QUIZ: Which 50mm Lens Shot This? Matthew GoreJuly 21, 2015 Over the past month, I’ve published a couple of videos about differences in image quality produced by three 50mm lenses: the Canon 50mm f/1.4, the Canon 50mm f/1.2L, and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART. In those comparison videos, I’ve pointed out the differences between the image quality and bokeh of the lenses under controlled conditions. I ‘ve done the comparisons, and I’ve pointed out the differences, but I don’t want to make too big a deal out of them. They’re less significant that some people might expect after watching my videos… but of course, the price differences ARE still quite significant, currently (at Amazon): Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM is $340 Canon 50mm f/1.2L is $1350 Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART is $950 Maybe this quiz will help you decide whether the price differences are justifiable, for you. The Quiz Each of the questions in the quiz below will contain at least one image. These images are mostly bad shots from the time I spent shooting for the comparison videos; they’re not great images, and they weren’t specially chosen because they are characteristic of a lens in some way; they’re just random shots. Some of them stand alone, some images are grouped with 100% crops. In each case, you can click on the image to enlarge it so that you can get a better view of the detail. What do you think? Is the Sigma significantly sharper? Does the Canon f/1.2L have a “magical” quality? Let me know what you think in the comments section, below the quiz. 50mm Lens Quiz : Can You Tell the Difference? Please wait while the activity loads. If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled. If loading fails, click here to try again Good luck! Keep in mind that not all of these images are shot wide open, making it especially difficult to tell the images apart. Don't worry about it :-) Start Congratulations - you have completed 50mm Lens Quiz : Can You Tell the Difference?. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. That comes to %%PERCENTAGE%%. This pretty much means: %%RATING%% Post Your Score Below We're not keeping track of the scores (this Quiz software just isn't cool enough). So, after you complete the quiz, please post your score in the comments section below, so that we all have an idea of how well people are doing. Needless to say, people who do well are more likely to post their scores, so if you don't guess well, please make the extra effort to post your score, too! Your answers are highlighted below. Question 1Shot at 1/125th sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 100. This image was shot hand held at 1/125th sec, f/2.8.ACanon EF 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon EF 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1 Explanation: Exactly, although there is nothing in this image that is a dead giveaway.Question 22 This image was shot wide open at 1/2500th sec, at ISO 800.ACanon EF 50mm f/1.4 BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon EF 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 33 This image was shot at 1/2000th sec at f/2.ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 44 - Full Image This image was shot hand held, at night on a city street. The aperture was wide open at 1/60th sec, ISO 800. 4 - Bokeh CropACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 55 Hand held, 1/400th second at f/5.6. ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 66 - Full Image Borris, shot wide open. Click to enlarge. 6 - Detail CropACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 77 Tonkotsu ramen. 1/50th sec, f/3.2ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 88 - Full Image This was shot with the aperture wide open at 1/800ths sec, ISO 100. 8 - Bokeh Brop ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 99 Seen while walking. Wide open, 1/640th second.ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1010 - Full Image If the differences in bokeh between these lenses can tell you anything, it should be visible in this image. This was shot wide open at 1/1250th sec. 10 - Bokeh CropACanon 50mm f/1.,4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1111 Wide open, 1/640th sec, ISO 1600, in Mark Ellinger's glass studio. ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1212 Random beach details. 1/400th sec. @ f/5.6. ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1313 In Mark Ellinger's glass studio. Wide open at 1/250th sec, ISO 3200.ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1414 - Full Image These were also shot wide open. The shot has plenty of foreground detail and background blur, so it should be easier than most of the others. 14 - Detail Crop 14 - Bokeh CropACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1516 Full Image 15 - Detail Crop. However, the plane of focus is in the foreground, on the corn stalk stubs in the water. This image was shot at f/8, from a tripod. ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2LQuestion 1616 1/250th sec. f/1.4. In Mark Ellinger's glass studio.ACanon 50mm f/1.4BSigma 50mm f/1.4 ARTCCanon 50mm f/1.2L Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results There are 16 questions to complete. ← List → Return Shaded items are complete. 12345678910111213141516End Return You have completed questions question Your score is Correct Wrong Partial-Credit You have not finished your quiz. If you leave this page, your progress will be lost. Correct Answer You Selected Not Attempted Final Score on Quiz Attempted Questions Correct Attempted Questions Wrong Questions Not Attempted Total Questions on Quiz Question Details Results Date Score Hint Time allowed minutes seconds Time used Answer Choice(s) Selected Question Text All doneBad guessing.This is what you'd expect if you were guessing randomly, without looking at the images.Pretty good. Your guesses were better than chance.Nice. You could probably distinguish one of these lenses from the others, reliably.How many times did you take this quiz? Share this:FacebookTwitterRedditGooglePinterestTumblrLinkedIn
