Let’s start with the transmission graph and its comparison to the similar graph we got for the Canon 1.8/50 II.
We knew from the very beginning that there would be differences in transmission of the Canon and the Yongnuo because the coatings had different colour. The Canon was praised for its transmission performance even though the losses of 0.7% on one air-to-glass surface meant the coatings weren’t of the best quality. As the maximum result of the Yongnuo is exactly the same as that of the Canon (93.5%) and the number of air-to-glass surfaces (10) is similar as well, the losses on one surface amount to 0.7%. It seems the technology used in both lenses is similar.
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What’s interesting, the Yongnuo might actually render colours a bit better than the Canon. Although its graph is a bit more wavy it features a higher transmission level for blue and purple light. In the case of the Canon a lower amount of transmission for that colour might turn the image slightly yellowish which shouldn’t happen to Yongnuo. What’s more, the Chinese lens would be a perfect tool for taking infrared photos because at wavelengths higher than 700 nm its transmission can noticeably exceed 90%.
The photos below are an excellent example that the quality of coatings is not the only factor determining the performance against bright light. The Canon was hardly perfect in this category but it didn’t get any truly weak results either. The Yongnuo, with coatings of similar quality, fares definitely worse. It is much easier to catch flares with the tested lens and in some cases they are so bothersome that they can destroy the whole frame. It seems the constructors of the Yongnuo’s internal design didn’t apply themselves.
