Duke M.
Veteran
I've done a few tests before and people always complain about something. I'm not a lab technician so if you don't like the test set up ignore the whole comparison or do your own tests rather than gripe about it.
The labels are at the bottom of the pictures. I'm uploading small 1:1 sections of the high rez photos. I'm not sure what the forum software will do to them but they started as PNG lossless images.
ENVIRONMENT:
a) The test was indoors with controlled lighting.
b) Distance was 18" to the sensor plane. (The Rokinon is twice as long which puts the front element closer.)
c) Neither the tripod nor the box were moved, except the tripod jiggled a little when the lenses were changed.
d) The 'white' area of the box is actually a cream color.
e) Because I was shooting at an angle to avoid glare, and the focus was so shallow (fraction of an inch) you can see in some shots where part of the box is in focus and part is not. Its not a lens defect. Actually the Rokinon has really good corner to corner sharpness.
LENS NOTE:
The Rokinon markings start at T1.5, then 2, then 2.8. If they are truly at T2.8 the exposure should not exactly match the Nikon F2.8. They would have to be ~T3.1.
LIGHTING:
1) Rather than changing any camera setting when I went to T1.5 or F1.4 I lowered the lighting to avoid be over exposed.
2) Both lenses had considerable more CA when over exposed.
CAMERA:
i) The pictures were taken with a Nikon D5100 set to manual on a tripod at full resolution 4828x3264 or 16.1 megapixels. This gives you a better idea how it would look on an Epic.
ii) For reference 1080p video is about 2 megapixels. Any defect you notice from a 1:1 pixel Nikon capture should be reduced by 2.5 pixesl, or another way to think of it is any CA less than 2 pixels will nearly disappear on HD video.
IMAGE NOTES:
The Nikon lens has less contrast, particularly wide open at F1.4.
The Rokion has a warmer tone.
The Rokinon seems to have more consistent contrast throughout the range.
[in the second image only the bottom is in focus so compare the words "Mount". The third image is another effort.]
This video capture was shot at 1080p on the Nikon camera with lower light. Then a capture was made from the video. Yes, I realize its under exposed but it still tells you some things. Look at the lack of CA, the sharpness and the bokeh on the left.
[I see no CA in this capture and the focus is sharp.]
Here is the Nikon over exposed just as an FYI:
The labels are at the bottom of the pictures. I'm uploading small 1:1 sections of the high rez photos. I'm not sure what the forum software will do to them but they started as PNG lossless images.
ENVIRONMENT:
a) The test was indoors with controlled lighting.
b) Distance was 18" to the sensor plane. (The Rokinon is twice as long which puts the front element closer.)
c) Neither the tripod nor the box were moved, except the tripod jiggled a little when the lenses were changed.
d) The 'white' area of the box is actually a cream color.
e) Because I was shooting at an angle to avoid glare, and the focus was so shallow (fraction of an inch) you can see in some shots where part of the box is in focus and part is not. Its not a lens defect. Actually the Rokinon has really good corner to corner sharpness.
LENS NOTE:
The Rokinon markings start at T1.5, then 2, then 2.8. If they are truly at T2.8 the exposure should not exactly match the Nikon F2.8. They would have to be ~T3.1.
LIGHTING:
1) Rather than changing any camera setting when I went to T1.5 or F1.4 I lowered the lighting to avoid be over exposed.
2) Both lenses had considerable more CA when over exposed.
CAMERA:
i) The pictures were taken with a Nikon D5100 set to manual on a tripod at full resolution 4828x3264 or 16.1 megapixels. This gives you a better idea how it would look on an Epic.
ii) For reference 1080p video is about 2 megapixels. Any defect you notice from a 1:1 pixel Nikon capture should be reduced by 2.5 pixesl, or another way to think of it is any CA less than 2 pixels will nearly disappear on HD video.
IMAGE NOTES:
The Nikon lens has less contrast, particularly wide open at F1.4.
The Rokion has a warmer tone.
The Rokinon seems to have more consistent contrast throughout the range.
[in the second image only the bottom is in focus so compare the words "Mount". The third image is another effort.]This video capture was shot at 1080p on the Nikon camera with lower light. Then a capture was made from the video. Yes, I realize its under exposed but it still tells you some things. Look at the lack of CA, the sharpness and the bokeh on the left.
[I see no CA in this capture and the focus is sharp.]Here is the Nikon over exposed just as an FYI:
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