One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?

Tronhard — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:37:57 GMT

One of the most challenging tests of a lens is it's ability to handle a significant crop without having the resolution fall apart. So, I went to the reptile house, a fairly dimly-lit place with the the animals behind glass - so not, in itself, an inspiring environment to shoot in. Still, the skinks and geckoes can be rather beautiful if one can get an up-close image.

I have taken some previously with some super tele zooms: such as the Sigma 60-600s, RF 100-500 and even RF 200-800. This time, I was bringing the RF 24-240 super zoom lens to check it out, and see if I could not only get one of the tiny creatures in focus (given the DoF would be razor thin), but whether it could be cropped in effectively.

I concentrated on some of the more colourful characters and here are the results. The first shot is a bit of a bonus as some tiny crickets had been let loose in the enclosures for the geckoes and skinks to feed on.

Shot RAW+JPG, cropped and lens corrected in PS and massively downsized. Shot single point centre BB focus, and single point centre metering, hand-held, no fancy layers etc., so I hope a reasonable representation of the lens' performance.

The original JPG image as shot.
R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-1000

Same image cropped.
R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-1000

The Elegant (AKA Auckland) Green Gecko is barely 4" (100mm) from nose to tail, but it has wonderful colouration.

R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-2500 R6II, RF 24-240@240mm, f/8, 1/250sec, ISO-2500

Not a bad lens, I reckon...

Re: One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?

JFG — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:39:56 GMT

Hi Trevor,

As always, great job on your test photos showing the ability of the RF 24-240mm super zoom to handle significant crop without having the resolution fall apart. Kudos to you, Kiwi ! 🙂

Re: One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?

Tronhard — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:25:12 GMT

Thank you, Joe! It's a great lens and a surprise for a lot of folks who see super zooms as inherently seriously compromised.

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One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?

Re: One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?

Re: One Test of a RF 24-240 Super Zoom Lens - Does it Handle a Crop?