Archives for January 2015

A reader asked if I’d test the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) on the Sony alpha 7II with a shortish lens, to bookend the testing I’ve done previously with a 180mm Apo-Telyt and the Zony 55mm FE. I picked the Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R, which has shown strong sharpness in previous testing. You won’t find the… [Read More]

I tested the 28mm f/1.4 Nikkor-D on the Lifepixel-modified Sony alpha 7. The Lifepixel filter I chose was the Super Color one, which passes some visible light. That makes the job of focusing more difficult for the lens, since it needs to simultaneously bring visible and infrared light to the same focus point. The Coastal… [Read More]

Jack Hogan suggested that some of the unusual results for the Nikon 28mm f/1.4, and possibly the Leice 28mm Elmarit-R, might be due to focus shift, since I did all my focusing at f/2.8. Here’s a test with the Nikon lens. I did one 96-shot series (16 shots each at 6 f-stops) focusing as before…. [Read More]

The Coastal Optical 60mm is a great lens for infrared, but it’s too long for a lot of landscape use. I’m shooting handheld around the house, and I don’t like to do double-row stitches that way. So I’m looking for something wider. 28mm is a nice focal length for landscape. It’s probably the most versatile… [Read More]

A week or so ago, a reader asked if I could try to find out if there’s any vibration difference between a heavy carbon fiber tripod with the skinny legs extended first, or the fat legs extended first. I was doubtful that there would be any difference, and first tried to find out if there… [Read More]