Have we become obsessed by ever faster lenses
p.4 #1Have we become obsessed by ever faster lenses
Let me share a personal anecdone and over-generalize from there! 
Personally, the lenses I'm discussing online and the lenses I'm actively using on a daily basis are very different.
My "active" lenses are well known to me. I understand their characteristics, strengths and limitations. Frankly, there's nothing to discuss and I don't have any questions to ask and I don't expect to learn anything new about them. I want my aperture rings. I want my sub-400g weight. I know that.
The lenses I'm discussing here and other online communities are different. Often, they are NEW. Of course a new product is more interesting to talk about than a 5 year old design. Second, I don't own most of them, which makes me curious. And finally, price is not a concern. A new $3K Otus? Sure, let's obsess over its CA and coma! I don't have a budget for it, but for online bullshitting price doesn't matter anyway.
Switching now to over-generalization: I'm assuming it goes similarly with all of us. Just like on car forums people constantly talk about $200K supercars while commuting in their CR-V. It doesn't mean they're obsessed with racing. New, fast, heavy, and expensive lenses are just more fun to talk about.
Personally, the lenses I'm discussing online and the lenses I'm actively using on a daily basis are very different.My "active" lenses are well known to me. I understand their characteristics, strengths and limitations. Frankly, there's nothing to discuss and I don't have any questions to ask and I don't expect to learn anything new about them. I want my aperture rings. I want my sub-400g weight. I know that.
The lenses I'm discussing here and other online communities are different. Often, they are NEW. Of course a new product is more interesting to talk about than a 5 year old design. Second, I don't own most of them, which makes me curious. And finally, price is not a concern. A new $3K Otus? Sure, let's obsess over its CA and coma! I don't have a budget for it, but for online bullshitting price doesn't matter anyway.
Switching now to over-generalization: I'm assuming it goes similarly with all of us. Just like on car forums people constantly talk about $200K supercars while commuting in their CR-V. It doesn't mean they're obsessed with racing. New, fast, heavy, and expensive lenses are just more fun to talk about.
Mar 03, 2026 at 05:57 PM
p.4 #2Have we become obsessed by ever faster lenses
johnahill wrote:
I shoot mainly at f4 and below for landscape and cityscapes, would love to see offerings other than the race for the fastest aperture. 24-135 f4, 135 3.5, 400 5.6 and so on
Am I alone or is everyone in love with 50-150 f2 behemoths?
I am with you! I'd love to see an f/4 24-200 with some really good IQ.
I shoot mainly at f4 and below for landscape and cityscapes, would love to see offerings other than the race for the fastest aperture. 24-135 f4, 135 3.5, 400 5.6 and so on
Am I alone or is everyone in love with 50-150 f2 behemoths?
I am with you! I'd love to see an f/4 24-200 with some really good IQ.
Mar 04, 2026 at 09:10 PM