Just like ASR measures audio performance, with perhaps SNR the most important parameter, is there a similar way to test and measure lens performance? What is the most important parameter in reference to lens performance?
I have some of the top of the line Zeiss binoculars. You can look at something on a street light pole, viewing with the light just barely out of the view with no artifacts that light is even there. Viewing moths for instance you get a great view. With some lesser devices even with good resolution and lens coatings etc. you get some glare from being anywhere near such lights. The difference between clearly seeing the markings on the moth, and barely being able to see there is a moth of some kind. Now in daylight there is a lesser difference with plenty of diffuse lighting.I think lens edge diffraction/reflections are a major issue and that combined with night time use can cause some dangerous lighting reflections into the eye. Those two issues in my opinion if rectified eliminate the most noticeable issues with lenses. So anti-reflective coatings for night use and grind the edges of the lenses for a no reflection surface.
I bought the expensive lenses for my optical prescription. They had all the coatings and grindings that made them a pleasure to use at night. There is a difference and like good speakers once hearing them or seeing through the good lenses nothing else is wanted.I have some of the top of the line Zeiss binoculars. You can look at something on a street light pole, viewing with the light just barely out of the view with no artifacts that light is even there. Viewing moths for instance you get a great view. With some lesser devices even with good resolution and lens coatings etc. you get some glare from being anywhere near such lights. The difference between clearly seeing the markings on the moth, and barely being able to see there is a moth of some kind. Now in daylight there is a lesser difference with plenty of diffuse lighting.
Just like ASR measures audio performance, with perhaps SNR the most important parameter, is there a similar way to test and measure lens performance? What is the most important parameter in reference to lens performance?
As silly as it sounds, the "moth test" just might be a pretty good test of quality!I have some of the top of the line Zeiss binoculars. You can look at something on a street light pole, viewing with the light just barely out of the view with no artifacts that light is even there. Viewing moths for instance you get a great view. With some lesser devices even with good resolution and lens coatings etc. you get some glare from being anywhere near such lights. The difference between clearly seeing the markings on the moth, and barely being able to see there is a moth of some kind. Now in daylight there is a lesser difference with plenty of diffuse lighting.
I won't lie. My brain hurts reading those two articles. But thank you. I need the MTF for dummies book!Here are some informative articles by Zeiss on the technical performance of camera lenses. Arguably the most important metric is the modulation transfer function (MTF)
Lenspire
lenspire.zeiss.com
What usually gets measured is resolution or sharpness. Chromatic aberration and spherical distortion also get measured. I have seen comments about color rendition which is IMO subjective. In particular it was a claim that Nikon lenses had better color rendition than Zeiss. I don't know whether to believe that or not.
@GXAlan resolution can't be fixed in post. The other problems can be improved on. Besides, when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8 most problems disappear.
That’s just for astrophotography (AAD) but for regular photos@GXAlan what software were you using with selectable algorithms?
Adobe uses standard bilinear. Most consistent/fast. You can use enhance raw details to use an alternate mode.@GXAlan I wonder how Adobe does it. I have been using Adobe Camera Raw in various ways ever since Nikon canned Capture NX.
Just like ASR measures audio performance, with perhaps SNR the most important parameter, is there a similar way to test and measure lens performance? What is the most important parameter in reference to lens performance?