Best lenses by Manufacturers

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Every manufacturer has same superb lenses and some lemon too.
I think nice to have a thread what is contains superb lenses by Manufacturers, please help me to improve this post.

CANON

Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen)

All of them !

Carl Zeiss Jena

LEICA M

LEICA R

KONICA

Nikon

Zooms

Soviets

Yashica

Yashica ML 24mm f2.8
Yashica ML 28mm f2.8

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

ZEIS JENA (I added)
Flektogon 2,4/35
Sonnar MC 3,5/135

LEICA M
Summicron 2/35
Summicron 2/40 (in comunion with minolta)
Summicron 2/50 (The "minolta" version 6 elements in 5 groups)
Summilux ASPHERICAL 1,4/35 (The first aspherical)
Summilux 1,4/75 (at 5,6 the bests images that I saw- 3D)
Elmar 4/135 (virtually, an apo lens)

LEICA R
Elmarit 2,8/35
Summilux 1,4/50
Elmarit 2,8/180

CANON
L 1,2/85
L 2/135
L 2,8/200

KONICA
1,7/50 (the old non mc)
1,8/85 (may be the best short tele with the summilux)
2,8/35

Richard_D · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2378 Location: Faversham Kent UK

Tricky!

I think for the Nikkors you need to add the 55mm 3.5 micro-nikkor. As to the 50mm's Whilst my favourite 50mm is the f2 I don't know that it's better than the 1.8 or 1.4 just different. Similarly I'd put the 20mm 208 above the 3.5 but I know some people prefer the f4. The 135mm 2.8 probably deserves a place and it's difficult to find a better 24mm than the Nikkor 2.8...

How do you define best? Wink

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

How to define best ? Almost impossible that is true from so many great ones.

Schnauzer · Expire: 2012-03-08

Please keep this going. I'm not a collector and only want lenses that I will use. I didn't think I would get caught up in this, but I like the f/2.4 35mm so much that I got from Attila that I want more. It is no better than my L glass, but very much to my surprise it seems to be just as good.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I also have lots of trouble defining the "best lenses", but I will put together a list of the lenses that I know I would buy again should I have to sell them first - which is the best approximation to the "best lens" concept that I am able to offer Laughing

Nikkors

Auto Nikkor-UD 3.5/20
Nikkor 1.4/50 AI(S?)
Auto Nikkor-H 1.8/85
Nikkor 2.5/105 AI

Soviets

MIR-24N 2/35
MIR-36B 3.5/65
Volna-9 2.8/50 macro
Helios-40-2 1.5/85
Jupiter-37 AM 3.5/135
Tair-11M 2.8/135
Jupiter-21M 4/200

Leicas

Elmarit-R 35
Elmarit-R 90
Summicron-R 90
Elmarit-R 135

Zeiss Oberkochen (Contax)

all of them Embarassed

Zeiss Jena

Flektogon 4/20
Tessar 4.5/40
Pancolar 1.8/50
Tessar 3.5/50
Sonnar 4/135
Sonnar 2.8/180
Sonnar 2.8/200

Yashica

ML 2.8/24

I have little experience with the other main brands (Olympus, Tamron, Pentax, etc) so I can not give opinions.

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

[quote="Orio"]I also have lots of trouble defining the "best lenses", [/quote]
I have the same problems. Now I assume that I can't do this and don't matter to me.
I recognice that I "fall in love" with some lenses and, after a time, I change my love for others. But I don't sell the firsts, may be that I fall in love with them again.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

It is pretty hard to define the best lens from one manufacturer, since you need to have the chance to compare different versions of the same focal length.

But I like the idea and thus I try to participate.

Leaving all the already mentioned lenses out, I think these lenses must also be in that list:

Soviet
- Zenitar 2.8/16 Fisheye
- MIR-1B 2.8/37
- Helios-44-2 2/58
- Tair 3-S 4.5/300
- Jupiter-12 2.8/35 P (M39 RF)
- Industar-61 L/D 2.8/53 (M39 RF)
- Volna-3 MC 80/2.8 (MF)

Komine
- Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 2.8/28
- Vivitar MC Close Focus Wide Angle 2.0/28

Tokina
- Vivitar Wide-Angle 3.5/17 MC

Asahi Pentax
- Pentax-M SMC 2.8/28
- Asahi SMC Takumar 3.5/35
- Asahi Super-Takumar 1.4/50
- Pentax-M SMC 1.7/50
- Asahi Super-Takumar 2.8/105

Kiron
- Kiron 2.0/28 MC
- Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 2.5/28

Olympus
- Olympus Zuiko Auto-W 3.5/28
- Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-S 1.4/50
- Olympus Zuiko Auto-T 3.5/135

Nikon
- Nikkor-N.C 2.8/24
- Nikkor-O 2.0/35
- Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55
- Nikkor-H 1.8/85
- Nikkor-Q.C Auto 3.5/135

Mamiya
- Voigtländer Color-Ultron 1.4/55 AR (Mamiya)
- Mamiya Auto Sekor 1.8/55

Yashica
- Yashica ML 1.7/50

Rollei
- Rollei Planar SL 1.8/50

Meyer
- Meyer Optik Trioplan 2.8/100 V

Leica
- Elmarit-R 2.8/35

Soligor
- Soligor C/D 3.5-4.5/28-105 MC Zoom+Macro
- Soligor C/D Zoom+Macro 3.8-5.3/35-200 MC
- Soligor MC 3.5/70-220 Macro

Sigma
-Sigma Zoom-0 II 3.5-4.5/28-85 MC

Hoya
- Hoya HMC 3.5/25-42 Zoom&Macro

Tamron
- Tamron SP 3.8-5.4/60-300 MC 23A
- Tamron SP 3.5/70-210 CF Macro MC 19AH

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

LucisPictor, HI!!

I noted that you had chosen the "Voigtländer Color-Ultron 1.4/55 AR (Mamiya)".

Yes, this was a mamiya's lens. And the rolleinar 1,4/55 - for the same mount, was mamiya too. And both could be based on mamiya /sekor 1,4/55 lens (may be from tamioka factory ).

You saw any differences betweem them (of corse the MC)??

Thanks.

Fotal · Expire: 2013-08-21

any Contax G lenses?

Even if I love the Nikkor 135/2 to death I think many photog:s will notice the CA in bright specular highlights.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

All Contax lens are superb Smile

we not make yet any list from them

rbsinto · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:18 am Post subject:

you can also add these to your list;
Nikkor 105 2.5 AI
micro-Nikkor 105 f4 AI
Nikkor 300 2.8 ED AIS
Zoom-Nikkor 80~200 2.8 ED AIS

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

rick_oleson · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

I'm a little surprised not to see the 80/2.8 Biometar as one of the great CZJ lenses listed above (maybe I missed it). Surely this is an excellent and historic lens; I don't know if the later Schneider Xenotar and Zeiss Planar in the f/2.8 Rolleis were copies of the Biometar, but they are suspiciously similar; perhaps all were developed from a common prewar design. My understanding is that the Biometar design was shelved due to flare issues until AR coatings became available and then it was brought back off the shelf. The 120 Biometar is also reputed to be one of CZJ's best but I have never had one of those.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

In my opinion 80mm Biometar and 120mm are excellent lenses as all Carl Zeiss lenses. I have Biometar 80mm in many variants and 120mm in MC, zebra etc. They are excellent glasses trully.I didn't put into the list because I found in this range two lenses are lot better, Pancolar and Biotar.

orly_andico · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 253 Location: Philippines

my understanding is that the Biometar is the Jena designation for the Planar, which was invented in the 1890's but shelved in favor of the Sonnar until AR coatings came out (too many air-glass surfaces).

zewrak · Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 1212

Hm. The Pentax 85/1.8 don't make it?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Don't know they are different lenses with different behavior.

NikonD · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 1922 Location: Slovenija

what about Volna-3 80/2.8? Is it any good?
I've got a good chance of bying it for 85€ inc. shipping costs and P6 to Nikon adapter....

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

NikonD · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 1922 Location: Slovenija

thanks for the answer... another question is about Kaleinar 100/2.8
any good?
but probably I'll get volna instead

thanks!

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Also very good. Again, a search will show you... Wink

BenediktW · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Solingen, Germany

Hi people!

First visit for me after some time.

I agree almost completely with the list as far as the Nikkors are concerned (some very intelligent mentionings like the 55mm Micro f3,5!), and I would just like to add the 28mm AiS (the famous close-focus-version) and the 35mm F2 Ai(S). And I´d like confirm the quality of the 200mm F4 also for the pre-Ai-version (which already looks Ai-like and has a built-in lens hood).

And of course, count the 28mm F2,8 Mamiya/Sekor sx in. What a terrible gap...

Greetings
Benedikt

DSG · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 544 Location: London, UK.

Is a supprisingly good lens...The samples on this site dont look good at all but then they they were taken WO and this lens is best stopped down to f4-f5.6...Heres some samples:
@f5.6:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4160/sdim3164cst5.jpg
@f4:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/654/sdim3215cic9.jpg
@f4:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2496/sdim3340cwx6.jpg
Its not too heavy, it has reasonable contrast, its well made and its bokeh is'nt too bad either...But the best bit is its low price, which will save you hundreds over the price of a used Nikon 135mm f2.
The only downside is that its not too hot WO.

Asa100 · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 57

smc Pentax-k 28mm/3.5
smc Pentax-k 35mm/3.5
smc Pentax-a 50mm/1.7

There are other good Pentax lenses but I do not know