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Archive 2016 · Your favorite lens rendering...?

  
 
DannyBurkPhoto
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Otus 85 (all-time favorite)
Apo-Sonnar 135/2
ZE 35/1.4 Distagon

Honorable mention: Loxia 50 - just got it last week, so I've not done much yet, but so far I'm very pleased.

Others that I've not used personally:
ZM 35/1.4
Loxia 21 ? - trying to determine if it's better on A7RII than my Distagon 21



Oct 12, 2016 at 03:51 PM
Coltrane
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Your favorite lens rendering...?



My favorites of lenses I own...

Canon 200mm 2.8 L - Love the bokeh and rendering wide open more than my 135mm f2.
Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.7 - I use this at f2 for close ups and f8 for distance. Great sharpness & color. One of the best bang for the buck lenses ever.
Zeiss ZE 28mm f2 - Field curvature at f2 makes for some incredible close ups. Very sharp at f8.

Of lenses I do not own...

Canon (or Nikon) 200mm f2 - outstanding for subject isolation.
Canon 400mm f4 DO II (with either 1.4X or 2X extender) - amazing results with extenders.
Zeiss (ZE or ZF) 21mm 2.8 - I've seen so many great photos with this one.



Oct 12, 2016 at 04:34 PM
JohnJ
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


This kind of question is of course subjective because the quality sough by one person might be abhorrent to another. I suspect many people would change their mind in the future too.

My own lenses:
1/ FE 1.8/55 Zony for it's soft/smooth background bokeh more than anything else but superb sharpness WO and fast AF are all good too.
2/ Leica R 1.4/80. It's two lenses in one, dreamy aberrations wide open with nice background rendition but can be uber sharp when needed too. I like it's rendition around F2.
3/ Leica R 2/180. Superb sharpness and background bokeh WO with no need to ever stop it down except for greater DOF.

Honourable mentions:
Zuiko, 1.4/50 (sharp WO, soft low contrast colours, funky bokeh), Rodenstock APO-Rodagon-N 4/80 enlarging lens (soft background bokeh), Kodak 4.5/75 Enlarging Ektar enlarging lens (soft background bokeh), Meopta Meogon 2.8/80 enlarging lens (sharp with funky bokeh), Mamiya M645 1.9/80N (sharp WO, soft low contrast colours, funky bokeh)

In the category of others lenses and ignoring the moral 'Though shalt not covet they neighbours lens':
1/ Canon 1.8/200. I've never seen it's equal especially for softness in background bokeh.
2/ The sony 1.8/135 is amazing
3/ probably some of the apodization lenses, but not any specific one



Oct 12, 2016 at 05:04 PM
philip_pj
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


First, a great thread - one that deals with photography! So thank you Ulff, and to those posting the fine images already here. More important than the listed lenses are the reasons why, this goes (obviously) to taste and subject matter and lighting conditions. As an 'all light conditions, all subject matter' travel guy, reliability and consistent high performance rate very highly indeed.

So, four I cannot separate:

CY 100-300
RX1 35/2
CY 100/3.5
CY 35-70/3.4

Others from other photographers? Too many to list, but include: Zeiss 135/2 APO, CY 35/1.4, Milvus 85/1.4.
I'll leave with one from a lens widely derided as clinical, lots of LoCA, boring etc. See if you agree, and this one will do this kind of work all day long. [Hint: JJ mentions it]







Oct 12, 2016 at 07:28 PM
rico
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Ulff wrote:
Top 3 lenses you know from images from other photographers.

Had to think about this for awhile, but here's my list:

Nikkor 105/1.4E - sharpness detuned in favor of smooth rendition, low CA
Zony 50/1.4 FE - large but possibly the best-performing 50, AF (unlike Otus)
Leica Apo-Elmarit-R 180/2.8 - the shorter version of TAT280, and just as highly corrected

Too many great lenses these days. Even if you had the budget and space for them all, a lifetime isn't long enough to enjoy them properly.



Oct 12, 2016 at 07:52 PM
ocean2059
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Here are my top three choices of the lens that I have:

1. Leica Summilux-M 35mm ASPH FLE
2. Zeiss Otus 55mm
3. Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm

The other lenses that the images that I like:

1. Leica Summicron-M 50mm APO
2. Zeiss Otus 28mm
3. Leica Summicron-R 180mm APO



Oct 12, 2016 at 09:44 PM
wayne seltzer
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


My favorites:
Otus 55 - Unique Otus transparent rendering, apo,
great colors and sharpness wide open
across frame, and neutral bokeh.
Otus 28 - Just like 55 but wider. Just got this one but
love it already.
ZE/ZF 21 Distagon - my number 1 landscape lens.
Contax N 85/1.4 - My favorite portrait lens with gorgeous soft bokeh and sharpness even wide open with great Zeiss colors.
ZA 135/1.8 - Beautiful soft bokeh and sharp with nice 3d rendering ability.
RX1 Sonnar- My best 35

Honorable mentions:
Rokkor 58/1.2
C/Y 35/1.2
Leica R 180/2.8 APO
C/Y 100/2 Planar
Nikon 24/1.4G
Biotar 75/1.5




Oct 12, 2016 at 09:46 PM
Luvwine
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


This is really hard! I really love the Zeiss 21/2.8 Loxia and Zeiss Loxia 50/2 as they both have lovely rendering with beautiful sun stars. However, I also really like the 28 Summilux, Leica 135/3.4 apo, 180/2.8 apo, and 280/4 apo. All the Leica Apo glass is special.

A few from this week:

Loxia 50:

http://m5.i.pbase.com/o9/91/505291/1/164236265.V2ZICQD5._DSC6962.jpg


Loxia 21:

http://m1.i.pbase.com/o9/91/505291/1/164248141.nze6ygFB._DSC7431.jpg


Leica 135/3.4:

http://m8.i.pbase.com/o9/91/505291/1/164273478.JRS3QkiC._DSC7683.jpg


Leica 28 lux:

http://m4.i.pbase.com/o9/91/505291/1/164238374.4xnpXsBr._DSC6966.jpg


From other's images? I admire all of the Otus lenses and the Zeiss 135/2 but not sure I would want to carry them around. Ditto for the GM 85/1.4 and Zeiss ZA 135/1.8. Tough to argue with the optics tho!



Oct 12, 2016 at 10:21 PM
teh_rebel
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


My Top 3:
- Rokkor 58/1.2 - magical lens as some might say
- Carl Zeiss 35/1.4 HFT Rollei - with the 3-blade aperture, not everyones cup of tea but unique, also awesome wide open
- CY 35-70/3.4 - not much of a zoom person but this one is special. Just wish it was wider than 35 to start



Oct 12, 2016 at 10:45 PM
cputeq
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Interesting post, tough choices.

I'd have to say

1) Zeiss 100/2 Makro (though honestly a pain to use in non-macro situations)

2) Sony/Zeiss 55/1.8 (though honestly a pain to use, because on a Sony camera)

3) Fuji 90/2 (though I haven't used it at all)

I'm typically a big fan of the Zeiss contrast and vignetting, but Fuji's 90/2, from the billions of samples I've looked at, looks really good -- vibrant, pop, lively.

Honorable mentions -- Any of the Panasonic-Leica lenses for m43, ZE 35/2 (even with its heavy vignetting wide open), Leica-R 90/2, Zeiss 21/2.8 (though I haven't owned it).



Oct 13, 2016 at 07:18 AM
Ulff
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Thanks for all your input so far - I had a lot of fun reading about your personal preferences of your favorite lenses in respect to their rendering! Most interesting for me where the reasons why you like the lenses. Some lenses like the Zeiss 21s where the usual suspects, other lenses where a priori a bit unexpected. I haven't expected for example the Zeiss 50 f1.7 or the Zeiss 100 f3.5 in this list. I was also happy to see for example the older Sigma EX 50 f1.4, a lens not talked much about anymore but with a very nice rendering in my opinion (it's the only remaining 50mm AF lens in my collection because of it's wonderful smooth bokeh).

Here's a list with the most often (>2) mentioned lenses with personal experience (in brackets how often they were mentioned):

(5) Minolta 58 f1.2
(4) Zeiss 35mm f2.0 on Sony RX1
(3) Zeiss ZE/ZF 21mm f2.8
(3) Zeiss Loxia 21mm f2.8
(3) Leica M 28mm f1.4
(3) Zeiss ZE/ZF/CY 28mm f2.0
(3) Zeiss C/Y 35mm f1.4
(3) Leica M 35mm f1.4 ASPH
(3) Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4

Taking additionally into account lenses you like judging by images from others, these five lenses could be added to the above list (in brackets the of all menetions):

(6) Zeiss ZE/ZF 135 f2.0
(4) Leica 50mm f0.95
(3) Zeiss Otus 28mm f1.4
(3) Leica 120mm f2.5
(3) Sony ZA 135mm f1.8

The most favorite brands (only with personal experience) where, not so surprising for the Alt forum:

(37) Zeiss
(21) Leica
(7) Minolta
(5) Canon
(5) Sony



Oct 16, 2016 at 12:52 AM
nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


sebboh wrote:
rx1 lens:
http://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3839/14378585492_c4f9342d19_o.jpg
m 35 lux pre-asph:
http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7241/27109776301_5bfa4947cf_o.jpg
c/y 35/1.4:
http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7113/13496695733_015667e9ed_o.jpg
and one non-35mm, rokkor 58/1.2:
http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1711/26007940982_9808c20416_o.jpg



As often, we have extremely similar taste Derek. Have you shot the Olympus 100 f2?



Oct 16, 2016 at 01:17 AM
lbloom
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


To pick lenses from four very different formats:

m43: Panasonic Leica 42.5/1.2 Nocticron. Good enough reason to shoot m43 by itself.
35 FF: Zeiss Distagon 28/2. Gorgeous rendering.
6x7: Mamiya 7 -- either 43/4.5 or 65/4. Character and subtlety as well as technical brilliance.
1": Nikon 1 32/1.2. Graceful, like old Nikkors in some ways.

Other mentions:
Nikon 24/1.4G
Sigmalux (Sigma 50/1.4 EX, pre-art)
Zeiss Milvus 85/1.4
Panasonic Leica 25/1.4
Zeiss Distagon 21/2.8

Edited on Oct 16, 2016 at 03:55 AM · View previous versions



Oct 16, 2016 at 01:27 AM
nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


wayne seltzer wrote:
My favorites:
Otus 55 - Unique Otus transparent rendering, apo,
great colors and sharpness wide open
across frame, and neutral bokeh.
Otus 28 - Just like 55 but wider. Just got this one but
love it already.
ZE/ZF 21 Distagon - my number 1 landscape lens.
Contax N 85/1.4 - My favorite portrait lens with gorgeous soft bokeh and sharpness even wide open with great Zeiss colors.
ZA 135/1.8 - Beautiful soft bokeh and sharp with nice 3d rendering ability.
RX1 Sonnar- My best 35

Honorable mentions:
Rokkor 58/1.2
C/Y 35/1.2
Leica R 180/2.8
...Show more

I am happy to see you included the N85



Oct 16, 2016 at 01:32 AM
sebboh
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


nehemiahphoto wrote:
As often, we have extremely similar taste Derek. Have you shot the Olympus 100 f2?


i have not. always wanted to try one but haven't seen any at a good price and always had other lens buying priorities.

i did try the OM 90/2 and was a little disappointed (largely because i was comparing it directly to the cv 125/2.5 APO not because of any real flaws with the OM).




Oct 16, 2016 at 01:40 AM
nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


Minolta 85 1.4 Limited -- The extraordinarily rich but delicate colors, slight optical under correction and smoothness for perfect skin is superb It has the smoothest bokeh of any 85 I have shot (bested the Milvus, 85L, Samyang, etc.)

Contax N 85 - My favorite Zeiss portrait lens--unusually deep and rich colors even by Zeiss standards, excellent shadow details, unique bokeh, perfect degree of sharpness for portraits. Lots of 3D.

CY 35 - the 3D, the color, the speed, the versatility. Lens is fabulous for environmental portraiture, nature and a favorite for urban decay and dogs.

** The RX1 sonar is magical as well, but sadly it's anchored to that lousy body--fly by wire MF, lousy af, unergonomic and no real EVF, and I can't change the sensor...

Honorable mentions:
CY 100 f2
ZA 135 (Despite no loving the FL or size, I kept re-puchasing this gem...)
Leica R 80 (Mandler masterpiece, only got bumped from the top by the Mino Limited)
Milvus 85 - so good, so fat
Mino 58 1.2 (favorite 50, nearly always shot at f2, 1.2 for fun, and stopped down it's great)
CY 50 1.7 - cracking contrast, good separation, wonderful CY colors, but bokeh is a bit meh...
Loxia 21 - it does't get any better, it really doesn't
Minolta 80-200 2.8 (best people tele zoom, lovely overall)
Contarex 85 f2 (vintage--should have kept mine, prices seem to have soared in the last 2 years)
CV 35 1.7 - size, IQ, subtle and gentle CV rendering






Oct 16, 2016 at 01:59 AM
nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


sebboh wrote:
i have not. always wanted to try one but haven't seen any at a good price and always had other lens buying priorities.

i did try the OM 90/2 and was a little disappointed (largely because i was comparing it directly to the cv 125/2.5 APO not because of any real flaws with the OM).



I have an oly 100 f2, and am in PDX, we should meet up and shoot. What did you think of the CV 125? That's a lens that's been on my radar forever.



Oct 16, 2016 at 02:00 AM
sebboh
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


nehemiahphoto wrote:
I have an oly 100 f2, and am in PDX, we should meet up and shoot. What did you think of the CV 125? That's a lens that's been on my radar forever.


i loved the cv 125 APO, wonderful focus transition and color clarity, also pretty much impossible to detect any loCA. just an awesome lens for macro, portraiture, and still great for landscape. it is a bit too long a focal length for me to use often though (even 85mm is a bit long for me for portraits most of the time).

meeting up sounds great, hopefully the rain will let up for a bit soon to make shooting easier.




Oct 16, 2016 at 11:47 AM
wayne seltzer
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


nehemiahphoto wrote:
I am happy to see you included the N85


Glad you mentioned it too! At least there are a few here who still appreciate it's goodness and shoot with it. I just shot the local Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival with it on my 5DSR and it rendered so many beautiful portraits yesterday.
Next year I think I will bring my ZA 135. Glad you mentioned that fine lens too.



Oct 16, 2016 at 02:39 PM
Gunzorro
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Your favorite lens rendering...?


My favorites are sort of Alt, but not really.

My top choice for somewhat technical "look" is the Canon 24 TSE II, along with the other three in this order: 17, 45, and 90. Nothing quite matches the Canon TSE's!

Next, also for clean technical look, is the Canon 16-35L IS.

For etherial look, or highly selective focus, I like the Canon EF 50/1.2L.

Alt special mentions to Nikon 180/2.8 ED AIS and Leica R 60/2.8 macro.

The above are mostly used on Canon bodies, but also frequently on Sony a7R, and only the 180 and 60 macro are on Nikon mount, but adapted to Canon/Sony.



Oct 16, 2016 at 03:01 PM
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