Methods for Measuring 50% MTF and Contrast at 10 lpm

50% MTF (modulation transfer function):

Tests were run at 87 inches from the target. An Edmund Scientific lens resolution chart was illuminated with a monolight flash modeling lights. The camera and lenses were mounted on a Bogen 3033/Arca Swiss B1 tripod/head combination similar to the resolution tests.

There is general agreement that perceived image sharpness is more closely related to the spatial frequency (lp/mm) where MTF is 50% (i.e., where contrast has dropped by half) than to resolution alone. I used the Koren 2003 lens test chart developed and explained by Norman Koren to calculate 50% MTF. Printed test charts were placed on the Edmund Scientific Test Chart as in the middle and edge of the chart as shown here. The chart was photographed under tungsten bulb lighting. A Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II was set at ISO 100, tungsten bulb white balance and shot with + 1.3 EV using evaluative metering with the camera set for mirror lockup. Raw files were converted to 300 dpi tifs with Capture One Pro v. 3.7.3. Measures of 50% MTF were calculated using the central chart and edge chart. Calculated values were center weighted (70% center; 30% edge.) and also plotted for center and edge values alone.


The imaged sine patterns were analyzed withand measurements were made on the resulting Plot Profile to determine line pair per mm frequency of 50% contrast as explained in detail on the Norman Koren website.

Details of calculating 50% MTF:

1. The 5mm Koren 2003 lens test chart designed to be printed at 25 cm long (50X magnification) was downloaded from the Koren website and printed on semi-gloss paper with a Epson 1270 printer at 1440 dpi. Charts are trimmed and mounted on the Edmund Scientific Test Chart as shown:



2. The chart is photographed at a working distance that is 1/2 the recommended distance so that the entire Edmund Scientific chart can be photographed for resolution and determination of 50% MTF. It is also possible to detect lateral chromatic and other aberrations from the same test images. The distance from the chart was calculated at d1=(M+1)f where d1 = lens to target distance (mm) and f = lens focal length (mm) and M=25. The reduction of distance by 1/2 requires that lp/mm figures read off the chart be adjusted by 1/2.

3. Photographic RAW files are converted to tifs with Capture One Pro. The tif files are opened in image analysis software to analyze the sine patterns on the chart (top band). I used ImageJ software, public domain software off the NIH site.



Click on "File" and then "Open" to select and open the tif of interest.

4. Click on the "magnifying cursor symbol" to fill the window with the Koren chart image and click on the "hand" icon to move the chart image into the middle of the window.

5. Click on the line icon and draw a straight line through the upper sine pattern bar on the Koren chart.



6. Click on the "Analyze" menu and select "set scale" and enter "known distance" as "25" and "units" as "cm".

7. Click on "Analyze" again and select "Plot Profile."

8. A sine wave pattern will be generated and displayed.



9. The full amplitude of the sine wave on my computer screen has a 7 cm sweep. I just take a rule and run it down the plot towards 25cm until the amplitude is 50% (3.5 cm). In the example, 50% amplitude is at 17 cm on the chart. This corresponds on a plot of cm of chart versus a log plot of spatial frequency below to 147 lp/mm.



10. Because the working distance was decreased by 1/2 when photographing the chart, the lp/mm value is divided by 2 to generate the 50% MTF value.

Because 50% MTF has been calculated by evolving methods throughout the series of lens reviews, results from one review cannot be compared directly with those of another review. Comparisons can only be made within the same review.

Details of calculating contrast at 10 lpm

Contrast is calculated as the ratio of sine wave amplitude at 12.5cm on the plot compared to maximum sine wave amplitude in the plot. The point of 12.5 cm on the plot corresponds to 20 lp/mm on the Koren chart. Again, because meaurements are being made at 1/2 the regular working distance from the camera lens to the chart, this is actually the ratio of the sine wave amplitude to maximum at 10 lp/mm. Calculated values were center weighted (70% center; 30% edge.) and also plotted as center and edge values.