Optimised for dslr ?

Hi chaps, I posted this on the specific 70-200mm board but think it got lost amongst all the stunning examples there so I thought I'd try here, hope that's OK - I keep coming across mention of "optimised' for dslrs" (I guess as opposed to old film lenses) - is this difference really significant and is the Canon EF 70-300mm so optimised - what I guess I'm saying is ... is there a way of telling whether a lens is optimised for digital ? there is also talk of 1st 2nd 3rd (and maybe more) versions of 'IS' - my pocket demands that I try and find 'used' lenses and generally it's impossible to know 'year of manufacture' and therefore how outdated the technology of a lens is, obviously there's a trade-off with price but I can judge the benefits as and when I find the right lens .. Roger

rogertb wrote in post #12368311
I keep coming across mention of "optimised' for dslrs"

where? sounds like sales & marketing gibberishspeak to me...

Well yes there's sales talk but this was mentioned by a member of this community "high resolution sensor, with a lens that was built a long time ago with film in mind" which amounts to much the same thing but yes other references have generally been on manufacturers sites, so I guess you're saying "ignore it" ... thanks for taking the time ... Roger

rogertb wrote in post #12368311
...I keep coming across mention of "optimised' for dslrs"...

joeseph wrote in post #12368894
where? sounds like sales & marketing gibberishspeak to me...

Yeah, I have to agree.
I've never seen or heard it mentioned anywhere - well, not until now anyway.

The 3rd party manufacturers have 'Digital' lenses, but that's marketing spin put on EF-s type lenses which have a smaller image circle.

From Tamron's marketing blurb: "Di II Digital Lenses. Exclusively for APS C-sized digital SLR cameras."

I use mostly old manual lenses - and the work well onmy digital cameras. But some of them have a specific "glow" - but I suppose these could be seen on film to.

I could understand one of the arguments of optimisation for digital cameras: Sensor and Ir-cut and AA-filter surfaces are very flat and have some reflectivity. Because of this it could be a good idea to have the backlens not flat, but curved to minimize reflection between these elements.
So there is digital optimisation possible - but up to now I have no problems with my old lenses.

On the other hand I own one lens that is really optimized for digital cameras:
The Samyang / Rokinon / Bower / Walimex .. 14mm/2.8.

I think its moustache distortion is not usable for film!
It is a price / distortion optimization for digital cameras. No one would buy that lens for film use, but for digital it is ok.

The way the light falls onto a sensor is different than on emulsion. Micro lenses are needed to angle light to the light capturing sensor. This lowers quality and light level. DSLR's are more prone to vignetting due to this. Some current lens designs do help negate this. I'm not sure of any other methods to optimise lens design.

philwillmedia wrote in post #12369265
Yeah, I have to agree..

careful, that's twice in a week!

bdp23 wrote in post #12369296
The 3rd party manufacturers have 'Digital' lenses, but that's marketing spin put on EF-s type lenses which have a smaller image circle.

From Tamron's marketing blurb: "Di II Digital Lenses. Exclusively for APS C-sized digital SLR cameras."

complete marketing-speak for "won't-really-work-on-full-frame-so-we-have-introduce-something-to-sound-impressive"

Thanks chaps - really helpful ... I've always been a bit cynical when I read 'salestalk' - this just reinforces it ... Roger

joeseph wrote in post #12374619
careful, that's twice in a week!

Yeah...that is scary.

It won't stop the jokes though.

Why does a Kiwi...

Nah, I'll save it for later.

The "optimized for digital" stuff mostly comes from Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. Canon does the same thing but doesn't bother mentioning it.

What it means in 3rd party literature is really in part to explain some of their naming conversions... like DG EX from Sigma means Full Frame Digitally Optimized... the optimization refers to coatings and inner finishes of the lens to cut down on reflections that on earlier models caused flaring. DG = Full Frame Digitally Optimized, DC = Crop Digitally Optimized. Tamron uses Di for FF, Di-II for Crop... same deal with coatings and finish to cut down on flaring. Tokina uses AT-X to designate digital coatings.