What do you do with a lens that is soft at wide open

[kosasih]

Is there a way to make a soft lens to a sharp lens? NSC, will they do it and at what cost

[ortega]

you can stop down

or give it to me

[ExplorerZ]

stop down would be the simplest way...
sending back to SC might help, but that is only if the softness is not a characteristic of the lens.

[renegade150]

if the lens itself is soft @ 2.8..then stop down to say 3.5 or 4 lor unless u're really desperate.

[kosasih]

If we need to step down then it would be a waste to buy a fast lens if you can't use it.

[renegade150]

Originally Posted by kosasih If we need to step down then it would be a waste to buy a fast lens if you can't use it.

& that is why expensive Nikkor Trinity lenses have such a high price tag..because even @ their widest apertures..its already sharp like hell.
some 3rd party lenses are good wide open too...u just have to do some researching.

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by kosasih If we need to step down then it would be a waste to buy a fast lens if you can't use it.

not really... at f2.8 it might not be sharp, but at f4 it would be (normally)
if you compare to a normal lens, lets say f3.5-5.6, normally at wide open which is f3.5 ~ f5.6, they ain't sharp as well, end up one will still stop down to f5.6 ~ f8 to get sharp pic.
in anyway you still benefit from the fast aperture, unless that lens is really soft till one have to go all the way down to f8.
and further more, f2.8 gives you a choice to take photos under poorer lighting. a "not very sharp" shot is always better having a "ghost" inside a photo.

[kosasih]

for info, I am refering to the Nikon 50 f1.8 and 85 f1.8. Can NSC fix it to be sharp?

[renegade150]

Originally Posted by kosasih for info, I am refering to the Nikon 50 f1.8 and 85 f1.8. Can NSC fix it to be sharp?

post some samples of photos here taken in good light.
if u always shoot @ 1.8 the DOF is extremely shallow...of course it will be very soft.

[kzone]

Originally Posted by ExplorerZ not really... at f2.8 it might not be sharp, but at f4 it would be (normally) if you compare to a normal lens, lets say f3.5-5.6, normally at wide open which is f3.5 ~ f5.6, they ain't sharp as well, end up one will still stop down to f5.6 ~ f8 to get sharp pic. in anyway you still benefit from the fast aperture, unless that lens is really soft till one have to go all the way down to f8. and further more, f2.8 gives you a choice to take photos under poorer lighting. a "not very sharp" shot is always better having a "ghost" inside a photo.

Great simple explanation, have been wondering how I can convince myself to get a 2.8 when I seldom go beyond f4... now i know

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by kosasih Is there a way to make a soft lens to a sharp lens? NSC, will they do it and at what cost

Close down the aperture it will become sharper. If the optical design is inherently soft when aperture is wide open, then there is nothing that can be done except buying a more expensive lens that is sharp when aperture is wide open.

[hohoho32]

Sry to ride on this thread...

But what are some nikkor or nikon-mount lenses thats sharp and value for money,
I know the quality will never be the same as those $2k ++ trinity lens la... any lens come close?

Poor student here.

[Artosoft]

Originally Posted by hohoho32 Sry to ride on this thread... But what are some nikkor or nikon-mount lenses thats sharp and value for money, I know the quality will never be the same as those $2k ++ trinity lens la... any lens come close? Poor student here.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 micro.

Regards,
Arto.

[Artosoft]

Originally Posted by kosasih If we need to step down then it would be a waste to buy a fast lens if you can't use it.

Faster lens help your camera to handle autofocus in low light environment. When you are using smaller aperture (say f/8), the aperture will remain open large, and only closing down to f/8 when the picture captured.

Regards,
Arto.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by hohoho32 Sry to ride on this thread... But what are some nikkor or nikon-mount lenses thats sharp and value for money, I know the quality will never be the same as those $2k ++ trinity lens la... any lens come close? Poor student here.

I think on top of Arto's suggestions, the 18-200VR and probably Tamron 17-50/2.8 should be value for money also.

[brandonb]

Originally Posted by renegade150 & that is why expensive Nikkor Trinity lenses have such a high price tag..because even @ their widest apertures..its already sharp like hell. some 3rd party lenses are good wide open too...u just have to do some researching.

FYI, 17-55 is not that sharp at wide open even it is Nikkor pro len with high price tag.

[Youhong]

Originally Posted by renegade150 post some samples of photos here taken in good light. if u always shoot @ 1.8 the DOF is extremely shallow...of course it will be very soft.

I've seen 50mm f1.8 pictures very sharp with aperature wide open before... I wonder how to achieve that...

[zac08]

Originally Posted by Youhong I've seen 50mm f1.8 pictures very sharp with aperature wide open before... I wonder how to achieve that...

Hold tightly... dun shake

[yipdanny]

Used Custom +2 Sharpness (on D80) in your camera setting. This is what I normally do if I desperately need to shot at wide open.

PS it the best solution?

Originally Posted by Youhong I've seen 50mm f1.8 pictures very sharp with aperature wide open before... I wonder how to achieve that...

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by kosasih for info, I am refering to the Nikon 50 f1.8 and 85 f1.8. Can NSC fix it to be sharp?

Hmm...

if you find it not sharp bcos taking on digital SLR with crop factor, then how about trying to take the image based on actual 35mm full frame size to see if its still sharp. Most of the time due to the further distance from the subject, the "sharpness" degrades as there may be more added focus errors i suppose.