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Archive 2019 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Sir_Loin
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p.5 #1 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

For sheer optical engineering genius for the time:

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 Ai-s. A beautiful hunk of glass that produces exquisite images.

Canon FDn 50mm f/1.2L. Wide open this lens sings. A match for the Noct Nikkor at an eighth of price? Yep!

Canon FDn 300mm f/2.8L. What can I say? Zero aberrations wide open and razor sharp. What more could you ask from a lens still regarded as one of Canons finest.

Aug 31, 2019 at 05:14 PM

snappu
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p.5 #2 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

From the past few years...

1. Leica 50/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH: Gorgeous rendering, impeccable haptics, tiny size. The best 50mm lens ever in my opinion. It's currently glued onto my X1D as a 40/1.1 equivalent lens.

2. Hasselblad XCD 80/1.9: Optical perfection. Mind-blowing clarity and detail with the smoothest OOF transition. This lens will keep me in the X1D camp for a very long time.

3. RX1 (35/2 Sonnar): An absolute gem. Still in search for a 35mm lens that renders similarly. The 35/1.4 ZM comes close but not quite there.

Sep 01, 2019 at 06:06 AM

fferreres
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p.5 #3 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

It�s a very hard question. Definitely not the best or top as there may be more, but at least 3 lenses that I never hesitate to use and have an amazing balance are:

C/Y Vario Sonnar 100-300/4.5-5.6
CY/QBM Sonnar 85/2.8
CY/QBM Distagon 28/2

The last 2 in QBM. There are many favorites as well but those 3 are very versatile. For example, for pleasant portraits Contarex 85/2, for urban night, Rokkor 58/1.4, full body soft portrait, Nikkor S 10.5cm f2.5, for film, Biogon 21/4.5, for unique bokeh (aka many yuck i like it) QBM f1.4 at 35mm and 85mm. My Helios 44-7 is sharper than my Zeiss 50/1.4

Sep 02, 2019 at 04:37 PM

Coltrane
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p.5 #4 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Canon 200mm 2.8 L - at 2.8 renders beautifully for portraits. Small, black, lightweight, easy to handle and doesn't draw attention to itself.

Voigtlander 15mm 4.5 - The small size is terrific! Great for architecture and interiors. I got a good copy and I use it a lot.

Zeiss 28mm f2 ZE - I love the field curvature wide open and it's very sharp across the frame at f8.

Sep 03, 2019 at 06:13 PM

aeonsim
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p.5 #5 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

1) Loxia 21mm F2.8
2) Sony Zeiss FE 55mm F1.8
3) Maybe Minolta Rokkor MC 58mm F1.2

Sep 04, 2019 at 01:30 AM

Peter Figen
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p.5 #6 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Canon 200mm 1.8
Canon 135mm T/S-E
Canon 17mm T/S-E

or

Mamiya 7 43mm 4.5
Mamiya RZ 210 4.5 APO
Mamiya 7 65mm 4.5

Sep 04, 2019 at 01:58 AM

rsrsrs
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p.5 #7 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Contax G 45mm 2.0
perfect unperfect.

Sep 04, 2019 at 04:24 AM

realVivek
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p.5 #8 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Hiep, With all due respect, if I have a favorite lens (I have a many), I will not sell it. I will keep it and keep on using it.

Sep 04, 2019 at 05:23 AM

Guest

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p.5 #9 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Here is my modest input. I don�t have such a huge experience like many long-livers here on FM so my apologies for being too simple.

#1 is Carl Zeiss 100 Makro-Planar f/2 ZE/ZF.2 classic. I�m so curious why nobody mentions it however it used to be very popular here on Alt forum for a while. Love how it renders, its sharpness, separation, flare resistance. LoCA issue disappoints a bit yet corrects easily in ACR.

_MG_5667 - Floral abstract #5 by Alex DROP, on Flickr

#2 is Canon EF 16-35 f/4 L IS USM. Very sharp with good rendering and bokeh close-up. It has field curvature to be aware of. Love its sunstars a lot.

_MG_3410 - Sunset over Dubai Downtown by Alex DROP, on Flickr

#3 is Nikon AF-S 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 VR. A universal superzoom that a must have for a travel photographer. VR is very good. IQ is very good stopped down to f/8-11. At 300mm it is sharp only in the center and for landscape work must be stopped down to f/16.

_DSC2263 - Rocks, the sea and the Moon by Alex DROP, on Flickr

P. S. Many inputs correspond mostly to rendering qualities of lenses making them unique. The only lens that I sold and still miss is ZE 50/1.4 Planar. Def I will re-purchase it soon no matter its drawbacks like focus shift and softness close-up and WO.

Edited by Guest on Sep 05, 2019 at 11:53 AM · View previous versions

Sep 04, 2019 at 11:07 AM

RexGig0
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p.5 #10 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

I did not start serious photography, with my own interchangeable-lens cameras, until 2010, so do not feel that I am qualified, yet, to make an �of all time� declaration, and even among my present lenses, may not yet be ready to name a top three.

1. I was gifted with a pre-owned bag of Canon kit, which my wife had acquired, in order to dabble with digital SLR photography. (She stayed with film, for personal shooting, until she discovered Nikon, and fell in love with a D300s, issued to her by her employer.) Though the Canon XTi (400D) was modest, as were the two zooms, there was a Tokina 100/2.8 Macro AT-X in that bag. To this day, 100mm Macro lenses remain favorites, and, my �top� one is the EF 100/2.8L Macro IS. This is the lens I used from late 2010, until I retired in early 2018, for evidentiary/forensic/crime scene photography, and for much personal shooting. I bought a second one, because the only truly quick insurance policy is a duplicate, safely kept in a second, safe location. I think the EF 100/2.8L Macro IS has earned its place as one of my top three.

The Tokina 100/2.8 Macro AT-X deserves an honorable mention, of course. We still have it. I needed weather-sealing, and Image Stabilization, however, so the Canon Macro L became my work-horse.

2. A pre-owned, well-preserved Leica Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, at Houston Camera Exchange, was the lure that resulted in my post-retirement addition of the Leica M system, in April 2018. I decided that I wanted this individual lens, while trying it on pre-owned and demonstrator cameras, and bought this lens, along with a new M10. I believe that I will keep using the Leica M system, and that the Summilux ASPH is the best combination of optics, ergonomics, features, size, and loveliness of images of people, regardless of cost, among 50mm M lenses. In spite of its short tenure, this one is one of my top three lenses.

3. So very many of my quite-deserving lenses are vying for this remaining position. A totally logical, unemotional choice would be my Zeiss Otus 1,4 85mm ZF.2, so, well, there it is.

Sep 04, 2019 at 01:19 PM

alundeb
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p.5 #11 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Of all lenses I have owned, only one qualifies to a top position of all times.
Zeiss Milvus 35/1.4.

The others come and go. There are however two lenses that I cannot get myself to selling, despite that I never use them anymore.
Canon EF-S 60 mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.0 L

I also want to own a 400 mm f/2.8 lens, and a good small 28 mm lens. The first I cannot afford/justfy and the second I cannot find.

Sep 04, 2019 at 01:45 PM

robgo2
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p.5 #12 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Best portrait lens that I have ever used: Leica Summilux-R 80 f1.4. Like its sibling, the Summilux-M 75 f1.4, it is a classic Walter Mandler design. The rendering, especially of faces, is radiant and wondrous. I have used it for several years on a Leica SL, a perfect match. But because of arthritic hands, I am in the process of transitioning to a smaller system and will have to let go of my Summilux 80. I know that I will never find another lens like it again.

Sep 04, 2019 at 03:29 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.5 #13 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

robgo2 wrote:
Best portrait lens that I have ever used: Leica Summilux-R 80 f1.4. Like its sibling, the Summilux-M 75 f1.4, it is a classic Walter Mandler design. The rendering, especially of faces, is radiant and wondrous. I have used it for several years on a Leica SL, a perfect match. But because of arthritic hands, I am in the process of transitioning to a smaller system and will have to let go of my Summilux 80. I know that I will never find another lens like it again.

I agree entirely Rob. And I am very sorry to hear about your hands . Not sure if it matters given the athrisis, but the 75 Lux is noticeably lighter than the 80 Lux (owned both) in real use, and the adapter is smaller too. Maybe you could trade in your 80 and pick up a 75?

Sep 04, 2019 at 05:05 PM

burningheart
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p.5 #14 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

1. 50 Lux - My most used lens on my Monochrom.
2. EF 50 1.0L - My favourite macro lens using extension tubes. The softness/bokeh factor at 1.0 is awesome.
3. FD 50 1.2L - In my film/slide days this was my most used lens.

Sep 04, 2019 at 08:29 PM

Hardcore
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p.5 #15 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

I really only have 2 favourites after many years of using some pretty impressive lenses.

Nikon 58mm F1.4G

&

Nikon 28mm F1.4D

Both have amazing rendering that I just can't get enough of.

Nikon 58mm

Nikon 58mm

Nikon 58mm

Nikon 28mm

Nikon 28mm

Nikon 28mm

Edited on Sep 05, 2019 at 02:10 PM · View previous versions

Sep 05, 2019 at 10:25 AM

nehemiahphoto
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p.5 #16 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Would be good to see samples showing the favored lenses. That's how the thread started--much more attractive and illustrative than just text!

Sep 05, 2019 at 11:13 AM

robgo2
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p.5 #17 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

nehemiahphoto wrote:
I agree entirely Rob. And I am very sorry to hear about your hands . Not sure if it matters given the athrisis, but the 75 Lux is noticeably lighter than the 80 Lux (owned both) in real use, and the adapter is smaller too. Maybe you could trade in your 80 and pick up a 75?

The problem for me is not just the Summilux-R 80 but the SL body itself. Lifting it to shooting position puts painful pressure on my right thumb joint. This happens even when I have smaller M lenses mounted on the body. When I started with the SL, I had the SL24-90, which was completely out of the question. The same would be true of all the SL primes.

I might add that the CL is not only lighter and smaller, but the IQ is just about as good. I know it sounds like heresy, but I cannot see a significant difference other than in DOF. Also, some of the TL prime lenses are right up there with the SL primes. Hence, I have decided to sell my SL and most of the M and R lenses that I have been using on it. Parting with the Summilux-R 80 will bring a tear to my eye. I hope that it will find a good home.

Sep 05, 2019 at 11:30 AM

DannyBurkPhoto
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p.5 #18 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

AlexDROP wrote:
Here is my modest input. I don�t have such a huge experience like many long-livers here on FM so my apologies for being too simple.

#1 is Carl Zeiss 100 Makro-Planar f/2 ZE/ZF.2 classic. I�m so curious why nobody mentions it however it used to be very popular here on Alt forum for a while. Love how it renders, its sharpness, separation, flare resistance. LoCA issue disappoints a bit yet corrects easily in ACR.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48465412916_2a6f5d7514_o.jpg
_MG_5667 - Floral abstract #5 by Alex DROP, on Flickr

#2 is Canon EF 16-35 f/4 L IS USM. Very sharp with good rendering and bokeh close-up. It...Show more →

Gorgeous images! You've reminded me that I should use the Zeiss 100/2 makro ZE more often. Whenever I use it, I'm pleased with the lovely bokeh, yet I usually choose something else because of its occasional purple fringing.

My all-time favorite flower lens is the 50/1.4 ZE. And recently, its twin, the Contax 50/1.4. The latter is easier to focus because it lacks the softness of the ZE at close range, yet its beautiful bokeh is nearly identical.

Sep 05, 2019 at 12:29 PM

robgo2
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p.5 #19 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Here are a couple of portraits taken with the above mentioned Leica Summilux-R 80 f1.4 on a Leica SL.

Sep 05, 2019 at 03:35 PM

apoglass
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p.5 #20 · Your Top 3 Lenses of All Time

Top three lenses of all time is a tough decision, but would have to consider (1) the Jenoptik CoastalOpt 60mm f/4, UV-VIS-IR SLR APO Macro; (2) the Leica 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R; and (3) the Cosina Voigtl�nder Macro APO-Lanthar 125mm f/2.5 SL.

Feel badly about robgo2 deciding that he is being forced to sell his beloved Leica Summilux-R 80 f1.4 because of hand arthritis. Suggest that robgo2 consider some of the many alternative ways of more comfortably supporting the weight of his favorite camera and lens, that might work around the joint pain issue:

1) Use the left hand under the lens and wrist under the camera bottom, lifting the camera and lens, to support the weight, so that the right thumb is not stressed;

2) Use a wrist strap around the back of the right hand to support the camera's weight, attached from the camera strap attachment on top, to an attachment using the tripod screw at the bottom of the camera. (For example, the Camdapter Kidskin Leather Hand Strap Black #CDHS-KS.);

3) Mount the camera on a monopod, walking stick, tripod, studio camera stand, or clamped to a 3 or 4 wheeled walker, to avoid putting weight on the hands; or,

4) Use the camera like a Rolleiflex, hanging around the neck with a padded neck strap, instead of handheld, framing using an LCD screen pivoted to horizontal, 45 degree mirror behind the vertical LCD screen, a 90 degree small optical viewfinder mounted in the camera accessory shoe (such as a Carl Zeiss Ikon Prism Brilliant Finder), or an external electronic viewfinder such as an eyeglass mounted display or an external monitor (or cellphone). [Not sure if the Leica SL has a movable LCD screen, but the Leica Summilux-R 80 f1.4 adapted to a Nikon Z6 or Z7 can be used hanging around the neck with the LCD display angled to the horizontal.]

Sep 06, 2019 at 03:54 PM

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