Camera Labs

I'm doing a science fair project for my school and I was able to use the topic evaluation of photographic optics, so now that have done some mild research, I need some advice and inspiration since most of the members on this forum are excellent reveiwers. ( the ISO 12233 chart, how measure distortion, set-up the trials, etc.)

Keep me posted thanks!

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Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
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What would you like to know?

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Well...... how to test the lens sharpness, light-falloff, geometeric distortions, corner sharpness, and chromatic Aberrations, how to step-up trials, what kind of software to use, anything is good.

Thanks for you help!

_________________
Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!

Well, see my lens tests e.g. here. With the monitor pattern, you can easily get a first impression on geometric distortions, color-fringing and corner-sharpness. So three tests in one. Just don't use it for light fall-off as explained here.
If you want to use the "Enhanced Digital Camera Resolution Chart" like the one Gordon uses, looky here: http://www.sinepatterns.com/i_Stdrds.htm or the chart that I print on A4 and plaster it all over a wall here http://images.digicamfotos.de/media/23/siemensstern.zip (copyright D. Bethke).
Most important for all measurements (except for light fall-off) is absolut perpendicular alignment of the camera/lens-axis to the wall/test-subject plus a 120% focus!
When reading from resolution-charts, you need to make a judgement when the different "stripes" are blurring into one gray area (or in case you use the Siemens-star; one grey disk. This takes some judgement, as all those lines don't just abruptly disappear, but with time you get used to it.
Another advice: resolution should not be judges with lines that run exactly horizontal or exactly vertical, as the in-camera sharpening will inadvertantly do somthing to these patterns. the general advice is to let those lines run at a 7° angle either to the vertical or the horizontal. With a Siemens-star, you will not have this prob, as the lines run in every direction. Just don't measure the diameter of the grey disk at exactly the horizontal or vertical axis

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi Fearless Leader, nice project!

You should check out our how we test page.

As for software, almost everything you want can be processed by the excellent Imatest.

Good luck! And feel free to benchmark your own lenses and let us know how they get on...

Gordon

Thanks, you guys are awesome!

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Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!

As a favour you tell us the answer to your question "What Strikes Fear In A Nikon Pro?" in return!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Sure it's a line from the Nikon D2Xs advertisement, I just reworded the line a bit since I don't have a D2Xs. The idea it's trying to get across is that when Nikon user are on assignments, nothing strikes fear in them (i.e. their equipment breaking, missing shots, slow AF, etc)

B.T.W. type it in on google and some of my posts show up lol!

I'll tell you what strikes fear in a Nikon Pro...... a line of Canon Pro's at any sports event lol

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Roy
EOS 350D, 40D + BG-E2N, EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM, 430 EX Speedlite




My Fotopic

Well as a fan of Nikon, Canon strikes laughter in a Nikon Pro We each have different tastes and opinons.

_________________
Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!

Watch out boys: No flaming in this forum! Return to the "Dreaded Science project"

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

sorry tombomba2

Anyway back on topic, I have a question about lighting conditions and camera settings, like you mentioned earlier, in-camera sharpening with alter the results, so what is a good starting point like RAW or JPEG? Image size, what conditions should lighting be when conducting tests, anything of that nature.

Thanks!

_________________
Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!

Shoot RAW (do you have CaptureNX to change all settings afterwards?) and produce maximum size plus quality jpegs from RAW to obtain the best results. Use a flash if possible (very constant, good white-balance) or otherwise bright daylight.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I don't have Capture NX, but will something like Photoshop for evaluation work?

_________________
Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
Support Cameralabs!