Testing a Lens for Overall Quality

[Mike D90]

I posted this question in this section because I didn't mean for it to cover any one lens type in particular.

After I receive my 70-300mm ED VR lens soon I will again review my lens collection and determine whether I will sell/add another or not.

I was curious to see if there is a good lens test that some of you use to determine whether a particular lens will do what you like it to do? Do you maybe test it at all settings on a particular subject or test at the extreme ends of the lens range?

How do you test its color rendition and contrast?

I would like to really evaluate my other lenses without a lot of fuss or muss and begging someone to pose for portraits or sitting in a cold blind waiting on a bird to do the right thing.

To get more specific I have the Nikon Nikkor DX 18-55mm G lens without VR and the Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm AF-D "One Touch" zoom lens.

I like both of these lenses so far but I really have no idea whether they are keepers or should I rethink and sell them and get replacements.

Both lenses get great reviews and the 35-105mm was a little expensive in its day. It does seem to be a nice lens and functions well with my camera.

Is the 18-55mm VR lens any better than the non-VR at anything other than having the VR capability? Does camera shake at this focal length really ply that big of a role?

I thought about the 18-105mm VR lens but I have that range covered with the 35-105mm.

I question this because the D90 will use any AF lens Nikon ever made and there may be some really good, or better lenses, choices out there that I am not seeing.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

The lazy approach would be to log on to DXO Labs and check to see if the lens in question is in their database. DXO is the gold standard of unbiased, objective lens review. I'd start there.

.....

 

[Steve B]

You can also check Camera lens tests, user reviews, camera accessory reviews - SLRgear.com!.

 

[Mfrankfort]

The best test... is to take pictures and see for yourself. All lenses are good, but you have to make them great.

 

[480sparky]

I do my own tests.

I set the camera and lens up on a tripod in the back yard. I take s JPEG at every full f/stop, and (if it's a zoom) every focal length marked on the barrel.

I then pixel-peep the images at 100% and rate the aperture/focal length on scale of 1-10.

No printed test charts...... no measurements..... no resolution figures.... I just judge the images with my eye/brain combination.

Unscientific, to be sure. But I know exactly where the 'sweet spot' is on every lens I own. As well as what aperture/FL combos to avoid.

 

[Mike D90]

I do my own tests.

I set the camera and lens up on a tripod in the back yard. I take s JPEG at every full f/stop, and (if it's a zoom) every focal length marked on the barrel.

I then pixel-peep the images at 100% and rate the aperture/focal length on scale of 1-10.

No printed test charts...... no measurements..... no resolution figures.... I just judge the images with my eye/brain combination.

Unscientific, to be sure. But I know exactly where the 'sweet spot' is on every lens I own. As well as what aperture/FL combos to avoid.

Any particular type of target . . . . fuzzy or fine edges or range of colors?

 

[fotojack]

I thought about the 18-105mm VR lens but I have that range covered with the 35-105mm.

ummm...wanna run this one by me again?

 

[480sparky]

Any particular type of target . . . . fuzzy or fine edges or range of colors?

Trees. Grass. House siding. An occasional sleeping cat.

 

[Brian]

Take some pictures that represent your preferred use of the lens. I go to a local Historic site, or a Museum. Makes a good outing. Shoot familiar "static" scenes with different lenses. Sometimes I bring a couple of lenses and make the rounds to get an extended walk in. Then you can compare the shots, see which you prefer. There is a lot more to a lens than just sharpness, and color rendition can easily be tweeked in post-processing.

If you ever see the Af-Nikkor 200/3.5ED and AF-Nikkor 80/2.8 in a used shop, they will not work on your camera- nor any Nikon Digital SLR. The electrical contacts are different.

 

[Mike D90]

ummm...wanna run this one by me again?

I have the 18-55mm ED II DX lens and a Nikkor AF 35-105mm lens. I am covered from 18mm through 105mm using two lenses. So I was wondering the the 18-105mm VR was worth selling the two I have and get the one.

 

[fotojack]

I have the 18-55mm ED II DX lens and a Nikkor AF 35-105mm lens. I am covered from 18mm through 105mm using two lenses. So I was wondering the the 18-105mm VR was worth selling the two I have and get the one.

Ahh, OK, I see what you mean now. Well, since the 18-105 VR is AF-S, would not this lens be better for you than the others, which are not AF-S? If it was me, I'd sell the 18-55 AND the 35-105 and keep the 18-105 AF-S.

 

[Mike D90]

Ahh, OK, I see what you mean now. Well, since the 18-105 VR is AF-S, would not this lens be better for you than the others, which are not AF-S? If it was me, I'd sell the 18-55 AND the 35-105 and keep the 18-105 AF-S.

Actually my "kit lens" 18-55mm ED G lens is an AF-S lens. It just does not have VR. It is a great little lens and I like its picture quality. I also like the 35-105mm D lens and it also has great picture quality but again it has no VR and it is definitely a full frame lens from the earlier AF era.

I am not sure if the 18-105mm VR is a DX lens or FX lens and that would make a big difference to my D90 small sensor. I rarely use wide angle at this time but I do not want to lose that focal length by swapping a DX lens for an FX lens even if it is of much higher quality. I do not have the 18-105mm VR lens but I was looking at it.

 

[480sparky]

....................
I am not sure if the 18-105mm VR is a DX lens or FX lens and that would make a big difference to my D90 small sensor........... .

Although the 18-105 is a DX-format lens, if it were an FX lens, how would it make 'a big difference'?

 

[fotojack]

The 18-105 lens will work beautifully on your D90. You will love it. It's a workhorse lens....one you'll probably never want to get rid of.

 

[Bill16]

I have no issues with the FX lens I have on my D90. I believe you only have issues when you use DX on the FX Nikon's restricting the FX camera to the DX crop.

 

[Mike D90]

Although the 18-105 is a DX-format lens, if it were an FX lens, how would it make 'a big difference'?

Well, maybe I am confused about DX/FX lenses then. Would an FX lens give the D90 the exact same image as it would an FX camera? I was u nder the impression the DX sensor crops the image of an FX lens. If that is so wouldn't that give a wide angle FX lens less perceived angle of view on a DX sensor?

As in what I read earlier, an FXlens at 35mm length on a DX sensor comes to somewhere around 50 or 58mm equivalent after crop factor?

 

[Marcel]

Well, maybe I am confused about DX/FX lenses then. Would an FX lens give the D90 the exact same image as it would an FX camera? I was u nder the impression the DX sensor crops the image of an FX lens. If that is so wouldn't that give a wide angle FX lens less perceived angle of view on a DX sensor?

As in what I read earlier, an FXlens at 35mm length on a DX sensor comes to somewhere around 50 or 58mm equivalent after crop factor?

​You got it right Mike. The crop factor is 1.5 for Nikon and 1.6 for Canon.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Going back to your original question dont be like me and let impatience spoil your better judgement,the times i have taken a new lens out to test the moment i got it. then have been disappointed because in reality it wasn't the right type of day for it,poor light,wind even rain, taking the picture from undercover.