new 17-40 test

The lousy weather here in the "sunshine" state forced me to perform an indoor test on my new 17-40. While this may not be the best test it does reflect one way in which I'll use the lens, which is up close and personal. For this use the test is valid. It does not however indicate corner performance for landscapes etc. That will have to come another day.

tripod mounted
mirror lock-up
remote release
manual
-2/3 EV
focus point on curve of nostril
minor WB adjustment and recovery in LR - no sharpening

Following are images cropped by 34% (remember not showing corner performance) and 60%. The images cropped by 60% are shown at 100%

The lens, as expected, is a bit soft at f/4.0, but sharpens up nicely at f/5.6 and especially f/8.0. Also as expected sharpness falls off a bit at f/16 and f/22. As is typical the sweet spot of the lens looks to be when it is stopped down 2 stops or so.

Thoughts on the test as well as the lens' performance are welcomed.

f/4

f/16

Why do you have a bust of Ronald Reagan? And why would you prefer to use an UWA on a mkIII for tight portraits? You have nothing between 40 and 80mm?

elader wrote in post #9353616
Why do you have a bust of Ronald Reagan?

Because I wanted one.

elader wrote in post #9353616
And why would you prefer to use an UWA on a mkIII for tight portraits? You have nothing between 40 and 80mm?

Often when I shoot small animals - reptiles and amphibians mostly - I like to get very close to them with a WA so I can show them from a personal level in their environment. This keeps them relatively large in frame while at the same time showing their surroundings. This bust's head is only about 2'' high so it is similar in size to my subject matter.

Good enough for you?

Cheers!

Well .. There you go again...

<Sorry .. Had To>

FL PHOTO wrote in post #9354105
Because I wanted one.

Can't really argue with that.

The lens looks fine to me.

FL PHOTO wrote in post #9354105
Because I wanted one.

Often when I shoot small animals - reptiles and amphibians mostly - I like to get very close to them with a WA so I can show them from a personal level in their environment. This keeps them relatively large in frame while at the same time showing their surroundings. This bust's head is only about 2'' high so it is similar in size to my subject matter.

Good enough for you?

Cheers!

yup, both make sense, but I would imagine getting that close on FF wiht an UWA would freak out both the lizard and the gipper.

elader wrote in post #9355132
yup, both make sense, but I would imagine getting that close on FF wiht an UWA would freak out both the lizard and the gipper.

Nah, animals dig me. I'll have to post an example.

FL PHOTO wrote in post #9354105
Because I wanted one.

Often when I shoot small animals - reptiles and amphibians mostly - I like to get very close to them with a WA so I can show them from a personal level in their environment. This keeps them relatively large in frame while at the same time showing their surroundings. This bust's head is only about 2'' high so it is similar in size to my subject matter.

Good enough for you?

Cheers!

I want one now that I've seen yours, super sweet!

FWIW, here is an example of the kind of shot I'm talking about. Up close and personal to the subject w/ a WA to show the animal's environment. This was with a Tokina 11-16/f2.8 @ 15mm (24mm EFOV on the 1.6x sensor). The distance to subject was right at the minimum focus distance of 0.3m.

^ Really cool shot.

Ribbit ! Cool shot

That's an awesome capture!!

not sure about the lens, but I really want one of those Regan busts! very cool