Calibrating Primes - Is it worth it?

Hey All,

I've been with my 40D and a 50mm 1.4 for about a month now and I havnt been impressed with it's sharpness (the lens). Is it worth taking the camera and prime down to canon for adjustment? Do primes get the same boost from a good calibration that zooms do?

Below, a shot from the lens, Wide open at 1.4, raw processed in DPP. (Note closed down a stop it is much much better.)

http://img292.imagesha​ck.us …/img0005process​ed2bt0.jpg

Cheers!

edit: Forum rules allow for a maximum image size of 800x800 pixels...

Best bet really and to save time is to take to lens back and ask for a replacment

Well it's been a month now with the lens. So a replacement probably isnt going to happen, as they'll just point me warranty way.,

agent.media wrote in post #4243258
Hey All,

I've been with my 40D and a 50mm 1.4 for about a month now and I havnt been impressed with it's sharpness (the lens). Is it worth taking the camera and prime down to canon for adjustment? Do primes get the same boost from a good calibration that zooms do?

Below, a shot from the lens, Wide open at 1.4, raw processed in DPP. (Note closed down a stop it is much much better.)

http://img292.imagesha​ck.us …/img0005process​ed2bt0.jpg

Cheers!

edit: Forum rules allow for a maximum image size of 800x800 pixels...

Check this for a before/after trip to canon...

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=398587

Now that I looked at the photo. What did you focus on ? at f1.4 your DOF is about 2-3 inches from about six feet.

The crop is from the top right corner. The Roses in the bottom left corner of the crop were the focus point. I should have made a better crop, but even at the centre it was in focus, but soft. But my question isn't whether my photo is soft, but raher in general whether sending a "prime" lens in to be calibrated will get results.

agent.media wrote in post #4243350
The crop is from the top right corner. The Roses in the bottom left corner of the crop were the focus point. I should have made a better crop, but even at the centre it was in focus, but soft. But my question isn't whether my photo is soft, but raher in general whether sending a "prime" lens in to be calibrated will get results.

set the camera on a tripod ....

Give a tripod mounted, 100% centre crop of an in-focus subject and we'll be able to tell you if yours is unreasonably soft.

There seems to be a mis alignment on one element. Too much distance between two elements and the soft focus - glow symptom is generated.

The 135 SF lens has this by design.

So irrespective of whether or not you think my photo is soft, does sending a prime in for calibration rectify a soft lens, OR does it not make a difference because there are so few elements in a prime.

My 50/1.4 front focussed. after calibration it was a lot better.

my 35L back focused, sent to canon then front focused by a hair, sent to canon again and now its right on

agent.media wrote in post #4243258
Hey All,

I've been with my 40D and a 50mm 1.4 for about a month now and I havnt been impressed with it's sharpness (the lens). Is it worth taking the camera and prime down to canon for adjustment? Do primes get the same boost from a good calibration that zooms do?

Below, a shot from the lens, Wide open at 1.4, raw processed in DPP. (Note closed down a stop it is much much better.)

http://img292.imagesha​ck.us …/img0005process​ed2bt0.jpg

Cheers!

edit: Forum rules allow for a maximum image size of 800x800 pixels...

anytime i'm not happy with a lens it goes to canon. the 50 1.4 can be very good to terrible wide open even if you have a good copy.

the picture you posted doesn't sway me one way or the other.

ed rader

One thing I noticed with 50f1.4 with backlit subjects. It tends to backfocus....!?!?! I will get more findings on this.

I forgot to ask. Was t windy ?I don't mean a category 5 but just a 'hint' of a breeze at f1.4 would seem like a category 5.

Everyone wants to see if the photo is soft, because if you send a perfectly calibrated lens in for calibration then no, it won't help.... the current state of the lens and the effectiveness of calibration are inextricably joined. Use the tripod to test the lens, if its still that soft, send it in and it should take sharper photo's