At 17:49 1/14/01, Clyde Soles wrote:
Good description but I'll take the contrarian view. While it is true that
multi-coating often has minimal benefits, it is still important for those
who want maximum image quality at all times. When I want the sun (or any
other bright light source) in the frame, the reduced ghosting and contrast
degradation of multi-coatings on lens (and filter, if any) are vital. I'm
willing to spend more for that last bit of performance.
Wouldn't argue an MC isn't inherently worth more. It's a matter of how
much more (cost vs. benefit) and keeping what is gained by it in
perspective. A pro photog being more demanding about anything that might
impede getting the desired image is to be expected.
IMO MC does make a difference in zooms. I've also found it more important
for the WA's and standard primes (for reasons you write about) than for
prime telephotos, especially the longer ones. But that is based on my
outdoor usage of them.
It was definitely a much stronger consideration that my 18/3.5 MC to be an
MC lens than for my SC 300/4.5 F.Zuiko. One of the uses for the 18/3.5 is
360 panos. Not certain I would trade the 300/4.5 for an MC formulation
unless I could test it thoroughly for equal resolution and other
characteristics first. [I don't shoot that one directly into the sun, and
wouldn't recommend anyone do it with amy telephoto for safety reasons,
unless they truly know what they're doing to adequately protect their eyes.]
It's also my opinion that nearly all the difference between average
performance of SC 55/1.2's and MC 50/1.2's is in their formulations, not in
the coatings. I will admit being very anal retentive about having coated,
high quality filters, keeping lenses/filters spostlessly clean, _always_
using a lens hood regardless of light direction, and providing additional
lens shade if any strong off-axis light is still striking the lens objective.
Quite a while ago, we had a discussion here on serial #s of MC lenses. I
kept some of the info but can't find the rest. I would like to track down
the others for my WTB list.
Here are the URL's for two pages on Lee Hawkins' site:
Multi-coating cross-reference:
http://brashear.phys.appstate.edu/lhawkins/photo/multicoat.txt
Multi-coating survey:
http://brashear.phys.appstate.edu/lhawkins/photo/mc-sc.survey
The survey was compiled before my time on the list, so I don't know exactly
how it was pulled together. These may fill some gaps for you.
PS which models were hand rubbed by Mrs. Maitani during a full moon?
I don't know that one. More imporant to me has always been whether Kenichi
Ogamura did final assembly or not, whether it was on a Monday or Friday, or
on a Tuesday through Thursday, and whether it was immediately after his
morning exercises, but not at any time during the Japanese New Year
celebrations.
-- John
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