Gear Talk - Be a Good Finder

OK, I confessed, I'm a Zig Ziglar 'fan' (it started 20 years ago) and what the heck does this has to do with my photoblog. Well, Ziggy taught me to be a good finder and here I'm finding how to unleash the peak performance from my gear. Note: You can find or unleash the potential of a cheap lens too and a very good example is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II which is extremely cheap (SGD150) and sharp. I know because I used it. Lastly, what works for me may not work for you.

All lenses (and all people too..) have character (resolution, bokeh, CA, distortion, contrast) and its performance peak at a certain focal length and aperture, the so called sweet spot. Lastly, I make my purchase decision based on the information’s I gathered from photozone and SLRgear Review. It is not a holy grail but good references for me. Last but not least, a good lens (or gear per se) does not automatically make your picture good. Practice and techniques is even more important. Enjoy and CLICK!

Here is my summary.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM : I use this lens for event shots and landscape photography. The sweet spot is at f/8. It is 'fairly' well performing lens ( from 17,20-28mm). For the price, IQ, weight and versatility it is one of my favourite lens.
17mm : f/8 (from centre to border). f/11 (from centre to extreme)
20mm : f/8
28mm : f/5.6 (from centre to border). f/11 (from centre to extreme)
40mm : f/5.6 (from centre to border). It is a stretch and I will try to avoid using.
(info and credit: photozone)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM : I use this lens for candid portrait or event shots. I plan to use it for macro with extension tube for longer working distance with sensitive insects. Decent performance at all focal length with sweet spot at f/5.6. For the price, IQ, weight, versatility and IS feature I would rate this as truely my favourite lens.
(info and credit: photozone)

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro: I use this lens for portrait and AF macro work (paired with Raynox DCR 150). Sharp wide open. Sweet spot at f/8 and sharpeness drop at f/22.
(info and credit: photozone)

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM EX EG: I use this lens for fast head and shoulder portrait shots. So this lens is a keeper for such purpose and usable at f/2.8 with the sweet spot at f/5.6. The bokeh is better than the CZ Planar 1.4/50ZE but beware of softness at the extreme corner.
(info and credit: photozone)

CZ Mackro Planar 2/50ZE: I use this lens for static head and shoulder portrait shots, and macro work with extension tube. A MF lens and a great performer, wide open straight from f/2. Performance peaks at f/5.6. A stellar performer in terms of sharpness which outperforms the CZ Planar 1.4/50ZE at f/2. The fine focus adjustment means it is only good for really serious focussing but it may slow you down.
(info and credit: photozone)

Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 ASP: Sweet spot at f/4 but good from f/2 to f/11
(info and credit: slrgear)

Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH OIS: The resolution is generally on a very high side, level straight from the max. aperture setting. Take note of the diffraction limit.
Sweet spot at f/4 but good from f/2.8 to f/11
(info and credit: slrgear)

Panasonic 14-140mm f/4-5.8 ASPH MEGA O.I.S. LUMIX G VARIO HD:
25mm to 70mm is best.
(info and credit: slrgear)
14mm : f/5.6
18mm : f/5.6-f/8
25mmm : f4.7-f/11
32mm : f5.0 to f/11
48mm : f/5.5 f/16
70mm :f/5.6 to f/11
99mm : f/8 - f/11
140mm : f/11 (center sharp from f/5.6 to f/f8).

Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 ASPH LUMIX G VARIO
7mm : f/4 to f/8
8mm : f/4 to f/8
9mm : f/4 to f/8
10mm : f/4 to f/8
12mm : f/4 to f/8
14mm : f/5.6 to f/8
(info and credit: slrgear)