Web Analytics RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: 40mm FF Shootout 2: EF40/2.8 Vs FA43/1.9LE Vs FA645 45/2.8 on 5D3

Sunday, June 02, 2013

40mm FF Shootout 2: EF40/2.8 Vs FA43/1.9LE Vs FA645 45/2.8 on 5D3



Above Left to Right: Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited, Pentax FA645 45/2.8, Canon EF 40/2.8 STM; Tested on a Canon 5D3 135 Full Frame Body. (Remark: Both my Pentax lenses were Japanese made.)

Further to my last shootout test of the same, I've done the test again on a bright day, but on a different scene. Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 have been tested per lens, at nearly the same time and at the same place. Camera was mounted on tripod and cable shutter release was used. Of course, the image settings of the camera are the same. In addition, all the protective filters were removed during the test.

The test pictures are uploaded and posted in the following album:-

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RiceHigh/library/5Ds/40mm_Shootout_2

Original full-size pictures are available for download per picture page. So, go measurebate yourself for what are different! Still, I want your own findings, do share if you find some!

Comments (6)

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I post my observations first. The FA43 still performs the best, with perfect corner to corner sharpness from f/5.6 to f/11! But the EF40 performs worse this time, why's that? Also, it is interesting to see that the colour tendency of the FA43 is somehow in between, i.e., the Canon is just too cool and the 645 lens is a bit too warm, IMO.
1 reply · active 615 weeks ago
Hah. Thanks for posting these. After using a 16-45 for a while now I must say that sharpness isn't everything. That lens more than makes up for it with its excellent color rendering and contrast. I think I prefer the 43ltd myself, but then I've always been partial to smc and its color rendition. I love the way Pentax lenses render my world!
Isn't it hard to do a sharpness test on a lens using landscapes with f1.4 - f5.6 ? Regardless the EF40 looks pretty bad in these comparisons. We all know that the FA43 is easily the better lens, but you would think the EF40 would fare a bit better. Perhaps you have a bad 'copy'?
2 replies · active 615 weeks ago
None of the lenses above had a f/1.4 aperture.
Ha, that's right the max is 1.9 for the FA43, 2.8 for the EF40. Half asleep. Point is still valid. Anyway, F5.6 is actually fine since the nearest boats are far enough away to be in focus and it is probably the optimal point for each lens. According to photozone.de tests the EF40 should be pretty sharp in the corners, but in your tests it looks soft.
Very fine idea.
But I can not find any noticeable difference between these pictures.
This format is probably not suitable for internet.
And a closer objects will show more details.

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