Improvements in lens design

[belgiumreporter]

While the vario elmar is a good and "cheap" walk around lens solution on the R8 it's pincussion distortion is a bit disapointing when using it on architecture. Now a few weeks ago i bought the tokina 11-20 f 2.8 mainly for use on the infra red converted D7100 but when i used on the D5500 i was amased of how good lens abberations are corrected on this (rather extreme focal lenght) lens are. I guess zoom lens developement has come a long way probably thanks to computer aided design.

Here's two examples, one with the 28-70 elmar on the R8 (on film) and the other the 11-20 tokina on the D5500. Guess wich one was made with wich lens   

[paulhofseth]

sir,
it seems that i keep replying to your texts.

I have the 35-70/4 which has excellent sharpness end contrast, no experience with 28-70. And yes,newer optics may well be better than the old leitz creations. Glass chemistry has made exotic mixtures cheaper while automated mechanisms for grinding and polishing plus cutting the metal mounts in unusual shapes designed by computer calculations has enabled constructions imposssible years ago and modern coatings and lenshoods ensure less stray light. I used an 11- 23mm zoom extensively last week and was surprised at how reflex and haze-free it was, of course acuity and contrast were excellent.
Even though some distortion folowe from its wide field of view. Still,for closups the 100/2,8 remains an excellent choice even though it is quite old.

p.

[belgiumreporter]

On the subject of improved lens design, what to think about this TTartisans 50 f2 in nikon Zmount? It is extremely well build, VERY sharp in the center and VERY cheap. I quickly ran in to its limitations because of the horrible pincussion distortion and focus breathing (at close distance you constantly need to recompose the shot as the angle of view changes when changing the distance) Still at around 60€ for a brand new lens I guess there's little to complain no?
Here it is on the Z:


Here's a shot of the bakery where you can see things going wrong with the distortion.


And here's a weird one, the lens seems to develop a low contrast hot spot when stopping it down ( note the figure in the middle) so far i haven't been able to correct this problem in post. 


Anyway, I don't think I'll be using this lens much, maybe when knowing its limitations it can be used in some situations, it isn't bad for portraiture or anything with the subject in the middle of the frame.