UV

Promaster 70-300 4-5.6

I started this test using the settings from the Panasonic G85 + BOOST (Viltrox NF-M43x) and all I have had to change so far was to add 1 positive point to the CONTRAST (because the Viltrox focal reducer lowers the contrast a bit).

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Vivitar Series 1 70-210 3.5

This lens is pretty amazing, because it's one of the few lens-sensor combos out there that actually looks really good at 0-0-0-0 (using the NATURAL photo style). I did do some minor adjustments, but they're not essential. This lens does have some issues with glowing purples (i.e. chromatic aberration) which can be distracting. Also, be aware that it's a really heavy lens (for its size) and I think it needs to be supported by the sort of adapter that has an integrated tripod mount on it (so it doesn't strain the lens mount on the camera). I didn't have a tripod mount on the adapter I used on my initial tests, and it wasn't very ergonomic, but then I found one on Ebay (Minolta MD mount) and it works much better!

CPL

Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX

(NOTE: Test turning OFF Highlight Shadow for HDR still photos.) (Also, these settings are for WITH the Neewer CP Circular Polarizer filter, and WITH the filter I think NOISE REDUCTION should be set to +4, but WITHOUT, I'd put the settings at +5 because there is too much SHARPNESS without the filter). I had never heard of this lens until recently when I saw it at a local camera store (for a good deal). I've tested the Sigma 17-50 2.8 EX and the Sigma 18-35 1.8 ART, but I didn't know this one even existed! It isn't as "good" as the 18-35 1.8 ART (in a technical sense) but WITH THE CUSTOM SETTINGS I think it's doing a good job (and that's WITH a CPL/circular polarizer attached!!)

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Nikon 80-200 4 AIS

[Vintage lens, and the condition may vary.] This is the "push pull" type of lens, and so I was initially not too excited to test, or recommend it, but this copy didn't have any issues with zoom creep (even when I was pointing the camera upward at birds!)

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Nikon 80-200 4 AIS

[Vintage lens, so condition may vary.] (If you want SOOC, add +1 SHARPNESS, but if you're sharpening in post, leave it at -0.) When I started this test, I wasn't sure if I liked this lens, but after getting these SETTINGS right, I'm starting to like it. What was interesting was that the copy I am testing was NO WHERE near as good as my Nikon Series E 70-210 F/4 at the default settings (-0-0-0-0). This lens has problems with too little sharpness, a LOT of chromatic aberrations (blue, red and purple glows) and inaccurate color rendition, but again, after figuring out these corrective settings, I'm liking it!

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Nikon 80-200 4 AIS

[Vintage lens, and the condition may vary.] When I started this test, I wasn't sure if I liked this lens, but after getting these SETTINGS right, I'm starting to like it. What was interesting was that the copy I am testing was NO WHERE near as good as my Nikon Series E 70-210 F/4 at the default settings (-0-0-0-0). This lens has problems with too little sharpness, a LOT of chromatic aberrations (blue, red and purple glows) and inaccurate color rendition, but after figuring out these corrective settings, I'm kind of liking it!

CPL

Nikon 18-55

NOTE: This test was using a Tiffen CP (Circular Polarizer). Also note that this filter is prone to flare (so use lens shade when possible).

CPL

Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX

I'm really enjoying using this lens on a SHIFT adapter (on the Panasonic GX85. The shift adapter doesn't work on the G85 (because of the obstruction of the popup flash over the lens mount) so that's something to keep in mind. I had never heard of this lens until recently when I saw it at a local camera store (for a good deal). I've tested the Sigma 17-50 2.8 EX and the Sigma 18-35 1.8 ART, but I didn't know this one even existed! It isn't as "good" as the 18-35 1.8 ART (in a technical sense) but WITH THE CUSTOM SETTINGS I think it's doing a good job (and that's WITH a CPL/circular polarizer attached!!) FILTER NOTE: This test was with a Neewer CPL (Circular Polarizer) and while I think the filter is pretty good, Neewer has so many versions of their CPL that it's hard to say which one it is in writing. For this reason, I'm going to try to stick to filter brands that make it easy to identify exactly which filter it is.

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AUTO Mamiya-Sekor 55 1.4

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AUTO Mamiya-Sekor 55 1.4

It's amazing that this lens-sensor combination is almost useable at -0-0-0-0 (default settings) but I worked with the settings further because it has a strange problem of rendering a lot of colorless black in the mid to shadow areas (I know, it seems like it would just be the shadows). I'm not completely happy with these settings, and I don't know if this lens is something I'd recommend. (It also has a sharp aperture coupler that has almost cut my hand a few times).