Re: [OM] SC Vs. MC, a new and devastating thread .... not

[Joel Wilcox]

At 02:50 AM 5/14/2002 +0000, you wrote:
> I have discovered that my 50mm 1.8 is a garden variety
> SC ("F.ZUIKO"). But I take heart knowing it is a garden
> variety ZUIKO.
>
> I also have a 50mm 1.4 MC.
>
> I get the feeling that instead of selling one or the
> other of these lenses, that I should learn what the
> differences are and possibly use that to my advantage.
>
> How do I do this? I know I can check for color (warm vs.
> cold) by looking at a white object. (I actualy have one
> handy. The LBJ Library is white.) What are good tests
> for other things? What other things should I look for?
Here's what I would do:

1) Load some slide film. I'd probably use Sensia II, Elitechrome, or 
Kodachrome if I could stand the wait.  I think this is important.  You have 
to be able to see what you're really getting, verify that the exposure was 
right on, compare contrast, etc.  But this means you need minimally a light 
bench and a loupe.
2) Go to a familiar place where you have spent some pleasant photographic 
time before.  Go on a good photographic day (whatever that means to 
you).  Shoot subjects that have significance to you.  I.e., these are 
tests, right, but shoot for keepers.  Use a tripod if you have one.  Focus 
carefully.  Keep meticulous records not only of the exposure itself but how 
you focused and what you expect to and hope to see in the resulting 
frame.  Shoot at least one 1/2 stop bracket to either side. 2/3 stop 
brackets are OK if your camera has the exposure comp dial and you are using 
an E6 film.
3) Try to test the entire aperture range of the lenses.  Test f11 and/or 
f16 but also f5.6 (you'll use this stop a lot with slower film and people 
shots) and even wide open, or say, f2 for comparison sake.  Try to get some 
lovely shady trees in the background with a lighter subject in the 
foreground that you're focusing tightly on to see how you like the blur of 
the background, or shoot a large flower as close as possible at a medium 
stop to test the same thing.
4) Evaluate the resulting photos side by side on a light bench with 
loupe.  Pick the fairest exposure from your bracket set in either case and 
put them together.  Look at the highlights first.  Are they holding?  Is 
there clean white with texture?  If not, is one of the brackets 
better?  How does the rest of the slide look?  Do you like the contrast and 
color in the rest of the frame?  Is there better shadow detail?  Is one 
sharper than the other?
Don't expect to see big differences, but you may be surprised at what you 
do see.  This is something I need to do myself, so thanks for the inspiration.
Joel W.



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