https://www.dpreview.com/news/9236543269/why-are-modern-50mm-lenses-so-damned-complicated [p] * * Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Sign up for our weekly newsletter! Submit a News Tip! Reading mode: Light Dark Login | Register [ ] [] NewsReviewsArticlesBuying GuidesSample ImagesVideosCamerasLenses PhonesPrintersForumsGalleriesChallenges Best cameras and lenses [logo-v3] Now reading: Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? 542 comments 542 Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? Published May 9, 2021 | RCicala Share Tweet [DSC_1800] Lenses like Nikon's Z 50mm F1.2 S are bigger, heavier, more costly and more complex than older F1.2 designs. But why? First, some optical history Back in the days when men were iron and ships were wood, there were some things you could rely on. One of those things was your wide-aperture prime lens was a relatively simple double-guass design. Pre-1900, lens designers had already created five of the six lens types that are the basis of what we use today. (The retrofocus lens didn't come around until the 1920s, and zoom lenses, for those who are curious, are basically modified Cooke triplets.) [6-lens-types_1] Lensrentals.com, 2012 The double gauss has been THE predominant design for wide aperture primes since the late 1800s. Over the years, designers have added additional groups to bring in more light, correct aberrations, and generally make a better lens. But the double gauss part was there in the center of the lens diagram for wide-aperture prime lenses right up until modern times. Name a famous prime lens and it was probably a double gauss: Speed Panchro, Planar, Xenon, Summicron, Takumar, Ultron, and on and on. [doublegaussdesigns] Adapted from Wikipedia Creative Commons There are some generalities about double gauss design that are of practical importance (note, I said generalities, not absolutes). An angle of view equivalent to 40mm to 60mm focal length on full-frame cameras is the easiest double gauss lens to design. Hence, 50mm tends to be ruled by double-gauss lenses, but longer and shorter focal lengths generally became telephoto or retrofocus designs. Second, aberrations in double gauss lenses are easier to control at F2.8 apertures and smaller. A decent 50mm F2.8 double gauss lens can be made with as few as five elements, while wider apertures require more elements to correct aberrations (notice the chart above). But lenses change In the last decade, 50mm lenses have gotten more complex. Compare the 30 year old design of the Canon 50mm F1.2 (right) with the more recent Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art and Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4 (left) designs. [55otus__art__L] Lens diagram of (left to right) Zeiss 55mm Otus, Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art, and Canon 50mm EF F1.2L lenses. Three major manufacturers have recently introduced even more complex-design 50mm F1.2 lenses, containing 13 to 18 elements with multiple aspheric and low dispersion elements. Any double gauss influence on the design is pretty hard to see. [50_F1] Lens diagrams of (from left): Sony FE 50mm f1.2 GM, Nikkor Z 50mm f1.2 S, and Canon RF 50mm f1.2L. (from manufacturer). Lens designers didn't add all that extra glass just to charge more money and make the diagram look cool. These newer, more expensive, and more complex designs are supposed to overcome some of the limitations that we used to see in ultra-wide aperture, 50mm primes. At least that's the theory and my expectation. We all know how my expectations usually turn out. So, about those classic ultra-wide aperture prime lenses.. Speaking of expectations, for many years a lot of photographers paid a fortune for an F1.2 lens in the expectation that it would be a little soft wide open, but once stopped down, it'd be at least as good or better than a cheaper 50mm lens. Because stopping down fixes all evils, right? Unfortunately, that's not how it worked, at least not for double gauss lenses wider than F1.4. Stopping down made them sharper, of course, especially in the center. But away from center they never got wicked sharp; they got OK. Below, for example, is that classic 50mm EF F1.2L Canon lens compared to a newer Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art lens, both tested at F5.6. As you can see, the Sigma smokes the Canon. [CanSig50mm_f5] MTF of a Canon 50mm EF 50mm F1.2L lens (left) and a Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art (right). A field curvature plot shows us this isn't a field curvature effect (although there is some field curvature). Rather, these lenses have some aberrations that aren't really improved by stopping down all that much (3rd and 5th order astigmatism, elliptical coma, and other higher-order aberrations don't improve much at smaller apertures). [Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_12] These diagrams show that even stopped down, the outer areas of the lens just aren't as sharp, and there is a lot of astigmatism. That's just how things were. A $1,500 ultra-wide aperture lens would give you lovely, dreamy images at F1.2, but stopped down to F5.6 or F8, a $300 F1.8 lens was usually sharper. I used the Canon EF 50mm F1.2L as an example, but the same used to be basically true of all ultra-wide (F1.2 or wider) lenses, including those $3,000 ones. Testing the new Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM Sony sent me five copies of the new FE 50mm F1.2 GM for pre-testing. This is not complete testing, since it's only five copies, but that should be enough to give us some information. And while I haven't tested the Canon and Nikon 50mms, the designs suggest they should be rather similar. Wide open tests Compared to the old EF Canon 50mm F1.2.... well, 30 years of lens design sure does makes a difference. The Sony (right) is dramatically superior. [canson1] Lensrentals.com, 2021 Here's a better idea of how good the Sony is; at F1.2 it has better resolution than the excellent Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art at F1.4. [SonSig_open] Lensrentals.com, 2021 So here's a win for the new design; wide open it's as good as an excellent 50mm F1.4. That's definitely a 'worth the money' point for many photographers. I was still curious though - how much it would sharpen-up when stopped down? Stopped-down comparisons Let's do the obvious first, and compare one copy of the F1.2 GM to one of the Sony Planar 50mm F1.4 ZA, both at F5.6. The ZA is not an awesome lens, but a lot of FE shooters have used it. Stopped down, the MTF diagram below shows its bad astigmatism. I had expected the GM to be better than this, and it is. [Sony_50mm_f5] Lensrentals.com, 2021 Let's try a bit of a tougher comparison, between one of the GMs and a Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art (I flipped sides on this graph, the Sony is now on the right). There are some slight differences here, but if you're tempted to say one is clearly better than the other, I suggest keeping quiet, because you'd be wrong. The Sigma is a tiny bit better at the edges, the Sony in the center, and the Sony has a bit less astigmatism. But the differences are very minor, to the extent that they'd be within the range of sample variation and probably not noticeable in photographs. [sonysig_5] Lensrentals.com, 2021 This was what I was hoping to see. Historically, if you bought an F1.2 or wider aperture lens, you expected that it would be soft wide open and even stopped down it wouldn't be as sharp as a less expensive, slower lens. The modern (and more complex) designs we're seeing now allow F1.2 lenses be impressively sharp wide open, and just as sharp as a smaller aperture lens stopped down. And that is actually kind of a big deal. As several people will kindly point out in the comments, resolution isn't everything. It's probably not even the biggest thing. But it is a thing that, at least in F1.2 lenses, has not really been a given in lenses like this until now. And hopefully, you're beginning to see why these new lenses have so many elements*. Roger *Yeah, there's more to it, but this is a good start. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Cicala is the founder of Lensrentals.com. He started by writing about the history of photography a decade ago, but now mostly writes about the testing, construction and repair of lenses and cameras. He follows Josh Billings' philosophy: "It's better to know nothing than to know what ain't so." Gear in this story [53ff0b7ded2e4] [cf6707bee1684492b97] Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.2 S 116 29 I own it I own it 112 124 I want it I want it 15 10 I had it I had it Discuss in the forums Discuss in the forums [49f97dc752ac438] Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM 13 I own it 62 I want it 7 I had it Discuss in the forums Support DPReview. Shop with Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM [53ff0b7ded] Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens, Black (2959C002) $2,299.99 Shop now Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.2 S [cf6707bee1] NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S Standard Ultra Fast $2,096.95 Shop Prime... now Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM [49f97dc752] Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM Full-Frame Pre-order $1,998.00 Shop Large-Aperture G Master Lens now now View Comments (542) Comments All (542) Most popular (15) Editors' picks (0) DPR staff (0) Oldest first jimread In the 1890's lenses with 17 elements were not uncommon. A gentleman at Cooke's of London decided to do something about it and after some months came up with a four element lens in a group of three the first two being cemented together. The lens was superior to the multi varieties in every way. Cooke's were not interested in making the lens and the gentleman's findings were published in an optical magazine. From that article came, the Elmar, the Tessar and the Xenar etc etc. Those of us who use Sony A7r's still benefit from these lenses. And Cooke's? Well they are in Thurmaston, Leicester and as you walk into their reception on show is a Oscar. They make PS40k film and video lenses. Cheers - J Like 0 1 hour ago*permalink LuxShots LuxShots How is it that my post with this word get banned, yet you have this same word in the title? Like 3 1 hour agopermalink Phil Flash Yes, I want a 1.2 lens so the fine hair on the ears of my subjects can be in perfect focus, but nothing else is sharp. Like 1 1 hour ago*permalink Gary Martin Gary Martin Ah, but these lenses have a special trick: you can stop them down to other apertures as needed. But if you're taking a full-body or environmental portrait and you want some separation, the fast aperture is welcome to some photographers. If not you, that's OK, freedom of choice is good to have. Like 1 40 min agopermalink Andyyy You can use a lens in many ways, not just for full-head portraits from 1 meter. DOF is a combination of aperture and distance, not just aperture. Like 0 17 min agopermalink Photomonkey They charge by the element? Like 1 1 hour agopermalink xander18 There are a lot of people saying "I don't need autofocus" but also "why have a fast lens because you'll just miss focus with that shallow DoF". If they really considered those two statements then perhaps they've come up with a reason for autofocus! Like 1 1 hour agopermalink BackToNature1 There's a lot of people saying Autofocus doesn't always work. Like 0 2 min agopermalink AGSchnozz AGSchnozz I know what lens I'd rather take on a hike. That said, there is a time and place for everything. I think everybody should have one "go to" lens for those times when you absolutely need the best possible optic. But honestly, most lenses are "good enough" for the majority of applications. Like 1 2 hours agopermalink Michael in Maine USA I reckon that this Comment just about does it, as far as The Real World is concerned...thanks for a breath of Common Sense...! Like 0 1 hour agopermalink Rand Fotogott Some who use these lenses like to blur almost the whole image including all ears and maybe one of the subjects eyes if his/her face is slightly facing to the side. So I find it extra amusing when resolution is discussed since most is wiped out by a wide aperture, and when most of the image isn't blurred these lenses are no better than some F1.8 counterparts. Like 3 2 hours agopermalink ecka84 ecka84 No need to be rude ... Like 0 1 hour agopermalink Matyas L Thanks so much for this analysis. The lens bench tests are interesting, but the history of the lens development is fascinating. I had to go chase down your blog post about Petzval and Voigtlander. Like 0 2 hours agopermalink Flashback Flashback In wish there was a simple but objective measure for lens POP. Like 1 2 hours agopermalink ecka84 ecka84 No such thing. Like 0 1 hour agopermalink Flashback Flashback Didn't I just imply that. . . Like 0 1 hour agopermalink ecka84 ecka84 No such thing as "lens POP". Like 0 50 min agopermalink Flashback Flashback Just Googled 'lens pop' 148,000,000 hits Like 0 38 min agopermalink Andre Yew Roger, thanks for this article and the new MTF measurements for the Sony! Also for debunking (once more) the notion that all lenses look alike stopped down. For astigmatism, do the places of the tangential and sagittal curves reverse if you focused the lens on the feature that has lower MTF? For example, in the f/5.6 measurement of the ZA, if you focused on the tangential features, do the tan lines then become flat, and the sag lines .. sag? Like 0 3 hours agopermalink RCicala RCicala @Andre Yew, yes they would. Like 1 2 hours agopermalink The Silver Nemesis Yes, but... Like 0 4 hours agopermalink Dan_168 I am not a huge fan of 50mm when It comes to portrait so I don't own any " best" 50mm across all my systems, only a old Zeiss 50 F2 ZE for my Canon, and Sigma 50 F1.4 Art and a very old AIS 50 F1.2 for my D850, and have no plan to purchase any new F1.2 version at all, but will be interesting to see a detail comparison of all the modern 50 F1.2 across Canon, Nikon and Sony. anyone have any link to a reputable site that did that? thanks. Like 0 4 hours agopermalink Clint Dunn Clint Dunn This is what happens when photographers and keyboard warriors nitpick every detail at 300% from every lens released. Like 6 5 hours agopermalink Woz D Boss Hahaha, absolutely. Like 0 5 hours agopermalink snagglepuss1 Exactly. I've had a print of Capa's "The Falling Soldier" hanging in my office for 25 years (I sell photo gear to students among others). For the last 10 years I routinely am asked by new photographers (who have been brought up on digital) what is the point of having something on the wall that is so out of focus. They just don't get it...probably never will. Like 4 5 hours agopermalink ecka84 ecka84 Hello 'low-defs'. It is very sad to see such ignorant comments of yours in 21st century. Somehow you think that all the high-def photography enthusiasts must pixel-peep at crazy 300% magnification just like you do, to actually see stuff. Well, we don't and we don't have to. Because on properly large modern displays we don't need to go past 100%. But you probably will never understand what the high-def is about. Or what's the difference between a quality image and the image quality of a quality image. So, relax and stop insulting the rest of the world, please. Like 0 57 min agopermalink lauma @snagglepuss1 and with attitude the rightfully accuse you to be out of this time. Capa did amazing photographs for his time and was part of forming a new kind of photography. But that has nothing to do with modern cameras offering 45-60 Megapixels on a tiny full frame sensor. Now why even develop such a high resolution sensor when the lenses can only deliver 12 or 24 Megapixels? That would be stupid. So new designs are developed that can deliver. That is completely independent from what you do with that resolution. Maybe if you wouldn't judge the young photographers but listen to them so they can listen to you, both you and them would ask less but understand more. Like 0 30 min agopermalink Woz D Boss @ecka84 see someone has poked the trolls nest. Like 0 25 min agopermalink Spectro I think people been crying for corner sharpness. To make corner sharper I guess you need more girthly glasses for correction. I think that is the big different been Nikon z and f lenses. One was cheaper and softer in the corner, the other the opposite. Not good for consumers for the price, but for people wanting the best corner sharpness. With milc I do more off center portrait now, might get the newer lenses someday. Like 0 5 hours agopermalink Karroly If corner softness is the only result of field curvature, you can usually get something sharp even in the corners. Like 0 5 hours agopermalink Spectro Plus other corrections too. Like 0 5 hours agopermalink PremiumBitter The only negative about Roger content is that there isn't enough! I remember buying the Canon 50mm f/1.4 as a compromise lens. And boy was it, that AF motor on that thing was known to constantly fail. I sent it in to Canon 3 times! It would be interesting to see this new Sony 50/1.2 compared to some f/2.8 zooms that cover 50mm in their range, at f/2.8 and stopped down. Like 3 6 hours agopermalink The Silver Nemesis The Canon 50 mm f/1.4 is horrible. My copy works well from f/2.2-2.8, 1.4 being a joke - same for the AF: horrible. It is still hooked to the EOS 3000N. Never used it on digital. Like 0 4 hours agopermalink Welsh For quite a long time, Canon simply had no great 50mm lens. I never saw a copy of the f1.2 that wasn't a nest of CA, and stopped down the el-cheapo f1.8 was actually better than the ancient and poorly-built f1.4. I can't speak for the (slow) 50mm macro, but it was probably the best of the bunch. Like 1 4 hours agopermalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni @PremiumBitter - This comparison is be greatly welcome, but I would extend the scope to the premium primes from other brands (despite I am a Sony user). SonyAlphaBlog tests allow some comparison for FE lenses, but they are evaluative results, not technically quantified. From such test as you propose we may expect that the primes will beat the zooms at 2.8, reaching peak performance around f/4, while the (good) zooms usually need to go to f/8 to render a comparable performance, but hardly better. However, diffraction is already acting at f/8 on smaller pixel pitch sensors (A7R4, GFX), requiring lenses that reach peak performance early in the scale. I have no doubts that Canon makes an f/2 zoom not just for record breaking, but because they can be excellent at f/4 or f/5.6. I am not an optical engineer, but I guess this answers the main question here and we can understand the reason for fast, "overly" corrected primes. Like 1 3 hours agopermalink pollup #1 you don't seem to understand how DOF works ... if you're close like 1m away from the subject, then yes you will have a 3cm DOF, but if you're 2m from the subject, the DOF becomes 11cm, so suddenly much deeper, and if you're 6m away, then you have a 1m DOF, so that's not shallow at all! Like 0 7 hours agopermalink Karroly Who said that the DOF does not depend from the distance of the subject ? Like 1 6 hours agopermalink S Yu Well, many of the nay-sayers about ultra fast lenses, you don't have enough DoF, it's useless, nothing's sharp blah blah. Like 0 5 hours agopermalink Woz D Boss 11cm 'much deeper' lol Like 0 5 hours agopermalink mosc I have to agree that I find depth of field very limiting on these types of lenses which combined with their buik and cost make them very un-appealing. I like sharpness as much as the next guy but I typically photograph subject and environment equally. 1m DOF isn't much of an environment for most shots. It's a technological wonder but I'm more likely to favor this type of innovation in a f2.8 zoom (making me pay less of a price for taking a zoom in the first place in IQ since the f2.8 is bright enough already) Like 0 3 hours agopermalink Rob de Loe Rob de Loe Wait, @pollup, did you just tell Roger Cicacla that he doesn't understand how depth of field works? That's cute. Like 0 1 hour agopermalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni @Rob de Loe I understand that pollup is writting about a post 14 hours ago. Somehow it was placed as a new post, not a reply under the OP: "AeroPhotographer I love Roger's articles, including this one. But I want to comment on new fast and heavy lenses. 1. I don't understand where one would use an aperture which has such shallow depth of field. f1.2 focused on the eye has too shallow a DOF to capture the nose in focus... Like 0 1 hour agopermalink KraftySingles And then we have these uninspired designs which are just a double gauss with a speed booster glued onto the back https://3.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/64507732/ 98c3c732e6cd4984b30571b9c5471d07 These are actually ironically being compared to the real noctilux designs... Like 0 7 hours agopermalink peeyaj Sony has been really lucky on hiring (poached from Nikon) their current GM lenses designer. I have seen him in a Sony YouTube video and he's incredibly passionate about photography. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/okl5mwkZ_7s Like 5 7 hours ago*permalink pollup From the video, he started at Nikon in 1990 and joined Sony in 2003, so, quite a long time ago... Like 7 7 hours agopermalink AcerK So the GM-50 is truly the best 50mm lens and also a truly next-gen lens. Was thinking of waiting for the Sigma 50mm ART DG DN but in the end, I didn't make that mistake and got the GM-50. Like 7 7 hours agopermalink DarkShift Depends how often one needs to shoot wide open. Comparing the graphs, the Sigma 50 Art seems better @5.6 than the GM 50 1.2 as it has much more even performance across the field. Since the Sigma costs less than 33% the price of the GM, I wouldn't call it a mistake - especially when shooting in studio where smaller apertures are often used. Like 3 7 hours ago*permalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni @AcerK @DarkShift - These are truly good reasoning. Performance and price matter a lot, but so does autofocus speed, lens controls and standardizing, software availability and update. Choice is eminently personal, thankfully. Like 1 6 hours ago*permalink Ed Ingold Throughout the time SLRs and DSLRs dominated the market, few if any lenses performed well when wide open. Extremely fast apertures were mainly candy to attracted amateurs and a few pros. Not so with mirrorless cameras. Almost from the get-go, uses demanded better and better quality - and got it. For 60 years of Leica and Nikon use, I rarely dared to go below f/5.6. Not the least of my concerns was poor focus accuracy. Corner sharpness was as important, because it mostly didn't exist. With Sony, I rarely go higher than f/5.6, and shoot wide open a majority of the time for video. Focusing is no longer a concern, whether AF or MF. Best of all, the corners are sharp - sharper than even Leica was noted for. Like 2 5 hours ago*permalink YuryVilin I tend to think that making photo equipment prohibitively expensive for most is kinda wrong idea. No matter how cool the graphs look like. Like 2 7 hours agopermalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1242613-REG/ sony_sel50f18f_fe_50mm_f_1_8_lens.html Like 1 6 hours agopermalink Karroly Unfortunately, ILC manufacturers have lost the consumer market thank to the smarpthones. They focus on pros and rich amateurs now. Like 0 5 hours ago*permalink Atahualpa "they'd be within the range of sample variation" I hear that a lot. But actually just how big IS sample variation? I suppose you have some data in addition to a lot of experience? Like 1 8 hours agopermalink RCicala RCicala Yes. Unfortunately I can't post images on here, but if you pm me I'll send you some graphs. It's not very much right at center but away from center it's at least 10%, often more. Like 0 7 hours agopermalink eit412608 There is quite a bit of data on the lens rentals blog. here is one article about variation. https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/08/ 70-200mm-f2-8-mtf-and-variations/ Like 1 6 hours agopermalink Atahualpa @RCicala, thanks, no need to trouble you with PM. I looked through the link @eit412608 posted. Yes probably zooms are much more troubled by variation. Would be interesting to see if this has improved given that 6 years later we have the Z and RF mount :-) Anyway, thanks for the article, always a good read! Like 0 1 hour agopermalink KenTanakaPhoto Excellent exposition on this topic by one of the few independent people who could authoritatively present it. Thank you, Roger. Like 3 8 hours agopermalink solarider Yes inexaustum fantasica: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/05/30/ better-know/ Like 0 8 hours agopermalink biggercountry biggercountry Roger is one serious dude. Proof? He wears a Dutch oven on his head. Like 3 8 hours agopermalink RCicala RCicala That, sir, is a lens cap. A Dutch oven would hurt my neck after a while. :-) Like 12 8 hours ago*permalink otto k And what a unique lens it is :D Like 1 6 hours ago*permalink fferreres My favorite 50mm has 4 elements. Second favorite 6. Third favorite 7. Fourth favorite 9. I have over 40 lenses around 50mm ranging from 13 elements to 3. I will try these 17-20 elements ones too. In maybe 20 years, at this rate, I guess we'll have some with 30-40 elements. Who will make the first 100 element normal lens is a great mystery. Like 0 8 hours ago*permalink Drahila Why complicated? It's fight between sharpness and micro contrast. Like 2 8 hours agopermalink davev8 davev8 i have yet for anyone show examples of good micro contrast in a not so sharp lens or any lens....i don't believe it has ever been demonstrated good or bad or maybe low or high or whatever between 2 different lenses in a A B test i think some one made up the term "micro contrast " Like 0 1 hour agopermalink WJMWJM Ahem.... "One of those things was your wide-aperture prime lens was a relatively simple double-guass design. " Like 0 9 hours agopermalink Chez Wimpy Chez Wimpy The Canon EF 50/1.2L is *not* 30 years old... more like 13. Some of us were posting on the Canon lens forum speculating on an L replacement for the 50/1.4 (30 years old give or take) long before we got the much-debated 50/1.2L. Some went for the Sigma 50/1.4 EX instead (actually pre-ordered mine on the basis of their APS-C 30/ 1.4), and the rest is history. The current uber-50s were probably put in motion by THAT lens, at least in-so-far as it was a 3rd party 50 priced above the brand name equivalent (a first for Sigma), and beating it quite soundly (ditto). I still use my Sigma 50 EX, and I am pleased to see it works (very) well even on my Fuji GFX! Like 2 9 hours agopermalink WJMWJM Perhaps the 50mm/f1.0 was meant? Like 0 9 hours agopermalink RCicala RCicala The FE 50mm f/1.2L was released in 2007 but it was a very slight modification of the New FD 50mm f/1.2L designed in the 1980s. They're both 8 element in 6 group with one aspheric at the rear designs. I have been told the difference was simply for the different backfocus distances of the EF cameras, but I have not seen that written by Canon. The EF 50mm f1.0L lens, released in 1989, is actually quite different - still a double gauss design but with 11 elements and two aspheres. Like 15 8 hours ago*permalink Rodelcam Great lenses, no doubt but rediculous prices. I'll stick to my ultra cheap but unbeatable Nikkor 1.8/50! Like 6 10 hours agopermalink babart Not only less expensive, but smaller and lower weight as well. Like 3 10 hours agopermalink Ed Ingold The somewhat more expensive Nikon 50/1.4 was superior to the 50/1.8 in every way, optically and mechanically. The f/1.8 version was too inexpensive to repair rather than replace. Mirrorless cameras offer the opportunity to use nearly any lens. I gathered a hatful of 50's over the last 60 years, and have tested several under field conditions at various apertures on a Sony A7Rii - Nikon 50/1.4, Summicron 50/2, and Zeiss Loxia 50/2. Compared well to the Loxia. The Summicron was reasonably sharp but with low contrast, and the Nikon was nearly unusable at any aperture wider than f/5.6 (which setting is what all but the foolhardy used used in the day). Like 1 9 hours agopermalink mais51 mais51 I have a all metal Nikkor AIS 50 f1.8 that built like a tank - certainly not cheaply built like the 50 f1.8 AFD lens Like 1 9 hours agopermalink babart Indeed. I have a 50/1.4 Pentax I've used for over 40 years. Amazing how small and well-built. Auto-focus is useful, but not always necessary. I mainly shoot architecture and appreciate manual focus lenses to insure depth of field; settings not disrupted by AF. Both types are useful, for sure, and there are some AF lenses that aren't 6 inches long. Like 1 8 hours ago*permalink Ruby Rod It's hard to make a blanket statement about 50 mm Nikkors. I had a classic 50 mm f/1.4 Ni Nikkor that just couldn't make an image pop. The f/1.8 of the time was far better. Then I had a later f/1.4 AiS that was excellent. Then I had an f/1.8 with some sort of tiny round center reflection problem when used under very bright (beach or snow) conditions. They had changed the radius of something. The f/1.2 (not noct) is, IMO, a special effect lens for when you need that dreamy look. I'd never grab it for normal use. I think my S-series zoom might be as good or better than any of 'em, but I'd love to try the S-series 50 mm. Not going to happen though, due to cost. Like 1 3 hours ago*permalink mais51 mais51 @BABART I used to shoot Pentax before moving over to Nikon when Pentax changed its lens mount. I love that Super Takumar SMC 50 f1.4 I got with my Spotmatic II. I had the original Spotmatic and sold it for the Spotmatic II. Like 0 6 min agopermalink Lovephotos1 And all this for images that will pretty much look the same no matter what 50mm lens you use after it's posted on social media! Like 0 10 hours agopermalink Woz D Boss Are we talking about actual 50mm focal length here, because if so that ridiculous Fujifilm 50mm f1.0 lens can be added to this argument too, ill stick with the f2 version. Like 0 11 hours agopermalink Richardpw Surly the other difference in these lenses is the weight and size of focusing motors and servers. If you compare the Leica Noctilux M 50mm F.95 a mere 700gms where as the Sony FE 50mm F 1.2 a slower lens weighs in at 778grams. There was some anvantage to rangefinders and SLRs Like 1 11 hours agopermalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni Advantages such as minimum focus distance, autofocus, internal focus, auto servo-controlled diafragm? I left parallax out because it seems that you refuse to face reality. Like 6 10 hours agopermalink GSharp87 The new 50mm f1.2 mirrorless lenses perform notably better wide open than the Noctilux even when stopped down to f1.2, while having autofocus motors and costing a fifth of the price. Like 11 10 hours ago*permalink WJMWJM (cancelled) Like 0 9 hours ago*permalink fferreres @GSharp87, perform better in what regards? These lenses are like this car, beating records very few need. Contrary to cars, many don't notice it's the same situation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThrustSSC In portrait, one has first and foremost some Depth of Field in mind. Otherwise, you are not in control of the most important aspect of portrait: how will this person be rendered. The second aspect is in low light, one is likely already reaching higher than ISO 100. The third aspect is these lenses main feature is razor high contrast in a tiny plane, blurry everywhere else. The main feature is not expending sharpness into depth plane. End result in low light situations: * High contrast reduces the DOF * Thus requires stopping down, raising ISO * Harsh bokeh needs apoditization, requires increasing ISO * The gained contrast is lost to higher ISO, making the overall picture worst. If you don't care about DOF, don't use these in low light, then you also don't need this. Like 0 8 hours ago*permalink Welsh @Ze De Boni: It's a parallax reality... Like 1 4 hours ago*permalink Fotoni I usually like to see things sharp because otherwise it can look artificial. These big and heavy primes are aimed to fill that desire. But there is something wrong when comparing a human eye and a big lens. It remains a mystery to me why human eye is so small, but still very capable. Good lenses are able to produce a very natural sharpness, but they still suffer from some type of CA in extreme light and even more when wide open. Like 0 11 hours agopermalink Rodelcam Behind our eye is a brain and that's what no camera will ever have... Like 8 10 hours agopermalink MSullivan Eyesight involves tons of processing, and they're only sharp in the center. Like 5 10 hours agopermalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni Human eye optics are not perfect. We take advantage of fast scanning, instant focus stack and true Artificial Intelligence integration at the brain level. I said AI integration because even fools and idiots can see perfectly. Some of them even learn to read and then write all b s that we see widespread in these discussions. * not referring to your post, but to what I have seen so far * Like 6 10 hours agopermalink m_black m_black Our eyes have a curved sensor and a single, fluid filled, lens element that autofocuses. The rest is filled in by our brain. That concept, for photography, is only now just being played with in mechanical form by scientists. Like 1 10 hours agopermalink Ed Ingold The human eye is only sharp in a very small area of the retina called the fovea. Your eye moves continually, even when looking at a small object, even to read a single word on this page. It's comparable to using a 600 mm lens for portraits in a studio, and splicing dozens of images to capture the entire face. Like 3 10 hours agopermalink YuryVilin @Rodelcam This is why computational photography is such a big deal. Too bad that most companies don't get this. Like 2 7 hours agopermalink Greg OH Apple and Samsung get computational photography, which is why either of them are more valuable than every camera company combined. Like 0 4 hours agopermalink Welsh And the human retina has one huge dead pixel... Like 0 3 hours agopermalink YuryVilin @Welsh This is another attestation to how effective computational photography can be ;) Like 0 3 hours agopermalink YuryVilin @Greg OH They'll get it when one of them comes up a bridge camera with "brains". Like 0 3 hours agopermalink davev8 davev8 the brain dos a LOT of PP...the image the eye see is even upside down but nobody notice Like 0 1 hour agopermalink aris14 aris14 Top lenses are to be used where their performance is actually needed either in the eye of the beholder or the demands of a certain work in a certain field. The understanding of this "eye of the beholder" is subjective almost in the level of cognitive bias and tons of "ink" have been consumed for this subject. The consuming behavior triggered by this very literature serves pro and connoisseurs who otherwise would pay three or four times higher price for those excellent tools. Like 1 12 hours agopermalink Bob Janes Bob Janes One of the things I'm curious about with these lenses with so many elements is - How does it affect light transmission? We get benefits of shallow depth of field (a plus if that is what we want) and of sharpness, but do we really get that extra 1/4 stop of light? Like 0 12 hours agopermalink kreislauf kreislauf would explain the size of those lenses, to make sure, enough light is being transmitted Like 0 11 hours agopermalink manos234 manos234 Resolution resolution resolution. More and more and more. The new marketing trend.. Am I the only one whose favorite lens is the softest one wide open, the EF 50mm 1.4?? Great article btw!! Like 5 12 hours ago*permalink Cerridwen Cerridwen When I used Canon equipment I enjoyed the EF 50 1:1.4 and later used the HSM Sigma (BIGMA) 50mm 1:1.4. Both were adequate for my needs at the time. Like 0 11 hours ago*permalink QuietOC QuietOC The EF 50 F1.4 USM I had was quite sharp wide-open at least where focused. I assume it has a good amount of variation like other old 50's. Or maybe you meant the F1.2? Like 0 11 hours agopermalink tonybelding Voigtlander Nokton 40mm F1.2. Yes, it is soft-and-dreamy wide open. That bugged me at first, but then I looked at how incredibly it sharpens up as I stop down, so it's like having two lenses in one. Like 0 10 hours agopermalink rvdzee Same here. I love my EF 50mm 1.4 USM. After a while, focus was hit and miss on my 5D Mark II, but on my EOS R it works flawlessly again, and I'm never using the 50mm 1.8 STM (that I bought as a replacement) anymore. Like 0 8 hours agopermalink AcerK I can't agree with you. I got the GM 50 and sometimes I use a diffusion filter depending on what I want to achieve. With editing, if need be, you can then manipulate the photo as whatever your heart desires and that is the important thing. You can't fix a soft lens and flawed lens like old lenses. Like 0 7 hours agopermalink rvdzee If that is the important thing for you, sure. For me it isn't. Like 0 7 hours agopermalink ottonis First of all, thanks to dpreview and Rger Cicala for spreading this great piece of knowledge on the history of lens design and its modern characteristics. I didn't have a clue how much more complex a lens design needs to be in order to provide improved resolution even at wide aperture. That being said, it's great to have the options: now everyone can choose between those superbly overengineered lenses that are tack sharp even to the corners at f/1.2, and the more simple designs that provide e.g. f/1.8 and "sufficiently" sharp images at the center and fall-offs toward the corners. Which one to get depends not only on the available budget but also on various other factors such as photographic needs and photographic skills, the precision of auto-focus, the resolution of the camera sensor and the presence of an AA-filter, the amount of heft, size and weight a photographer wants to carry around and the intended type of photography (low light? action? stills? candids/street, fine print) Like 4 12 hours agopermalink BackToNature1 "As several people will kindly point out in the comments, resolution isn't everything. It's probably not even the biggest thing." In the comments I have seen, I really have not seen anyone point that out. I might have missed it. However in other articles, it always seem to be an major point of contention, what's most important. Like 2 12 hours agopermalink darthrevan darthrevan No, I've pointed it out a couple of times too. I think that resolution is overrated for most photographic applications. Like 1 12 hours agopermalink havanna60 Resolution is a must for macro/micro lenses, and for telephoto lenses either. But for a 50mm non-macro? Hmm, I don't know. Like 2 11 hours agopermalink henricoo Interesting article. Unfortunately I do not own such a modern bulky fast lens, I do use my 70's era 1.2 and 1.4 glass. On modern sensors that deliver good output up to ISO 3200 there is no need to use these because of a lack of light. I most use these for object isolation. A decent center sharpness is all I need. Most of such shots are unsharp because of the tiny DOF. This old website about resolution tests of MF K-mount glass shows the 1.2 and 1.4 are slow starters but live up at mediate apertures with their more common siblings. http://www.takinami.com/yoshihiko/photo/lens_test/pentax_normal.html So I am curious about the amount of difference on full screen size between a wide open portrait shot between an old school fast lens and a bulky modern one. Has anyone done such an assessment? Like 1 13 hours agopermalink ottonis Very good point that resembles my own thoughts. Sometimes I use an old-fashioned and tiny Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 MF lens. Since I totally suck at manuaf foocusing, I am using it only when doing "slow photography", mostly when I want to photograph a subject that has plenty of time at hand or when I am phographing flowers. On both cases a great deal of subject isloation ist what makes this otherwise someqhat difficult to handle lens so noteworthy and standoing out from the crop of AF lenses I have. Like 0 12 hours agopermalink Weia Very interesting. Manufacturers publish diagrams, but without knowing focal length of each element it is difficult to judge what is going on. The first four elements of the Otus together maybe have focal length infinity. But with other optical glass maybe it's quite different. Like 0 13 hours agopermalink chambeshi If he was still alive and well today, Stanley Kubrick would have likely bought batches of these fast primes Like 2 13 hours agopermalink UlrichSchiegg Interesting text. On the older lenses photographers have been saying for years: 50mm F1.7 maybe better for resolution and sharpness than a 50mm F1.2 or F1.4 when stepped down. Is that conclusion extendable to most recent 50mm glass, e.g. also for the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4? What I would appreciate, if graphs axis, legend, etc. and appreciations are explained or if this is a standard, a link provided. Like 0 13 hours agopermalink UlrichSchiegg Am I the only one that doesn't know all the abbrevs by mind? https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2009/06/have-you-seen-my-acutance/ Like 0 6 hours agopermalink Cerridwen Cerridwen Perhaps I am one of the few in this line of thinking, but I find the clinical rendering of a lot of corrected modern glass to be rather boring. I prefer "flawed", unique rendering of older glass. The pre AI Nikkor 55 1:1.2 is a prime example (haha pun intended) of this. Also the plethora of adapted M42 glass available fits my needs; affordable and yields images that I am content with. I am glad to see that technology has overcome some shortcomings, but its just not for me. I am not a professional and understand needs differ. Like 3 13 hours agopermalink darthrevan darthrevan I 100% agree with you. It seems like most of the camera brands (Sony, Zeiss, Canon, Nikon) are striving for sharpness more than anything else over the past 10 years. And it seems that it comes at cost of character. If they released the same optical formula of the likes of the Zeiss Planar classics, or the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AIS but with autofocus and updated coatings, I'd buy them all tomorrow. Like 3 12 hours ago*permalink m_black m_black I think the general idea now a days is that the absolute best image quality can always be "dumbed down". Just like a 45+mp image can be more easily downscaled to say 16mp, than the other way around. And it's easier to soften a sharp lens than the other day around. For me personally, I don't just rely on lens rendering or ultra shallow DOF to be creative. Using light either in portraiture, wedding or architecture, creatively, negates all lens "character". And by that I mean the viewer's eye is drawn to the use of light, not necessarily thr drop off in focus. So, that's why I am drawn to the levels of sharpness these new lenses have. I also feel my brand of choice has a wonderful balance of sharpness while retaining character or "naturalness". Like 0 11 hours agopermalink tonybelding I treasure my Voigtlander Nokton 40mm F1.2, E-mount version. Eight elements in six groups, two aspherical. It definitely has the soft and "dreamy" look when shot wide open, but when I stop down then it's all the razors, corner to corner, and the colors and contrast are as clear and punchy as they come, and lovely bokeh too. It's like having two lenses in one. Like 0 10 hours agopermalink IamJF There are still a few modern lenses designed for a "look", not peak sharpness. Sony 85GM comes to my mind, or the F1.2 Noktons. The good thing is we have the choice - use your older lenses when you like and some modern lenses if you have to rely on eye AF and fast results. Both have their use. Like 1 10 hours agopermalink darthrevan darthrevan @M_black I take your point about dumbing down sharpness. But with respect I don't think it's possible to easily create the same look of certain lenses in PP. Like 1 5 hours agopermalink Welsh @Cerridwen: If you want "flawed", consider the worrying performance of the hardly-cheap Nikon 58mm f1.4. They had the cheek to imply it was a successor to the f1.2 Noct. Like 0 3 hours agopermalink AlephNull Saw the title of the article, and thought "I hope this is from Roger". Love your writing! I took the 50 GM into a studio recently, and shot at f/8. The results make me happy - exquisitely detailed. I didn't realise it was so complex inside, but it works for me Like 8 14 hours agopermalink revio Interesting article! Absolutely! ;-) But: "Why did DPR have to revert to bad language in the headline?" Like 5 14 hours agopermalink The Mad Kiwi There's no such thing as bad language, only language. Like 4 14 hours agopermalink Macro guy Macro guy I think by "bad language", the OP means that the lenses aren't damned and complicated. Rather,they're just damn complicated. :p Like 3 11 hours agopermalink attomole Good article. Like 1 14 hours agopermalink trewsbury76 Japanese imaging companies seem intent to prove they can now get LEICA prices. At the other end of the spectrum the Chinese making lenses for prices that seem extraordinary....and offer real value. New Full Frame lenses from Nikon Canon and Sony expensive and on the heavy side. Like 1 14 hours ago*permalink ilza @trewsbury76: > "New Full Frame lenses from Nikon Canon and Sony expensive and on the heavy side." Then please point out the AF lenses which are much lighter than (and comparable in "quality" to) the recent GM lenses. Or "just" lighter! Thanks! Like 2 11 hours ago*permalink darthrevan darthrevan My favourite 50mm is the Zeiss Planar f/1.4. It produces the most amazing colours from any of the lenses in my collection. Never shot with any of them, but looking at the sample images, I think that the modern 50 1.2s from Sony and Nikon produce somewhat boring, flat and lifeless images. The only exception is the Nikon 50mm 1.8s. Based on my tastes, that is the only lens that has, to date, tempted me to switch to Z mirrorless. Like 3 14 hours ago*permalink Ze De Boni Ze De Boni Boring post. Like 1 11 hours agopermalink darthrevan darthrevan Reading your other comments in this thread, your statement is kind of ironic seeing as you seem rather bored.... Like 4 10 hours ago*permalink david_sladek Shame the Pentax D-FA* 50 / 1.4 is not included here. It is one of the best and right on topic. Like 2 14 hours agopermalink Mortal Lion Mortal Lion Lensrentals probably only has two copies or something like it. Not enough for serious testing Like 1 10 hours agopermalink mepaca I love mine. Like 0 9 hours agopermalink RCicala RCicala More accurately, we don't have a Pentax mount for the optical bench. Those mounts cost around $10k each and take months to source. I can't afford to collect the whole set. Like 5 9 hours agopermalink UlrichSchiegg You could take a Tokina Opera one Nikon F or Canon EF mount, is close enough. https://tokinalens.com/product/opera_50mm_f1_4_ff/ Like 2 9 hours ago*permalink theBitterFig Seems likely it follows the trend, tho. The D-FA* 50mm is a beast, just over 4x the weight, nearly 3x the length of the still-produced FA 50/1.4 from 1991. However, I'm sure the optics and autofocus of the new one are fantastic. For any non-Pentaxians, the old FA 50 is screw-drive, with no AF motor in the lens. Like 0 6 hours agopermalink Mortal Lion Mortal Lion The optical formula of the FA 50/1.4 dates from 1965 When the Super-Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 was released (second version, the first one had a slightly different design with 8 elements instead of 7) @Ulrich The Tokina is made by Tokina en the Pentax is made by Ricoh in different production facilities and probably have different coatings, while sharing to same optical formula. So measuring the Tokina will not be a 100% the same as measuring the Pentax. Like 0 3 hours ago*permalink mepaca I have both. There is no comparison. Like 0 2 hours agopermalink NickZ2016 "Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated?" Isn't the real answer because the mid range zooms have gotten so good? If you want to sell a 50mm today it either needs to be dirt cheap or it needs to be very good. If it's cheap than all those who don't want to buy a 24-70mm have an option. If it's good those with the 24-70mm have a reason to buy it. The technical complexity of achieving the level of "real good" is secondary. Like 6 15 hours agopermalink Total: 156, showing: 1 - 50 << First < Previous 1 2 3 4 Next > Last >> You may also like Sony 50mm F1.2 GM First DPReview TV: Sony announces new sample gallery impressions of Sony 50mm F1.2 ultra-fast FE 50mm (DPReview TV) the Sony 50mm GM review F1.2 GM lens F1.2 GM Sony 50mm F1.2 GM First DPReview TV: Sony announces new sample gallery impressions of Sony 50mm F1.2 ultra-fast FE 50mm (DPReview TV) the Sony 50mm GM review F1.2 GM lens Mar 19, 2021 F1.2 GM Mar 16, 2021 Mar 16, 2021 Mar 17, 2021 More about gear in this article DPReview Readers' Choice Awards 2020: Product of the Year 129 DPReview Readers' Choice Awards 2020: Product of the Year Jan 5, 2021 at 14:00 After two rounds of voting, DPReview readers have decided on their favorite product (and runners-up) of 2020. Find out which cameras and lenses topped the list! Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S sample gallery 276 Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S sample gallery sample galleryDec 22, 2020 at 14:00 Nikon's new Z 50mm F1.2 S is a fast, versatile prime lens for the full-frame Z-series. It's a seriously big, seriously pricey lens, but does its performance justify its cost? Take a look at our samples gallery to find out. Have your say: Best gear of 2020 - winners and final vote! 184 Have your say: Best gear of 2020 - winners and final vote! Dec 21, 2020 at 14:00 For the past few weeks, our readers have been voting on their favorite photographic gear released in the past year in a wide range of categories. Now that the first round of voting is over, it's time to reveal the first-round winners and pick the best overall product of 2020. Canon releases mostly minor firmware updates for five cameras and its RF 50mm F1.2 lens 84 Canon releases mostly minor firmware updates for five cameras and its RF 50mm F1.2 lens camera newsNov 19, 2020 at 17:43 Canon has released firmware updates for four of its mirrorless cameras, its flagship 1D X Mark III DSLR and its RF 50mm F1.2 L USM lens. The updates mainly address minor bugs and brings support for newer lenses to Canon's mirrorless cameras. Interview: Keiji Oishi of Nikon - "It's time to get excited" 475 Interview: Keiji Oishi of Nikon - "It's time to get excited" Oct 8, 2020 at 13:00 As 2020 draws to a close and Nikon gears up for its final product releases of the year, we caught up with Keiji Oishi, Satoshi Yamazaki and Takeshi Suzuki to talk about the upcoming Z 6/7 II, and where the Z system goes from here. Latest sample galleries [2536519859] Pentax K-3 Mark III sample gallery (DPReview TV) [7598440463] Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH official samples [2328008612] Nikon Z6 II sample gallery [4124498779] Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV sample gallery (DPReview TV) See more galleries >> Latest in-depth reviews Review: The Wandrd Prvke Lite - a small, yet versatile camera backpack 51 Review: The Wandrd Prvke Lite - a small, yet versatile camera backpack accessory review9 hours ago The Prvke Lite is the latest release from camera bag/strap maker Wandrd. A shrunk-down version of their popular full-sized Prvke bag, this model is perfect for smaller kits, including mirrorless cameras. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review 898 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review reviewMay 6, 2021 at 14:42 The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV is an entry-level mirrorless camera that's feature-packed, and will appeal to beginners as well as more experienced users. Read about the ins and outs of this image-stabilized, low-priced camera here. Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 review 361 Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 review reviewMay 3, 2021 at 14:00 The Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 (G110 in some regions) is a mirrorless camera designed for vlogging. Its 20MP Four Thirds sensor is paired with clever tracking audio technology, but we have our reservations. Fujifilm GFX 100S review 924 Fujifilm GFX 100S review reviewApr 28, 2021 at 15:32 The GFX 100S fits most of the capabilities of the GFX 100 into a smaller and more affordable body. We've tested what the camera offers to see who it might make sense for. Sony a1 review 2610 Sony a1 review reviewApr 22, 2021 at 17:10 The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony's flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action sports. Add in 8K video capture and you have a really impressive package. Read more reviews >> Latest buying guides Best cameras for videographers Best cameras for videographers May 4, 2021 at 22:58 There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional productions or A-camera for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class. Best cameras over $2500 in 2021 Best cameras over $2500 in 2021 Apr 29, 2021 at 18:09 What's the best camera costing over $2500? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2500 and recommended the best. Best easy-to-use cameras in 2021 Best easy-to-use cameras in 2021 Apr 16, 2021 at 20:29 If you want a camera that you can pick up and use without having to page through the manual first, then this guide is for you. We've selected seven cameras ranging from compacts to full-frame, all of which are easy to operate. The best cameras for family and friends photos in 2021 The best cameras for family and friends photos in 2021 Apr 15, 2021 at 19:35 Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with friends or loved-ones in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens. The best camera bargains of 2021 The best camera bargains of 2021 Mar 30, 2021 at 23:18 If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that might be a bit older but still offer a lot of bang for the buck. Check out more buying guides >> Featured Videos Sony 50mm F1.2 GM lens review Sony 50mm F1.2 GM lens review Pentax K-3 Mark III Review (+ comparison to Nikon D500) Pentax K-3 Mark III Review (+ comparison to Nikon D500) iFootage Cobra 2 Long-Term Review: The Greatest Monopod In The History Of Ever iFootage Cobra 2 Long-Term Review: The Greatest Monopod In The History Of Ever Finished challenges Ballerina Symmetry Champagne Shark Eat dust 0318 Ballerina Symmetry by Champagne by Eat dust Kukla AM91210 Shark by PRFoto 0318 by from Canon - Specific from Black and from Vehicles in jetals Equipment Challenge white minimalist Urban Environment from Equestrian Discover more challenges >> Latest articles New York Times unveils prototype system aimed at inspiring confidence in photojournalism New York Times unveils prototype system aimed at inspiring confidence in photojournalism The New York Times and the Content Authenticity Initiative have unveiled a prototype system to inspire confidence in photos by securely recording and making available information about creators, edits and publishing information for photographs. May 10, 202152 Video: How to 'think beyond the rules' and follow your intuition when composing photographs Video: How to 'think beyond the rules' and follow your intuition when composing photographs For his latest video, photographer and YouTuber Sean Tucker explains how to capture inspired images by thinking 'beyond the rules' of composition. May 10, 202117video Review: The Wandrd Prvke Lite - a small, yet versatile camera backpack Review: The Wandrd Prvke Lite - a small, yet versatile camera backpack The Prvke Lite is the latest release from camera bag/strap maker Wandrd. A shrunk-down version of their popular full-sized Prvke bag, this model is perfect for smaller kits, including mirrorless cameras. May 10, 202151accessory review Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? Why are modern 50mm lenses so complex? Lens designers didn't add all that extra glass just to charge more money and make the diagram look cool, explains Roger Cicala. May 9, 2021542 DPReview TV: Pentax K-3 Mark III review DPReview TV: Pentax K-3 Mark III review Since the dawn of recorded time, Pentax DSLRs has been known for being well-designed, rugged and full-featured. In this episode of DPReview TV, Chris and Jordan share their thoughts about Ricoh's latest DSLR, the Pentax K-3 Mark III. May 8, 2021450video Pentax K-3 Mark III sample gallery (DPReview TV) Pentax K-3 Mark III sample gallery (DPReview TV) Surely you've already watched our video review on the Pentax K-3 Mark III. Now it's time to take a closer look at some of the samples from its 25.7MP sensor. May 8, 202119sample gallery Slideshow: Winning photos from the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest Slideshow: Winning photos from the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest The winning images were selected from more than 10,500 images captured around the world in more than 70 countries. May 7, 202141 Video: Apple shows off photo, video capabilities of iPhone 12 in new 'Everyday Experiments: Full Bloom' ad Video: Apple shows off photo, video capabilities of iPhone 12 in new 'Everyday Experiments: Full Bloom' ad Apple has teamed up with Incite for many great 'Experiments' videos showcasing the latest iPhone model's camera capabilities including its latest, which shows off the slow-motion and time-lapse performance of iPhone 12. May 7, 202160video Opinion: Do we really need all those buttons and dials? Opinion: Do we really need all those buttons and dials? If camera companies want to truly compete with smartphones for relevance, they need to offer models that are as easy to use as a phone, but offer substantially better image quality. May 7, 2021711 Venus Optics adds Leica L, Pentax K mount options to its 15mm F4.5 Zero-D Shift lens Venus Optics adds Leica L, Pentax K mount options to its 15mm F4.5 Zero-D Shift lens The lens remains the widest shift lens for full-frame cameras, with the new Leica L and Pentax K mount versions rounding out the Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z and Sony E mount options from launch. May 6, 202146lens news This aerial masterpiece was created with DJI Mini 2 in zero-degree temps This aerial masterpiece was created with DJI Mini 2 in zero-degree temps Award-winning videographer Vadim Sherbakov created an aerial film, 'The Noor,' with a DJI Mini 2 in zero degree (-18oC) temperatures. May 6, 202150video Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV is an entry-level mirrorless camera that's feature-packed, and will appeal to beginners as well as more experienced users. Read about the ins and outs of this image-stabilized, low-priced camera here. May 6, 2021898review Interview: Canon's Larry Thorpe reflects on 60 years in the business Interview: Canon's Larry Thorpe reflects on 60 years in the business Canon's Larry Thorpe has seen lot of changes over his 60-year career in the industry. We spoke to him after his recent retirement, and in this interview he highlights some of the technological advancements he's seen during his career and discusses the convergence between stills and video. May 6, 202166 Oceans and redwoods: Nikon Z6 II sample gallery update Oceans and redwoods: Nikon Z6 II sample gallery update Nikon's Z6 II is a really pleasant camera to use - so pleasant, in fact, that one of our editors took it on a road trip vacation down the west coast to the California redwoods. Check out some coastal scenes in our updated sample gallery here. May 6, 202162sample gallery Leica introduces Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH lens for L-mount Leica introduces Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH lens for L-mount Leica has introduced its Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm F2.8 ASPH lens for full-frame L-mount bodies. The lens has three aspherical elements, a stepping motor for autofocus and an 11-blade aperture. It's now available for $2795. May 6, 2021217lens news Days Inn offers a $10,000 payday and free travel within the U.S. to a talented photographer Days Inn offers a $10,000 payday and free travel within the U.S. to a talented photographer Days Inn by Wyndham has brought back its 'Sunternship' program for 2021. This August, a selected photographer will be paid $10,000 and have their travel expenses covered during a customizable two-week trip within the United States. May 5, 202168 Star Stacker lets you create star trail images and timelapses on iPhones, iPads Star Stacker lets you create star trail images and timelapses on iPhones, iPads Star Stacker, an astrophotography app available for iOS, allows users to create star trail images and timelapses. May 5, 202157 DPReview TV: iFootage Cobra 2 monopod long-term review DPReview TV: iFootage Cobra 2 monopod long-term review DPReview TV's Jordan Drake thinks the iFootage Cobra 2 is the best monopod ever created in the history of mankind. Find out why he calls it 'the monopod that changed my life'. May 5, 202158video Video: Three tips landscape photographer Andy Mumford wishes he had learned sooner Video: Three tips landscape photographer Andy Mumford wishes he had learned sooner Photographer Andy Mumford believes his landscape photography would've progressed faster if he had learned a few key things early on. To help other photographers avoid the same pitfalls, he's shared a new video outlining three things he wishes he'd learned sooner. May 5, 202176video The Panasonic S1H and Sony a7S III are the best cameras for videographers The Panasonic S1H and Sony a7S III are the best cameras for videographers We've updated our 'best cameras for videographers' buying guide, with the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H being our choice for high-end video shooters, and the Sony a7S III selected as the best "run-and-gun" option. May 5, 2021 Sony removes remaining DSLTs from its website suggesting the A-mount is all but dead Sony removes remaining DSLTs from its website suggesting the A-mount is all but dead Sony's three remaining A-mount DSLR cameras have disappeared from its website, suggesting the cameras have been discontinued, rendering the A-mount system all but obsolete. May 4, 2021680 Leica brings substantial AF, video improvements to SL2-S with 2.0 firmware update Leica brings substantial AF, video improvements to SL2-S with 2.0 firmware update The update improves autofocus capabilities and adds a collection of new and improved video features to Leica's 24MP full-frame camera system. May 4, 202128 Lawsuit filed against Samsung alleges defect causing Galaxy S20 cameras to shatter Lawsuit filed against Samsung alleges defect causing Galaxy S20 cameras to shatter Law firm Hagens Berman has filed a suit against Samsung in US District Court. The lawsuit alleges a widespread defect in Galaxy S20 smartphones that causes the glass covering the rear cameras to shatter. May 4, 202168 Exploring wine country with James Joiner and the Fujifilm X-E4 Exploring wine country with James Joiner and the Fujifilm X-E4 In this video, we head into the heart of wine country in the company of photographer James Joiner and the Fujifilm X-E4. James is meeting vintner Charles Bieler to shoot some imagery for a new wine label. May 4, 202125Sponsored DJI confirms battery issues for its Mini 2 drone DJI confirms battery issues for its Mini 2 drone DJI released a statement today confirming that there are issues with the batteries that power its Mini 2 drone. May 3, 202125 Venus Optics launches ultra-fast Laowa 'Argus' 33mm F0.95 CF APO lens for APS-C camera systems Venus Optics launches ultra-fast Laowa 'Argus' 33mm F0.95 CF APO lens for APS-C camera systems The fully-manual lens, which offers roughly a 50mm full-frame equivalent field of view, is available for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z and Sony E mount camera systems. May 3, 2021127 The RUHAcam is a 'retro-style' digital camera made with the Raspberry Pi HQ Camera module The RUHAcam is a 'retro-style' digital camera made with the Raspberry Pi HQ Camera module This 'retro-style' DIY digital camera is built around a Raspberry Pi Zero W connected to a Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera module. May 3, 2021140 Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 review Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 review The Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 (G110 in some regions) is a mirrorless camera designed for vlogging. Its 20MP Four Thirds sensor is paired with clever tracking audio technology, but we have our reservations. May 3, 2021361review Video: Emmy-winning storm chaser has his drone sucked into a tornado while filming Video: Emmy-winning storm chaser has his drone sucked into a tornado while filming Brian Emfinger from Live Storms Media got close to a tornado with his drone before losing it. Here is some footage he managed to pull from the DJI GO 4 app. May 3, 202148video Incredible video showcases world's first 8K VR drone footage of Iceland's Mt. Fagradalsfjall volcano Incredible video showcases world's first 8K VR drone footage of Iceland's Mt. Fagradalsfjall volcano The video was captured by a photographer/pilot duo who used an Insta360 Pro 2 attached to a DJI Matrice 600 drone to capture the close-up visuals of Iceland's Mt. Fagradalsfjall volcano. May 2, 202157 Tips or suggestions? Contact us! More articles >> www.dpreview.com Follow us Mobile site About * About us * Work for us * Advertise with us * FAQ * Feedback / Contact us * Interest-Based Ads * Privacy * Legal Editorial content * News * Camera reviews * Lens reviews * Printer reviews * Buying guides * Sample images * Videos * Editorial enquiries Cameras & Lenses * Cameras * Lenses * Camera search * Camera comparison * Lens search * Product timeline * Browse all products Community * Forums * Forum Rules * Challenges * Galleries * My Profile * My Settings * My GearList All content, design, and layout are Copyright (c) 1998 - 2021 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.