Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5 mm f/1.2 Asph. P.O.I.S. review - Image resolution

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Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5 mm f/1.2 Asph. P.O.I.S.

9 January 2014

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test of the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5 mm f/1.2 Asph. P.O.I.S. was based on RAW files from the Olympus E-PL1. In the case of that body the highest results, reached by the best fixed focus lenses, amount to about 80 lpmm (and the record value of 82.6 lpmm belongs to the Voigtlander 0.95/25, with the Olympus 1.8/75 not far behind).The decency level is set near 44-45 lpmm.

Let’s have a glance at the graph below and check how the tested lens compares.

Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5 mm f/1.2 Asph. P.O.I.S. - Image resolution

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The performance in the frame centre can be described only as brilliant - already at the maximum relative aperture you get useful images, with the MTFs as high as 48 lpmm; then, on slight stopping down, they rise to 50 lpmm and continue the swift increase afterwards. By f/2.8 you exceed 80 lpmm and by f/4.0 the lens is hitting its peak performance – almost 82 lpmm. It is a sensational result, within the margin of error the same as the record values of the Voigtlander 0.95/25 and the Olympus 1.8/75.

The performance on the edge of the frame can be described in very positive terms as well. Even at the maximum relative aperture the images you get are useful, with the MTFs getting to 47 lpmm – a very important feature and a very good result, taking into account the aperture fastness of the lens. On stopping down the resolution first increases quite slowly but from f/2.8 it improves faster. By f/4.0 the lens performs the best – a value of 67 lpmm ensures very high image quality.

At the end, traditionally, we present crops taken from our testing chart photos which were saved as JPEG files along with RAW files, used for the analysis above.