Thanks to: Shaun Weber Zuiko 50mm Lens Test Results As a result of some of the questions regarding the performance of the various Zuiko standards, multi-coated(MC) and single coated(SC), I dug around in my magazine collection and came up with an issue of Photography(March 1983) that tested out all six Zuiko 50s. I shall summarise the results below : Key : C=Centre, E=Edge, Hi=High contrast target, Lo=Low contrast target Results are cycles per mm 55/1.2(SC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (7 elements/6 Groups) 1.2 36 21 24 18 2 54 33 27 27 2.8 60 42 30 30 4 66 42 36 36 8 66 48 36 33 Tester's comment: Distortion low, flare not as good as 50/1.2 50/1.2(MC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (7/6) 1.2 42 36 42 30 2 60 42 48 36 2.8 66 54 54 48 4 72 60 66 54 8 66 60 72 60 Tester's comment: great performance regardless of speed, distortion, flare low 50/1.4(SC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (7/6) 1.4 42 33 42 33 2 42 33 42 33 2.8 60 48 42 42 4 66 54 48 48 8 60 60 54 54 Tester's comment: Beautiful even performance, lacks bite, mild barrel distortion, flare performance poor. 50/1.4(MC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (7/6) 1.4 54 42 48 33 2 60 48 48 33 2.8 72 60 60 48 4 72 54 54 54 8 72 66 54 54 Tester's comment: Very good overall performance, good flare resistance, mild barrel distortion. 50/1.8(SC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (6/5) Chrome front 1.8 42 36 42 30 2.8 54 42 42 30 4 72 60 48 42 8 72 60 72 54 Tester's comment: Close in performance to new MC design, very low distortion, flare resistance good. 50/1.8(MC) C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo (6/4) 1.8 48 42 48 36 2.8 66 54 48 42 4 72 66 60 48 8 72 66 66 54 Tester's comment: Good performance, in difficult conditions slightly better than SC design, very low distortion, flare resistance slightly better than SC design. For reference, I add from the same issue the test of an M series Leica 50/1.4, widely acknowledged to be amongst the best 50mm designs. Sum'lux 50/1.4 C/Hi C/Lo E/Hi E/Lo 1.4 48 42 30 27 2 60 54 30 27 2.8 72 66 33 30 4 72 72 48 36 5.6 72 72 48 36 8 72 72 54 48 Numbers are not always = the quality you want --------------------------------------------- Hard figures give some indication of the quality of the final image, but cannot describe adequately the "flavour" of the final image which is manufactured by the mix of all kinds of optical attributes and distortions. To this end, some of the loveliest images I have seen, taken with a 50mm lens have been with the 50/1.2MC, which if you like that sort of thing, has an exquisite soft look to the final image, despite having resolved image details well. I guess it takes us back to the Astro-debate, where some lens characteristics will simply not do, whereas the lens may be perfectly matched to other uses. Modern Photography Tests ------------------------ A note of caution when referring back to Modern Photography tests. The testing technique was altered slightly in about 1982. Lens tests before this date are not directly comparable to later ones. Be warned also that magazines are often quite fickle when it comes to their tests and comments. For instance, the British magazine "Buying Cameras", recently gave a list of recommended lenses, giving modest ratings to Zuiko lenses they had raved about in previous issues and inexplicably boosting lenses from other manufacturers that had tested poorly in earlier editions. Be wary of numbers. Regards, Shaun Weber, Cape Town.