would a cheap prime lens improve photogrammetry on 24mp cam?

gnoop · Jan 24 2026

I have sony a6000 24 mpix APC-s camera with default kit zoom lens pz14-50. Photogrammetry have always been so-so an softy with this camera. Chat GPT tells me it's a soft lens and uses only 60% of matrix resolution. Which surprises me because I always though its sensor resolution mostly .

Chat tells me all those boke , corner sharpness ,color accuracy are irrelevant for the photogrammetry and suggests to buy a cheap prime (fixed manual lens) less then $100 and it will provide sharper details in the center which is only thing that really matter.

I wonder does anyone tried such lenses ? like this https://radojuva.com/en/2021/03/7artisans-1-8-25mm-hd-mc/

for example . would it really be better than the kit lens?

Does anyone ever dealt with such a cheap lens. Are they really doing better geometry? I once had much more expensive prime and it worked nicely, , but perhaps chatGPT is right and a cheap one is enough?

Sempoo · Jan 25 2026

Kit lenses are almost always inferior. Most important is lens MTF, it is best at apertures around f/8 [lower for wide angle lenses and higher for tele].

gnoop · Jan 25 2026

Thanks.Sempoo it hard to find mtf values for cheap lenses. looks like nobody cares to measure. I took my info from imaging-resource.com before but after it had been sold it all gone from there. There are a few cheap manual lenses around currently . like TTArtisan 23 mm https://www.5050travelog.com/camera-and-lens-reviews/ttartisan-23mm-f14-review

but i couldn't find any objective resolution value MFT or old fashion lines per mm.

General perception those cheap lenses do nice crispy details in the center and blurry corners but I think it's not so important probably for actual photogrammetry.

So I wonder if anyone did have an experience? Those cheap lenses are usually small and light weighted vs pro ones. I am lazy to wear a big bulky thing in my scanning trips

Sempoo · Jan 26 2026

Again, hair splitting.
Approach this problem in the way that you make photographs in manual mode, ISO100, f/8, 1/125s or more [but not less due to camera shake] - this will be enough. Or you can even use tripod or even monopod.
Did you googled 'sharpest lenses'?

gnoop · Jan 26 2026

Yes I googled sharpest lenses . Those would be Sigma ones for sony e-mount and they are not that much expensive too. I just wonder if they do any difference vs this TTArtisan 23 mm or even kit lens when set at f/8 or f/5.6 I don't like too soft mesh details I get from a6000 with those apertures and it's definitely not a tripod /mono pod issue since I got excellent mesh details from 19 mpix foveon matrix Quatro dp2 camera just of hands with 1/250 sec .

I think most of expensive lens value goes to maintain good resolution at f/1.4 . in a word totally redundant thing for photogrammetry . its where all those bulky extra lenses and expensive glass parts go. Gemini and chat GPT say "sharpest lenses" would still matter. I just wonder if it's true around f/8 or 24mpix Bayer would never show anything close to Foven matrix anyway?

pior · 6:11AM

Step 1 : do some research, meaning reading manufacturer info and user reviews.

Step 2 : do the thing you want to do with the resources you have at your disposal.

Step 3 : if you aren't satisfied with the results, post them online for people to have a look and give you advice based on their own experience, or bring them to your local photo store for professional advice.

https://xyproblem.info/

gnoop · 7:45AM

Thanks pior it's a good plan indeed. Just not very much related to the specific question I am asking : if anyone have experience with a cheap, all manual prime lenses and whether they give an essential resolution boost in resulting mesh on 24mp cameras . Simple like that . No XY something.

I just hoped folks here might since cheap primes are usually small and very travel friendly and artists in my experience usually like small cameras with small lenses since photography equipment is not their main occupational expenses.

pior · 11:56AM

IMHO you're still skipping on the most basic step of troubleshooting which is to provide a practical case of what you're having an issue with, for people to have a look.

And as the person having the issue, there's no way for you to know that your envisioned solution (in this case, buying some other lens) is actually worth spending time and money on. There could by many other factors, but by framing the issue on only one of them you might be robbing yourself of a solution.

would a cheap prime lens improve photogrammetry on 24mp cam?

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