a test for the better gear argument.

every day we see tons of threads discussing different lenses and bodies and very often we see terms like "the ____ blows the ____ away IQ wise" or "man, these L lenses are amazing" and various other lines that quite frankly, are very subjective and more times than not, are not really true in real life applications. i know that there are a few people such as myself, that argue the fact that in real life use and especially when shown on the internet or small prints, most people would have a really tough time noticing any difference between most cameras and lenses (especially when you consider the fact that about 99% of the images that you see have been through some sort of PP).

so, i have decided to do a little test and post quite a few shots that i have taken over the years with some of my gear. i am very curious to know how many people can really tell the difference and guess which camera and lens was used for each shot.

to start, i am going to give you a list of the various cameras and lenses that were used in these shots:

Canon 350D
Canon 20D
Canon 1D
Canon 1DmkII
Canon 1DmkIII
Canon 24-70
Canon 70-200 F4
Canon 17-40
Canon 18-55
Canon 100-400
Canon 50 1.8
canon 500 F4
Sigma 70-200 F2.8


shall we begin?

1.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

9.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

On the web, it's nothing but a guess. When actually shooting and printing enlargements, some equipment offers advantages over other pieces of gear. I understand the point you're trying to make, but there are definitive arguments that can be made for specific gear for specific shots - especially if posting on the web is not the end use, but merely an after thought.

I really like the Sandpiper type bird shot.

There might be some distinct characteristics that will help identify a couple of the images, but differentiating between two cameras or lenses with low-resolution, totally different web images is nuts.

Give us 100% crops of the exact same imaage with the different cameras and lenses, then you're talking.

How am I supposed to do this when you remove the EXIF info?

Next time number them please!

Here are a few very bad guesses:
Peacock = 1DMk II w/85L
Staircase = 350D w/50 1.4
Cactus Flower = 5d w/85
Girl with bubbles = 1D w/50 1.8
Smiling girl = 20D w/24-70
Seaside long exp = 5D w/24-70
Pier at night = 350D w/18-55
500 Boylston = 1D w/50 1.4
Small bird = 1D MkIII w/100-400
B&W baby = 20D w/50 1.8

What do I win? LOL

Well I have been in the business for a long time and a 100% crop has never told me anything about a good photo.Dave

I think the peacock image and the smaller bird image are both made with fairly expensive lenses.

Richard_Miami wrote in post #4703913
How am I supposed to do this when you remove the EXIF info?

Next time number them please!

Here are a few very bad guesses:
Peacock = 1DMk II w/85L
Staircase = 350D w/50 1.4
Cactus Flower = 5d w/85
Girl with bubbles = 1D w/50 1.8
Smiling girl = 20D w/24-70
Seaside long exp = 5D w/24-70
Pier at night = 350D w/18-55
500 Boylston = 1D w/50 1.4
Small bird = 1D MkIII w/100-400
B&W baby = 20D w/50 1.8

What do I win? LOL

you win the award for "got them all wrong", where should i send the prize to?

I _ike the sand piper

blonde wrote in post #4703961
you win the award for "got them all wrong", where should i send the prize to?

At least I tried! LOL

Send the prize to LightRules.. I heard it was a 40D manual

<runs for cover>

Richard_Miami wrote in post #4704067
At least I tried! LOL

Send the prize to LightRules.. I heard it was a 40D manual

<runs for cover>

You were nuts to try. There is no way to tell bodies on web images.

You might be able to guess lenses (sorta kinda) just from apparent f.l. range and DOF...but even that is iffy.

I would have to see prints to pretend to guess at the gear.

And as is the point of this exercise....the differences are smallish from most expensive to least in much of the dSLR gear relative to IQ.

JeffreyG wrote in post #4704103
You were nuts to try. There is no way to tell bodies on web images.

You might be able to guess lenses (sorta kinda) just from apparent f.l. range and DOF...but even that is iffy.

I would have to see prints to pretend to guess at the gear.

And as is the point of this exercise....the differences are smallish from most expensive to least in much of the dSLR gear relative to IQ.

LOL.. I am nuts anyway. Snir asked for us to try and I know all my answers were pure guesses.. we all know that... but its all in fun!

all in good fun Richard

i am happy to see that at least some people see the point of this thread (there are a couple of points actually) but at least we can make a game out of it

btw, i revised the original list of gear used because i noticed that i made a few mistakes..

Richard_Miami wrote in post #4704067
At least I tried! LOL

Send the prize to LightRules.. I heard it was a 40D manual

<runs for cover>

HAHAHHAAHHAH!!!!!!!!!


pure evil