View Full Version : Are wide angle lenses softer?


Mark McCarthy
November 21st, 2008, 02:25 PM
Hello all. I have a two day old Canon KH10EX3.6 IRSE (wide angle with 2x extender) for my F350, was shooting with a Fujinon XS17.5 5.5.
I have to say I am a little disappointed that it doesn't seem as sharp as my Fujinon, and at £13,000 I am a little unsure as to wether I have made a bad call.
Are wide angle lenses generally a little softer/ less sharp - is this a pay off for the width of the shot?
Does anyone else use a KH10 and have this problem ot is it just me?
Wide angle lenses are also a little more difficult to check back focus with as well which doesn't help!
Thanks, Sparky

Thierry Humeau
November 21st, 2008, 03:03 PM
It should be the other way around. Usually, wides are quite sharper than long lenses.

Thierry.

Mark McCarthy
November 21st, 2008, 03:47 PM
Please ignore my depressing post, just hooked up F350 t0 40'' HD Bravia set and the footage looked awesome! very happy with news lens!
Sorry about that..
sparky

Alister Chapman
November 22nd, 2008, 02:49 AM
I can't stress enough the importance of using a BIG HD monitor for resolution tests. Small monitors just don't tell the full story when it comes to resolution.

Just my 2 pennies worth.

Ivan Snoeckx
November 23rd, 2008, 09:33 AM
That's fully correct Alister. Since last week I have a Fujinon HS16x4.6BERM. On my field monitor it didn't look very spectacular at all, but on my Sony 40" LCD it's more then awesome. I also have to admit that it looses a lot of sharpness when the 2x extender is used. But that's a normal and known issue.

Ivan Snoeckx
November 23rd, 2008, 09:46 AM
Wide angle lenses are also a little more difficult to check back focus with as well which doesn't help!
Thanks, Sparky

What I did is made myself a star chart in Adobe Illustrator. Then have this printed out as a poster format (about 30 inch by 20 inch) by Fujiprint.

Works great! At home of course.