In my opinion the top five lenses off all time for 35mm format are:
100mm f/2 Kinoptik Apochromat
Leica 90mm f/2 Apo-Asph R
Canon 85mm f1.2 L II
Olympus Zuiko 100mm f/2 ED
Leica 100mm f2.8 Macro-Apo R
I think each of these lenses represent the ultimate in concept and image quality largely unmatched by any other lens in this category. A wish list lens for would be an 85mm f/1.4 Apo-Asph at an "affordable" price say under a grand from Sigma. I know they could do it and I wish they would. Such a lens would blow the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZE out the door since the Zeiss lens seems to offer nothing new on paper in it's optical design, no Aspherics, no low dispersion glass.
From your list, I can only comment on the Zuiko 100/2, which I had, but for that work for which I was using it, I have replaced it with the Voigtlander 125/2.5 Apo Lanthar. Note that given the increase in focal length, the f/2.5 is equal to the f/2 for the 100mm. It is heavier, bigger, but includes a 1:1 macro range.
The Apo Lanthar has also replaced my 90/2 Zuiko, obviously the 135mm lenses, but not the Zuiko 85/2 which I prefer for portrait work due to its relative softness.
The Cosina/Voightländer 125mm 2.5 Apo Lanthar, Pentax 85mm 1.4 and Nikon 85mm 1.4 are definitely up there with the best. I just wish Sigma would come out with a superb aspheric 85mm 1.4 with ELD glass to eliminate chromatic aberration at full aperture. It seems Sigma is making some outstanding prime lenses these days especially their 70mm 2.8 Macro with SLD glass and the aspheric 50mm 1.4.
I've had a few of those lenses, but no longer. Any choice for a best all time lens depends heavily on your shooting style and subject matter. MTF test targets at a single focus distance don't do too much for me. Here's my list:
knodl wrote:
In my opinion the top five lenses off all time for 35mm format are:
100mm f/2 Kinoptik Apochromat
Leica 90mm f/2 Apo-Asph R
Canon 85mm f1.2 L II
Olympus Zuiko 100mm f/2 ED
Leica 100mm f2.8 Macro-Apo R
pdmphoto wrote:
I've had a few of those lenses, but no longer. Any choice for a best all time lens depends heavily on your shooting style and subject matter. MTF test targets at a single focus distance don't do too much for me. Here's my list:
It'll be a tough one for me too, David, when the ZE 21 comes out.
OM 21/3.5: so compact it's not even funny, great image quality, subtle contrast curve, relatively cheap
ZE 21/2.8: superior optics, big and dorky, microcontrast monster, relatively expensive (or at least presumably so at this point)
Back in the mid-nineties while living in Manhattan I borrowed a friend of mine's Angenieux 180mm 2.3 APO and shot it with Fujichrome Astia 100 for a bridal fashion catalog using this lens at full aperture which captured the bridal gown detail magnificently along with a wonderfully diffuse background. The great thing was this lens was wonderfully light in weight and hand holdable throughout the two hour shoot despite the fast aperture and focal length. I never did acquire this lens for myself but I did manage to get a Tamron 180 2.5 LD Anniversary lens that was very similar in performance. I still have the Tamron and plan to get a HappypageHK adaptor for my 1Ds MK II. I am very curious to see if this lens has IQ parity with the esteemed Canon 135mm f/2 L.
