Your best lens.

[Ed Sukach]

I don't have a "best". To me, that is much like choosing which of you children you love the most.

The one that surprised me the most is my "Old" Olympus Zuiko Auto-Zoom f:4 f=75-150 (reading it directly form the lens). This is one of the first 35mm format Zoom lenses avialable - and it is complicated: 15 elements in 11 groups. I initially bought this "used" and it had noticeable pin-cushion distortion.

It was in my darkroom during a GREAT flood we had here - camera, lenses, everything, submerged in muddy water. A local Camera Repair shop (their work was so good thry had to limit the amount of business they accepted - ring the buzzer and ask for "Charlie") had attempted unsuccessfully to disassemble, clean and repair this lens - no success - so it went to Olympus for repair (Japan?).

It is now a REMARKABLE lens - completely distortion-free. The resolution and contrast from this lens is damned near magical.

I once photographed a collection of jewelry pinned to a *fine* mesh support, and the "mesh" was easily distinguished, corner-to-corner, center - everywhere - across the frame.

I have used this lens extensively in photographing work for submission to Art Schools - probably the most demanding photography of all. The applying student (and his/ her teachers) will be the first critics -- and I know of no greater test for the "technical characteritics" of photographic work.

 

[eclarke]

The one I find on the camera the most is my 210mm Sinaron S. I have 6 other 210 lenses, but htis is my favorite...EC

 

[Vaughn]

OK, I'll be the smarta$$ and say the best lens is the one that does the job ... ahem ... snip...Regards, Art.

You are correct, of course.

Two of my favorite and relatively recent 8x10's that I have platinum printed were taken by a lens that is very soft in the corners and dark there as well -- an Ex.W.A. Wollie 6.25" f12.5 (it is even marked "8x10"). Using one's best screwdriver to tighten a bolt just won't work...

Vaughn

 

[Tom Duffy]

For 35mm I like the older "bokeh" type lenses:
1. The 50mm pre-asph Summilux on the Leica M
2. The 80mm Summilux on the Leica R
Both are great people lenses from wide open to f4 and very, very sharp at f8.

For 5x7 and 8x10 the 150mm Apo Symmar XL is just extraordinarly sharp.

Special guest lens (since I've already exceeded the total):
The 135mm f2 Canon for EOS. This is unquestionably the sharpest lens I've ever used and the out of focus areas look very good, as well.

Take care,
Tom

 

[BradS]

In 35mm it's a toss up between the Nikon 2.8/28mm and the 2.5/105 AIS Nikkors. Both of these lenses just amaze me whenever I use either of them.

 

[JBrunner]

1915 Voigtlander Heliar, extracted from the Galli lens excavation site in Nevada. Its mine I tell you... mine!
My precioussssss.....loves it I do.

Why?

Its a lens thing....if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand.

Runner up:

G-Claron 210- This is a mutant made by Jim's little green men. Tack sharp, slow where it is sweet, and utterly magnificent on every count, under the right conditions. Brutally unforgiving when you get it wrong. But hey, I like it rough.

 

[Black Dog]

1) 180mm Mamiya Sekor for M330 -dead cheap used and top qualityEasily my most used lens.

2) 90mm Tamron SP macro-my most used lens on 35mm. Cheapish used and very sharp-the bokeh is pleasing too!

 

[Woolliscroft]

Does it have to be a camera lens? I think my best lens is probably my 105mm Rodogon enlarger lens which is wonderfully sharp.

David

 

[Lachlan Young]

An early 90s Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.4 - crisp and clear and perfect!

Ed - I have one of those 75-150s lying around here somewhere - they are fantastic lenses, albeit a little slow compared to the Olympus prime lenses of similar focal lengths - then again the 75-150 is usually a fraction of the price of something like a Zuiko 100mm f2!

Lachlan

 

[bob100684]

105 f2.5 nikkor for sure.

 

[John Simmons]

The 38mm Biogon on my Hasselblad SWC/M. Sharp beyond belief.

Regards,
John

 

[Dan Fromm]

The 38mm Biogon on my Hasselblad SWC/M. Sharp beyond belief.

Regards,
John

John, you have no idea what that lens can do. You didn't praise it strongly enough.

I have one, remounted from an aerial camera into a Copal 0 by Steve Grimes, that I shoot on a Century Graphic. On 2x3, not 6x6, even though it doesn't come close to covering 2x3. It puts no image at all in the corners. But square is pretty constraining and the lens covers usefully more.

When mine came back from Steve I fell madly passionately stupidly in love with it and couldn't make myself use any other lens on 2x3 for a couple of months.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[ehparis]

My 35mm Nikkor 85mm f1.4 AIS. It's razor sharp and the bokeh is great. It's much more versatile than just a portrait lens. It's great for isolating any subject.

Can I be buried with the lens of my choice?

 

[cullah]

50 Alpa Macro Switar, Summilux 75mm/1.4, Canon 24mm/2.8 SSc, for 8x10, 150mm Super Wide Angle Scientific lens co. This last lens is super soft wide open and sharp stopped down.

 

[Black Dog]

John, you have no idea what that lens can do. You didn't praise it strongly enough.

I have one, remounted from an aerial camera into a Copal 0 by Steve Grimes, that I shoot on a Century Graphic. On 2x3, not 6x6, even though it doesn't come close to covering 2x3. It puts no image at all in the corners. But square is pretty constraining and the lens covers usefully more.

When mine came back from Steve I fell madly passionately stupidly in love with it and couldn't make myself use any other lens on 2x3 for a couple of months.

Cheers,

Dan

Yeah, used one of them in college and they rock-I've got to get me another one!

 

[Mick Fagan]

I have a lens kit for my Nikon bodies that range from 18mm through to 600mm.

However lenses I would take anywhere, and do are:- my 105 2.5 AIS it is so versatile, it can be used as a perfect portrait lens and/or landscape lens, is very small and takes 52mm filters. It isn't as bitingly sharp as my 85 1.4 Nikkor, but it is a better all round longish lens.

My other take anywhere lens is my Sigma Super-Wide II 24mmm 2.8. I bought this new for someone else in 1985 and due to circumstances, had to keep it. It has turned out to be my sleeper lens and I include this with my travelling set-up, it takes 52mm filters as well.

I finish off my go anywhere kit, with a 55 2.8 Micro Nikkor. This lens has a sharpness from edge to edge designed for photocopying. When used as a general purpose lens it can be used as a 1/2 life size through to infinity with no apparent loss of definition at infinity, even though it really is designed for closer focusing. For technical pictures of components, machinery or even typed words on paper, it is nearly peerless. It also takes 52mm filters!

Mick.

 

[keithwms]

Lens, lens, lens....

Shoot large format, you won't even need one

 

[Tom Stanworth]

OK, OK...to pick one, the one which most knocked by socks off, incl relative value etc:

Canon 135 F2L. Stunning and relatively good value for an L lens. A quarter of the price of a comparable Leica lens (say a 90 f2 APO) and optically unbettered. I could not believe the detail on portraits taken on the first test roll when I inspected them with a loupe.

 

[Struan Gray]

35 mm: 43 mm Pentax Limited. A truly transparent tool.

6x6: 150 f2.8 F for Hasselblad. Wide open it's a wonder. Stopped down I prefer the bokeh of my old Kowa 150, but away from my beloved tangled undergrowth the Ziess wins.

4x5: most used is a 420 Apo-Ronar. Nice, and it gets the job done, but a compromise: shutter's too big, focal length is a tiny bit too short, backgrounds can bit slightly too busy. The lens I love, but use less at present, is a 240 Germinar-W. Gobs of coverage for some of my oddball movements, nice bokeh, small, light, compact. Like the Pentax 43, it's transparent in use, which lets me concentrate on looking.

 

[Antje]

35mm: My Canon MP-E 65/2.8, because it lets me do thinks (macro from 1x to 5x life size) that no other lens will let me do like this. Runner-ups are, of course, the two Tamron macro lenses, the 90/2.8 and the 180/3.5. Both for the joy they bring when shooting bugs.

6x6: I thought long and hard about it, but I think the 150/4 C for Hasselblad I rescued on that auction site is my favourite. The focal length is probably what I use the most because of just the right amount of compression, and the bokeh - lovely.

Antje

 

[JPD]

Small format Retina lenses. Sharp and contrasty:
Xenar 2,8/50
Heligon 2,8/50

6x6 (Rolleiflex and Rolleicord):
Planar 3,5/75. - The six element version. Extremely sharp. Does it's best already at f:5,6.
Tessar 3,5/75. - Extremely sharp. Does it's best at f:11.
Triotar 4,5 and 3,5/75. - Very sharp and contrasty for a triplet.

6x9 folders:
Solinar 4,5/105.
Tessar (Jena DDR) 3,5/105. - The sharpest in this category.
Heliar 3,5/105. - Uncoated. Very sharp stopped down. I love the pleasing, almost 3D effect with this lens. Lower contrast with colour, but I prefer b/w anyway.
Dagor 6,8/100, C.P.Goerz Berlin - Sharp, contrasty, and give results that feel very "clear".

Plate camera 6,5x9:
Heliar 4,5/105. - Like the Heliar above, perhaps a little better.

 

[titrisol]

I love most of my lenses, but I think these are among the BEST in all categories:
Micro-Nikkor 55/2.8 AIs

Takumar SMC 55/1.8

Nikkor 28/2.8 AIs

And looking back, the one I'll ever regret losing
Tokina 28-70/2.8 (with a Nikon FE2 attached)

 

[nik4s]

In 35mm there are a few but I love the 180mm f 2.8 AF
in 120 my Hassy swc/m with its 38mm

 

[Magnus W]

I have just been printing, and I tell you that even if i switch system I'm going to keep at least one of my pentax MX's, so I can keep shooting this here smc (k) 28/3.5

Holy crap what a lens.

-- MW

 

[k_jupiter]

35mm - 105/2.5 Nikor although the 50mm Industar on my Zorki 1 is pure funk.
120 - 65mm Mamiya TLR but I am getting fond of my 180mm rb67 'C' lens
3x4 1926 135/3.5 Tessar. No movements but tack sharp.
4x5 150/6.3 Fujinon


so there it is 6 best lens.

tim in san jose