Photo Against Photo | Lens & Camera Comparisons and extensive Reviews
 
REGISTER or Login:
Photo Against Photo  
 
       
  Test # 369 
 
Lens Distortion Test

Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm F1.8 Distortion Test

Distortion at 50mm.
 
Test by Sinan Ozturk   
PhotoAgainst Photo Editor's Comment: Barrel Distortion is optical flaw of a lens which causes straight lines in the photo look slightly curved outwards. Its much more apparent in wider focal lengths and zoom lenses and gets worse in the bottom or top of the photo, rather than center. It becomes apparent when skyline is photographed so we do barrel distortion tests with a clear skyline shot.

In the first comparison, skyline in the very bottom of the photo because this is where barrel distortion is worse for any lens.

In the second shot skyline is in the very center of the image where barrel distortion's effect is the least apparent.

In the third shot, skyline is in the 1/3 or 2/3 of the photo (golden rule) where distortion is same for both.

Red line in the photos are added in post production to show where skyline would suppose to be if lens were flawless with no distortion. The closer the real skyline to the red line, the better the lens and more apart the skyline from the red line, worse distortion the lens has.

For more information about this distortion tests, please read our distortion test guidelines.

After reviewing the test, scroll to the bottom of the page to compare Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm F1.8's Barrel Distortion with other lenses.
  
  
  Test Photo # 1  
Photo_817Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8  
F:8, S:1/1600, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony A55     Camera    
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8     Lens    
8     Aperture    
1/1600     Shutter    
100     ISO    
159     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.18 Mb.   Filesize    
1630 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 2  
Photo_815Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8  
F:8, S:1/1250, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony A55     Camera    
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8     Lens    
8     Aperture    
1/1250     Shutter    
100     ISO    
156     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.34 Mb.   Filesize    
1635 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 3  
Photo_816Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8  
F:8, S:1/1000, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony A55     Camera    
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8     Lens    
8     Aperture    
1/1000     Shutter    
100     ISO    
155     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.47 Mb.   Filesize    
1653 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
Barrel Distortion Comparison
You can select 2 lens to compare their barrel distortions side by side:
against

 

 

Related Comparisons
Carl Zeiss 24-70 F2.8 ZA SSM (at 24mm.)Carl Zeiss 24-70 F2.8 ZA SSM (at 70mm.)Carl Zeiss Jena MC Flektogan 35mm F2.4 (at 35mm.)
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8 (at 50mm.)Cosina 19-35mm F3.5-F4.5 (at 26mm.)Cosina 19-35mm F3.5-F4.5 (at 35mm.)
Minolta 24mm F2.8 (at 28mm.)Minolta 28-70mm. F2.8 (at 28mm.)Minolta 28-70mm. F2.8 (at 50mm.)
Minolta 28mm. F2.8 (at 28mm.)Minolta 35-80mm F/4-5.6 (at 35mm.)Minolta 35-80mm F/4-5.6 (at 75mm.)
Minolta 50mm F/1.4 (at 50mm.)Samsung 10mm f3.5 (fisheye) (at 10mm.)Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6 (at 18mm.)
Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6 (at 50mm.)Sigma 10-20mm. F/4-5.6 (at 11mm.)Sigma 10-20mm. F/4-5.6 (at 20mm.)
Sigma 12-24 F4.5-5.6 DG (at 12mm.)Sigma 12-24 F4.5-5.6 DG (at 24mm.)Sigma 17-70 F/2.8-4 DS Macro HSM (at 17mm.)
Sigma 17-70 F/2.8-4 DS Macro HSM (at 50mm.)Sony 16-105 F3.5-5.6 DT (at 16mm.)Sony 16-105 F3.5-5.6 DT (at 50mm.)
Sony 16-50 DT F2.8 SAM (at 16mm.)Sony 16-50 DT F2.8 SAM (at 50mm.)Sony 18-55 F3.5-5.6 SAM (at 18mm.)
Sony 18-55 F3.5-5.6 SAM (at 50mm.)Sony 35mm DT F/1.8 SAM (at 35mm.)Sony 50mm F1.8 SAM DT (at 50mm.)
Sony RX100 mk2's Lens (at 10mm.)Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS (at 16mm.)Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS (at 50mm.)
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 (at 17mm.)Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 (at 50mm.)Tamron 18-200 F3.5-6.3 (at 18mm.)
Tamron 18-200 F3.5-6.3 (at 50mm.)Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 (at 11mm.)Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 (at 16mm.)
Tokina 28-70mm. F2.8 (at 28mm.)Tokina 28-70mm. F2.8 (at 35mm.)Tokina 28-70mm. F2.8 (at 55mm.)

 

  Other Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8 vs. Comparisons  
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 Sharpness Test at 50mm.
at 50mm.
Tested Apertures Between F1.8 to F13
  Other Comparisons of Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm  F1.8  
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Minolta 35-105mm.
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sony 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.8/F5.6, F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F9, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Tamron 17-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Tamron 18-200
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sony 16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sony 16-105
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.8/F5, F2.8/F5, F4/F5, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F9, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Minolta 50mm 1.4
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.4/F1.8, F1.6/F1.8, F1.7/F1.8, F2/F2.8, F2.2/F2.8, F2.5/F2.8, F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Minolta 28-70 2.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Tokina 28-70 2.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sigma 50mm 2.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8, F3.5/F4, F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sigma 17-70
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F4, F4.5/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F6.3, F7.1/F8, F7.1/F8, F8, F9, F10/F11, F11
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sony 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F1.8, F2.8, F5.6, F8
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Sigma 50mm 2.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F2.8, F2.8, F5.6, F8
Minolta 35-80 vs. CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F5, F2.8/F5, F5.6, F8
Sony 18-55 vs. CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F5.6, F2.8/F5.6, F5.6, F8
Sony 16-105 vs. CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F5, F2.8/F5, F5.6, F8
Carl Zeiss 24-70 vs. CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.7/F2.8, F2.8, F5.6, F8
CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 vs. Minolta 35-80
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.8/F4.5, F2.8/F4.5, F5.6, F8
Carl Zeiss 24-70 vs. CZ Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.8/F2.8, F2.8, F5.6, F8