Guy, I made my purchase after evaluating the lens against 28mm Rodenstock and 24mm Schneider... and since he owns Hassellblad 28mm lens too, I couldn't resist the challenge!!!
List of lenses:
- Schneider Apo-Digitar 5.6/24 mm XL
- Rodenstock Apo-Sironar digital HR 4.5/28 mm
- Hasselblad HCD 28mm f/4.0 (as I said, I couldn't resist the challenge
)
- Mamiya 28mm f4.5 D. AF
Digital Backs:
2x PhaseOne P45+
1x Leaf Aptus 75s
1x Hasselblad H3DII-39MS
Cameras:
- ALPA
- Mamiya
- Hasselblad
- Dr.Gilde 66-17 3D with Stereo set-up + twin Schneider Apo-Digitar 5.6/47 mm XL Lenses (I like to mention this not because it's related to this test but simply because I know you guys appreciate fine equipment and there was no particular reason for testing TWIN Apo-Digitars 47mm XL, except that it looks crazy cool with TWIN P45+ attached and it does some cool stuff and I had to see it in action
)
I will not talk about color cast because it is processing part of the job and it is removed in 1 second anyway.... so why bother!
In SHORT words, this is what we did.......
Friend of mine who owns all four explained to me the difference and our decision was to make the purchase/verdict not only based on quality but based on convenience and limited offerings of 28mm Lenses especially with AF!!!
Listening to my friend, I was convinced not to pay too much attention on the soft corners at least not at the beginning as he was suggesting for the first part of the day to shoot as if I was casually shooting lifestyle/Landscapes and leave Architecture/Interiors, etc. for the afternoon test.... especially because not all images had soft corners anyway (and I'm talking about P45+) with... P25+ and P30+ crop factor you may experience even less softness in more than some instances if any at all!!!
So, after a while we had a coffee break and few students to help us upload files.... First of all, forget the corners..... I was surprised to see that I was off on almost every shot using Schneider and Rodenstock lenses....
because on the back of the DB screens looked as if it was 100% sharp and I though there was no need to repeat the shots... some shots you can't obviously repeat, so AF extremely helps. Basically, I blame P45+ for showing so much detail on a little screen even when you're not 100% heheehe
Seriously, I can't curse the quality of these lenses obviously but the convenience proves to be a little more than a challenge..... Unless I go tethered, but how convenient is that for others not sure.....
although it's fine by me, because I shoot tethered 65%.
Needless to say, overall images were sharper/better with Mamiya 28mm AF and HC28mm AF, but also perspective was better and that is due more to convenience of having AF than anything else and of course real-time looking through a viewfinder while focusing!!!
Now Guy, you may need/like 45mm, 55mm, etc. but almost every company has plenty to offer in that range. I was surprised that Mamiya would even attempt to make 28mm AF lens, but thanks to PhaseOne I guess, they have a future
and I'm happy for that.
Based on what I see and what is available you can't go wrong, especially if you take in consideration that not much is going to change with regards to 28mm in terms of physically improvement/look, although firmware/fixes will be there as I'm sure they should and I'm not talking here about Mamiya alone, that goes for everybody!
Bottom line is... who ever tested 28mm can tell you, there's more reason to like it than to hate it, even for that price
!!!
OK, I don't know about you guys..... but for me to be HONEST if I can save extra money to pay for Louis Vuitton bags.... I had to save enough for 28mm f4.5 D. AF and that's the truth. Now, considering that everything in life could be improved... but for now, let's ask what's available? So, looking from that perspective... I'm happy that I did purchase 28mm f4.5 D. AF. The other only option really is to grow older waiting for something that doesn't exist and will not exist in the near future and even than when it does, I'm sure who waited that long can find a charming reason to wait again
, or except alternatives if you already own Hasselblad, ROLLEi, Sinar or prefer to make a happy switch:thumbup: