Lawrence Photographic

   

 

The GF1 with Voigtlander F Adapter and Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s Manual Lens - Image Quality
 

GF1 Infinity Tests
Initial tests revealed that for 'manually focused' infinity shots - the GF1 with the Voigtlander Adapter and the Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s Lens delivers reasonable image quality at f2, excellent at f2.8 to f4, optimum at f5.6 and f8, excellent at f11 and reasonable at f16. At f1.4 the lens produces a slight dreamy effect but also a reasonable image quality.

 

The infinity samples of a house are shown in the gallery below - the green fir tree was used as the infinity (manual focus) check point. The images were processed in SilkyPix and they all had their saturation, contrast and sharpness slightly increased. Contrast was more heavily applied starting at f1.4 but by f2.8 to f16 all the contrast increases were much less. The front post to the left of the image makes a nice marker to help measure the depth of field. CA is apparent in some top leaves on the trees (in line with the left most chimney) between f1.4 and f4 - I think it properly disappears at f5.6 and is gone through to f16. The f5.6 and f8 apertures seem to be the sweet spots for resolution and a sizeable depth of field.

 

I also compared tests with the naked lens and the lens fitted with an B+W UV filter - I could not measure any difference in image quality.


Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s AI-s Manual Lens - Infinity Test Images   (Click on thumbnail to go to 1,000 pixel size)


ISO:100 f1.4
ISO:100 f2
ISO:100 f2.8
ISO:100 f4
ISO:100 f5.6

ISO:100 f8
ISO:100 f11
ISO:100 f16		    

 

GF1 Bokeh Tests - Close up Subject
I have started some bokeh tests and the first ones I have taken are shots of a close up subject with 'fairly even' back lightning. Time will tell how the GF1 and this Nikon Lens will handle bokeh in more distant subjects with harsher lighting?

 

The bokeh shots below have the focus point on the man's nose tip. The camera was placed on a tripod with the sensor plane approximately 55.9cm (22") away from the main focus point. Initial tests revealed that for 'manually focused' shots - the GF1 with the Voigtlander Adapter and the Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s Lens delivers excellent bokeh throughout f1.4 to f16 with excellent image quality commencing at f2.8 with optimum image quality from f4 all the way through to f16. At f1.4 and f2 the lens produces reasonable image quality. The depth of bokeh is very narrow at f1.4 to f8 and it is only at f11 that the depth increases enough for the woman's nose tip to come into focus. The distance between the tip of the man's nose to the tip of the woman's nose is 30mm (1.18"). The 50mm lens minimum focus distance is 43.2cm (17") from a subject to the camera's sensor plane.

 

Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s Manual Lens - Bokeh Test Shots   (Click on thumbnail to go to 1,000 pixel size)


ISO:100 f1.4
ISO:100 f2
ISO:100 f2.8
ISO:100 f4
ISO:100 f5.6

ISO:100 f8
ISO:100 f11
ISO:100 f16		    

 

My tests are completed with the Nikon 50mm f1.4 AI-s Lens.

 

 

 

If you have enjoyed this article - please donate to my Charity of Choice   -   The Sick Kids

Richard Lawrence
Scotland
United Kingdom