Feature Guide
Side-by-Side Compare
Compare up to four lenses at once across every test category. Full f-stop control, synchronised test switching, and a specs comparison table — all in one view.
How to Add Lenses
From the Database, Discover grid, or any lens detail page, click the Compare button to add a lens to your comparison list. You can queue up to four lenses at a time. The compare count badge in the navigation updates in real time — and a subtle glow animation plays beneath it each time a lens is added, so you always know something landed.
Compare walkthrough video — coming soon
Lab Tested vs All Lenses
Lab-tested lenses are the only ones with visual test data — these are lenses we've physically shot through in our testing lab. Lenses that aren't lab tested will not have any test data to compare. You can switch between viewing lab-tested lenses only or all lenses in the database.
Side-by-Side Visual Comparison
Once on the Compare page, your selected lenses are displayed side by side with synchronised controls. Choose a test category — flare, bokeh, sharpness, distortion — and all lenses update simultaneously. Each lens slot is labelled A, B, C (and D) so you can clearly identify which camera result belongs to which lens. Watch the illustration below as lenses are added one by one and the active test cycles between categories.
Cooke SP 50mm
Choosing Tests & Sub-Tests
Select which test you want to compare from the top bar — Sun Test, Night Flare, Nature Scene, and more. All selected lenses will show the same test, same sub-test, and same f-stop, so every comparison is truly apples-to-apples. Switch sub-tests to see different aspects of the same category.
Screenshot of the test selector with sub-test pills
F-Stop & View Controls
Use the f-stop selector to compare how each lens behaves at the same aperture — this is where optical character differences really reveal themselves. Toggle between stills and video for motion-based evaluation, or switch to widescreen mode for anamorphic and cinema-format viewing. All controls sync across every lens in the comparison.
Screenshot of compare controls showing f-stop and video/stills toggle
Keyboard Shortcuts
Use arrow keys to navigate compare data without touching your mouse. Up and down arrows cycle through f-stops; left and right arrows step between shot slots. In fullscreen mode the same shortcuts apply, letting you evaluate test data at speed. The keyboard shortcuts button in the bottom-left corner shows a quick reference.
Change F-Stop
Cycle through available f-stop values for the current test
Change Shot Slot
Step between different shots / frames within the current sub-test
In fullscreen mode the same shortcuts apply — ↑↓ change f-stop, ←→ change shot slot.
Specifications Comparison Table
Below the visual comparison you'll find a specifications table that puts every technical detail and character trait side by side in a clear table format. Character trait badges are colour-coded so you can instantly spot differences — where one lens runs warm, another might lean cool. It's the fastest way to evaluate optical personality differences.
| Cooke SP 50mm | Atlas Orion 65mm | ARRI MP 40mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 50mm | 65mm | 40mm |
| Max Aperture | T2.2 | T2 | T1.3 |
| Mount | PL | PL | PL |
| Era | Vintage | Modern | Contemporary |
| Flare Character | Warm | Leans Cool | Cool |
| Bokeh Texture | Smooth | Textured | Slightly Smooth |
| Sharpness | Soft | Sharp | Clinical |
Fullscreen Compare
Click any individual test image to open it in the fullscreen viewer. From fullscreen you can step between lenses, toggle frame guides, enable crop overlays, and scrub through video tests. It's the same powerful viewer used on lens detail pages, available directly from the compare context.
Screenshot of fullscreen comparison with two lenses
Managing Your Compare List
Remove individual lenses from the compare list by clicking the X on their card, or clear the entire list to start fresh. Your compare list persists across pages — add lenses from the Database, find more on Discover, and they'll all be waiting when you visit the Compare page. The list is stored locally, so it survives page refreshes. You can also drag to reorder lenses.
Screenshot showing the remove, clear, and drag-to-reorder actions
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