Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

What are the best fast lenses?
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:16 am    Post subject: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
I have been using using Canon cameras for more than 20 years. I really like the FD cameras and lenses. I also use a Canon digital camera quite a lot, but unfortunately, Canon FD lenses don't adapt well to digital cameras. I've always liked fast lenses, and my "fantasy" trio of lenses would be the original Canon FD 24mm f1.4 aspherical, 55mm f1.2 aspherical, and 85mm f1.2 aspherical. They are, unfortunately, probably out of my price range.

This got me to wondering two things.

What are the very best, very fast wideangle, normal, and short telephoto lenses for 35mm cameras? Price is no concern here.

Which lenses are the best compromise between sharpness and price? I'm curious about these three categories of lens:

1. A wide angle lens that is faster than f2.
2. A 50, 55, or 58mm f1.2 lens.
3. An 85mm (or similar) f1.4 or 1.2 lens.
5 A 135mm f2 lens.

I'm curious to here what everyone thinks about this. Thanks,

--Geoff


PostPosted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:

1. A wide angle lens that is faster than f2.
2. A 50, 55, or 58mm f1.2 lens.
3. An 85mm (or similar) f1.4 or 1.2 lens.
5 A 135mm f2 lens.



1) Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AIS
2) Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS
3) Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f1.5
5) Carl Zeiss 135mm f2

I have experience with above lenses , most of them I have it. I can't talk from others what I never used.


PostPosted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:59 am    Post subject: Re: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
gcrimmins wrote:
Which lenses are the best compromise between sharpness and price? I'm curious about these three categories of lens:

1. A wide angle lens that is faster than f2.
2. A 50, 55, or 58mm f1.2 lens.
3. An 85mm (or similar) f1.4 or 1.2 lens.
5 A 135mm f2 lens.


"Best compromise" will have different meanings for different people. One can always get a small increase in quality at the expense of a huge increase in price. The users have to determine themselves how much they value the next quality step...

For example, in the wide angle department, the Sigma EX 24/1.8 is a very good lens (in autofocus flavor), but you can't go wrong with a Zuiko 21mm f2 either, although I doubt you can find one for much cheaper than a Canon 24/1.4. For me, it's the Sigma 24/1.8, simply because I cannot afford better fast wide lenses.

For normal lenses, I like my Porst 55/1.2 lens made by Cosina. Here also, there are probably better options available (Tomioka/Yashinon 55/1.2), but this one does the job for me. On rangefinder cameras, my favorite is the Canon 50/0.95, because I don't have the cash for a Noctilux.

For "portrait lenses," I love the fabulous Helios 40-2 85/1.5. If I had more money to spend, the Pentax A* 85/1.4 is my favorite.

As for 135mm lenses, the Sigma-made 135/1.8, which was sold under different brands is a great lens derived from the classic Sonnar optical formula (great bokeh). The Pentax A* 135/1.8 is probably better, but it is way too expensive for me -- and still inferior to my cheaper Voigländer 125/2.5 anyway.

Cheers!

Abbazz


PostPosted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:47 am    Post subject: Re: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
This question is hard to answer. It's a bit like "What is the best fast car?" Wink
I really think that everybody develops a personal taste with lenses. There are some lenses (e.g. the Jupiter-9) that some people really like, other loathe.

gcrimmins wrote:
What are the very best, very fast wideangle, normal, and short telephoto lenses for 35mm cameras? Price is no concern here.

1. A wide angle lens that is faster than f2.
2. A 50, 55, or 58mm f1.2 lens.
3. An 85mm (or similar) f1.4 or 1.2 lens.
5 A 135mm f2 lens.


0. Zeiss Distagon 4/18, Zeiss Distagon 2.0/21, Olympus Zuiko 3.5/18
1. Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35 or Leica Summilux 1.4/35
2. Zeiss Planar 1.2/55 (anniversary edition)
3. Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4 ZF or Zeiss 85 f/1.2 (anniversary edition) or Leica Summilux-R 1.4/80
4. Zeiss Planar 2.0/135


gcrimmins wrote:
Which lenses are the best compromise between sharpness and price? I'm curious about these three categories of lens:

1. A wide angle lens that is faster than f2.
2. A 50, 55, or 58mm f1.2 lens.
3. An 85mm (or similar) f1.4 or 1.2 lens.
5 A 135mm f2 lens.


0. Tamron SP 3.5/17
1. Nikkor 1.4/35
2. Nikkor 1.2/50
3. Nikkor 1.4/85
4. Zeiss Planar 2.0/135


PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:37 pm    Post subject: Re: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
LucisPictor wrote:


0. Zeiss Distagon 4/18, Zeiss Distagon 2.0/21, Olympus Zuiko 3.5/18


Not to be nitpick, but there is a Zeiss Distagon 21/2? Is this one a Contax mount or a different one? I'm just curious.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:54 pm    Post subject: Re: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
hiep wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:


0. Zeiss Distagon 4/18, Zeiss Distagon 2.0/21, Olympus Zuiko 3.5/18


Not to be nitpick, but there is a Zeiss Distagon 21/2? Is this one a Contax mount or a different one? I'm just curious.


No, that's a typo by Carsten, only the 2.8/21 Distagon exists.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:12 pm    Post subject: Re: What are the best fast lenses? Reply with quote
hiep wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:


0. Zeiss Distagon 4/18, Zeiss Distagon 2.0/21, Olympus Zuiko 3.5/18


Not to be nitpick, but there is a Zeiss Distagon 21/2? Is this one a Contax mount or a different one? I'm just curious.


Perhaps it was wishful thinking. Wink Sorry!
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1