FE vs CF/Cfi/CFe lenses : OPTICALLY only, I know the mounting difference

hey guys,

I was talking yesterday with a friend, who since I last talked with him 6mo ago or so(he lives far away), is SOOOO sure that his FE lenses are vastly superior to my CF lenses(50 cf/fle, 80CF, 150CF) in all ways. I'm not so sure. His primary comparison was his 110/2 lens.

I don't like arguing about equipment, but just for my information, I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter. I'm very happy so far with my CF lenses, but after chatting the other day with Christopher Burkett on the phone, he highly recommended the newest CFi/CFe series glass. I'll take his word on the matter, as he both has vastly more experience than I, and his work speaks for itself. He also uses BOTH a 203fe, and a 501cm(maybe a 503cw, not sure, doesn't really matter), so he technically has the "best of both worlds". But he also has 20+ galleries showing his work, so he has the cashflow to buy nice gear, I don't currently(well, at the rate he could). I'm planning on "upgrading" my lenses to the newest models as I can afford to, but so far, my CF lenses are plenty sharp, and very nice in color rendition.

PLEASE can we keep this as a technical comparison only. I know the FE lenses can only work(as designed) on 200/2000 series cameras, and the CF/CFi/CFe lenses can work on both 500 and 200/2000 series bodies.

Having never learned to read MTF charts myself(they look like ocean current sketches to me ) could we also talk in more of a "laymans" slang?

thanks

-Dan

The C, CF, CFi and CFE lenses are all the same optical prescription therefore your friend is all wet. They are all optically the same.

The CFi has the electrical contacts for later cameras than the 503CX that I have.

The CFE has additional close up capability with the adjustable forward element. The same and more close up capability can be had with a C, CF or CFi lens and lens extention tubes for a whole lot less money.

The C lenses use B50 size filters. The rest use B60 size filters. Yes, the departed [deleted] two-letter-Hasselblad troll would point out that there a few CF, CFi and CFE lenses that use larger filters, but that is not the point. For most CF, CFi and CFE lenses, one set of filters can be used for [almost] all the lenses.

The C lenses have an older shutter design and it can be hard to get replacement parts.

Because of the two above caveats about the C lenses, I chose to buy on CF and above lenses. Because of the additional cost of the CFi and CFE lenses, and because I do not need the electrical interfaces, I chose to save the money and buy on CF lenses.

Does that help clear it up?

Steve

Nota bene: No MTF charts were injured, damaged, or destoyed in this post.

Daniel I believe the lens formulas are the same, except the FE lenses have no internal leaf shutter, just an aperture assembly. This greatly simplifies the design of the lens as a whole, but I believe the performance charecteristics are the same as the C, CF, CFx series of lenses. Maybe the CFi lenses have better flare control due to their additional baffling material. The CFi lense also have a more robust mount which apparently can take more abuse than the regular aluminum mounts... I doubt most of us could tell the difference.

What I do know is that the lack of internal shutter in FE lenses, allows for more focusing helicoid and therefore, a closer focus capability than the C, CF, and CFx lenses. Other than that, they are the same optically.