might have an adapter issue)

And how did you get wide open outside? crappy ND?

I guess otherwise you gotta thinkg its needs stopping down (as to cheapers EFS lenses) or pony for the nikon/zeiss/canon stuff

S
 
Needless to say this is the best it can get at F3.5; F8 is better - but is such a huge difference normal?

My ND is the same as usual (Heliopan), no problems with other lenses...
 
Does a VND not perform diffreent with lenses of different angles of view and at different stop levels?

Id try something indoors to be sure

Often the first stop is a bit crappy but you must have ramped up the VND to keep exposure, and I guess you dont have a 'reference' second lens with the same AOV

you dont seem to be running a consistent test, you must do that indoors

I mean I looked at that image and said 'VND' out of the Box without even knowing!

S
 
Indoors scenes (without any filters) show exactly the same difference in contrast/sharpness of this lens between fully open at F3.5, and around F8.
 
Then you make a choice - its it worth the money knowing that 3.5 is not so good?

IMO my tokina 17-50 was pretty bad, and my expensive nikon is good

So if its shootable at 5.6 I think its is probalby worth the money. and the same price zone will get you the same in another brand

or you pay more money!

My office was like a delivery wharehouse for a few months - lens arrived, lens returned!

for example Cosina 19-35 - just sent it straight back!

S
 
morgan_moore said:
I mean I looked at that image and said 'VND' out of the Box without even knowing!

S
Click to expand...
And here you are wrong - this particular grab is straight from the FS100 without any filter, and the exposure was found with auto shutter speed. Also, PP was off so no influence of any special detail setting or alike, and focus at infinity (I tried with small focus differences, but this is the best it gets).
 
Yes - I was aware the fully open aperture would not be the sharpest setting, as with any lens - but especially ultra-wide like this.

However: if I asked you a simple question - basing on the grab I posted the link to, should I keep it? And is my unit just like all of them, or is it worse?

What would you say then?
 
I dont know if it is worse, but it sound like they may all be bad (as per the link)

As for keeping it?

-Is a 5.6/8 17 for 200eu useful to you
-can you afford an 11-16, prime 18 etc

You know your needs and money

I bought my nikon after various other lenses, IMO I should have just ponied up right away and saved the stress

Really IMO a decent 18 is part of a prime kit for S35, and unlike the 35 50 et al it is not cheap because in FF terms (and most old primes are for FF) it is an 'exotic'

A 20mm will perform better for the money but of course losses FOV

S
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top