All time favourite lens ?

dynachrome · Oct 24, 2009

All Time Favorite Lens

For a long time my favorite lens was the 35/2 Konica Hexanon with the all metal focusing ring. Once I started collecting I got experience with a lot more equipment. Now I would say my favorite lens is the 35/2 Canon FS SSC with the concave front element. Other lenses I really like include: 28/2 Canon FD SSC, 90/2.5 Vivitar Series 1, 50/1.4 Minolta MC Rokkor-X, 55/3.5 Micro Nikkor PC, 105/2.5 Nikkor (all versions), 55/1.8 Takumar SMC, 55/1.8 SMC Pentax, 135/2.5 Canon FL, 135/2.8 Vivitar Close Focusing, 200/3.5 Minolta MC Rokkor-X, 28/2.5 Vivitar Fixed Mount, 100/2.8 Zuiko, 50/3.5 Zuiko Macro, 100/2.8 Vivitar Macro, 200/4 Nikkor QC, 135/2.8 Nikkor QC, 'K'.

Christopher Walrath · Oct 24, 2009

I have got to go with my Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 MD mount w/ 49mm filter threads. I have made many photographs with this lens over the last 9+ years. I have had a lot of Minolta and other glass come and go but this one lens has stayed with me through the years. It is a constant companion. I have had fancies for other lenses in my arsenal at one time or the other. But the 28 is my baby. Until this response I never really realized it either.

Curt · Oct 24, 2009

http://www.cookeoptics.com/cooke.nsf/products/xva.html

I don't have one yet but it's my favorite lens.

Poisson Du Jour · Oct 24, 2009

Canon TS-E 24mm f4L (aspheric)
I bought it in May 1996; it took 3 years to pay off and that time plus 5 more years to learn and refine technique by rote (limited published information on technique and advanced application). Being manual focus and precise a magnifier is required to zero focus. Wouldn't ditch it for any reason.

jeroldharter · Oct 24, 2009

Don't know about "favorite" lens for 35mm but the most valuable to me was a Cambron 80-210 (or something like that) zoom lens that I bought from Cambridge Photo back in 1981. It was awful in every way but it was all that I could afford at the time. It taught me to wait until I could afford better!

My favorite 35mm lens was a Carl Zeiss 35mm f2.8 lens for my Contax. It was small, sharp, and contrasty.

Pumal · Oct 24, 2009

Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4 I wish I could find it again.

EASmithV · Oct 24, 2009

Pre-AI Nikkor 50mm f1.4

Sharp when you want it, soft when you need it.

elekm · Oct 24, 2009

Carl Zeiss/Zeiss-Opton f/1.5 50mm Sonnar

Carl Zeiss f/2.8 85mm Sonnar

Carl Zeiss/Zeiss-Opton 21mm Biogon

Rollei f/2.8 40mm Sonnar (for the Rollei 35 RF)

Carl Zeiss f/1.8 50mm Planar

Fireguy2002 · Oct 25, 2009

Does it say something about me that as I ran around yesterday trying out my new AV-1, The most used lens was a 70-210? Sounds like I can't make a good picture without cutting things out. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

Dennis S · Oct 25, 2009

Carl Zeiss 135mm f/3.5... M42

eSFotos · Oct 25, 2009

Carl Zeiss Vario-sonnar 35-70mm f3.5 in C/Y
Its IQ is better than my Carl Zeiss Distagon 35mm and Plannar 50mm.

perkeleellinen · Oct 25, 2009

Nikkor 16/2.8

The only reason I still shoot with an SLR.

benjiboy · Oct 25, 2009

Canon FD 85mm f1.8

timk · Oct 25, 2009

hmm, the only 35mm lenses I've used are olympus OM Zuiko so I would say:

Olympus OM Zuiko 100 f/2.8
Olympus OM Zuiko 50 f/3.5 Macro

Joe Grodis · Oct 25, 2009

Nikon 7.5mm f/5.6 Fisheye (1966-1970), only 2,500 were made and it very well be the rarest Nikon lens ever made.

mikebarger · Oct 25, 2009

I'd have a hard time choosing between the 18mm F4 Nikkor and the 105mm 2.5 Nikkor....

Mike

ken472 · Oct 25, 2009

I once had a Canon 35mm f1.8(?) I'm trying to remember. It was a Leica screw mount. I used it on my Leica IIIf for years. It was fantastic. I now use my 50-135 f3.5 AIS for my Nikons more than any other. I also love my 105 f2.5 AI.

Laurent · Oct 25, 2009

Canon EF 85/1.8. It's fast, sharp, AF is wonderful... It's almost my "standard" in 35mm now.

liquid695 · Oct 25, 2009

Leica APO- Summicron - R 90 mm f2 ASPH

liquid695 · Oct 25, 2009

sorry i forgot the reasons : Fast & sharp

Andy38 · Oct 25, 2009

Two zoom lenses with Canon 1n : 17-40 f4 and 80-200 f2,8 : good construction and sharp .

Existing Light · Oct 25, 2009

When I'm taking pictures at concerts (which I dont do much of anymore), I like my Canon 70-200mm F/4. Because I wanted to save money and get the regular F/4 instead of the 2.8 or 4 with Image Stabilization, I got pretty good at push processing HP5+

My Pentax SMC F/2 is my favorite "walking around lens." I used it at a Renaisance Festival yesterday and had a lot of fun with it. I like not having to be 4 feet away to focus, and not having 6 pounds hanging on my neck is nice

Jeff L · Oct 25, 2009

I have two fav's - the Zeiss Distagon 25 and Planar 100 f2 for Contax.

Joachim_I · Oct 25, 2009

For 35mm, the 50th anniversary version of the 50mm Summicron. Excellent handling combined with high optical performance.

John R. · Oct 26, 2009

For 35mm format I would have to say the Contax Zeiss optics. I really like the 85mm and the 300mm. Would love to try the 18mm.

All time favourite lens ?

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