5 Favorite/"Best" Lenses

[wlewisiii]

Just a gearhead moment of fun. I was reading a thread about from a lucky sort who'd scored a Canon Serenar 50/1.8 cheap. I commented that I considered it to be in the top five lenses of all time.

A bit of hyperbola, perhaps, perhaps not. But it made me curious to hear from those of use who enjoy this game, what you'd consider the best all time lenses. Just for sanity, we'll keep it to miniature format (aka 35mm) but RF, SLR, etc is fair game.

Starting things off then, here's my list:

1) Sonnar 50/1.5 (though I do shoot a 50/2 collapsible much more often... :eek: )
2) Tessar 50/3.5
3) Serenar 50/1.8
4) Canon FD 35/2 "Chrome Nose"
5) Serenar 28/3.5

Your thoughts?

William

[mfunnell]

I don't know from "of all time" but I do know lenses I keep going back to because I like the results.

Limiting things to 5:

1) Leica Summilux 75/1.4
2) Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8
3) Leica Elmar-M 50/2.8
4) Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8IS
5) Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6IS

Next week, though, it might be a different list.

...Mike

[amateriat]

A toughie, but here goes:

The first three would be my current M-Hexanon trio (28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/2, 90mm f/2.8).

Following that would be the Minolta 28-70mm f/2.8 G zoom from my AF SLR days...amazing zoom, with low distortion, gorgeous rendering, killer bokeh(!), but huge, heavy, and expensive. The big reason I moved to RFs.

Canon FD 135mm f/2.5: This lens was incredibly good to my eyes, even if (heavens!) it was a single-coated lens, versus all (well, most) other Canon lenses at the time.


- Barrett

[thomasw_]

ZM 1,5/50 C Sonnar
Summilux 50/1,4 ASPH
Summilux 75/1,4
CV 35/1,2 Nokton ASPH
Summilux 35/1,4 ASPH

[Zen-shooter]

My list looks like this...
a) Nikkor-W 3.5cm F1.8 (LTM) for it's wonderful B&W rendering
b) Nikkor-S 50mm F1.4 Millennium for it's crisp colors and details
c) Summicron 90mm F2.0 A-A (wish I kepted it)
d) Summicron 28mm F2.0 Asph.
e) Nikkor 35mm F1.4 Ai-S for OOF and close-up abilities

[wintoid]

My favourites are, in order...

1) Olympus OM 50mm f1.2
2) CV Nokton 35mm f1.2 ASPH
3) Canon 85mm f1.2L
4) Canon 35mm f1.4L
5) Leica Summilux M 50mm f1.4 pre-asph

[CK Dexter Haven]

1. Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E
2. Leica-M 50mm Summilux-ASPH
3. Leica-R 28mm 2.8 Elmarit (current version)
4. Contax G 45mm 2
5. Canon 35mm 1.4L or 85mm 1.2L

[alan davus]

Here's my five not necessarily in order.
1. Zeiss 18 Distagon
2. Hex LTM 50 2.5 collapsible
3. Hex 35 2 UC
4. Hex M 28
and one from my SLR days
5. Nikon E 135

[jaap]

1-Contax Distagon 35mm f1.4
2-Contax Biogon 21mm f2.8
3-Contax Planar 45mm
4-Contax Planar 85mm f1.4
5-Contax Sonnar 90mm f2.8

[FPjohn]

Hello:

In no order, my preferred lens for Leica are

50mm f3.5 Elmar - M

50mm f2 DR Summicron

25mm f4 Snapshot Skopar

90mm f2.8 Tele-Elmarit

"Best" would be a different list.

yours
FPJ

[FPjohn]

Hello:

In no order, my preferred lens for Leica are

50mm f3.5 Elmar - M

50mm f2 DR Summicron

25mm f4 Snapshot Skopar

90mm f2.8 Tele-Elmarit

"Best" wopuld be a different list.

yours
FPJ

[ZeissFan]

1) f/1.5 50mm Sonnar (for Zeiss Ikon Contax)
2) f/2.8 85mm Sonnar (for Rolleiflex SL 35 cameras)
3) f/2.8 40mm Sonnar (for Rollei 35 RF)
4) f/4.5 21mm Biogon (for Zeiss Ikon Contax)
5) f/2.5 105mm Nikkor (for Nikon AI)

[micromontenegro]

-21/4.5 Biogon

-50/1.5 Sonnar

-50/1.4 Nikkor S

-40/3.5 Tessar, as in a Rollei 35

-The unsung hero, 135/4 Sonnar

[micromontenegro]

1) f/1.5 50mm Sonnar (for Zeiss Ikon Contax)
2) f/2.8 85mm Sonnar (for Rolleiflex SL 35 cameras)
3) f/2.8 40mm Sonnar (for Rollei 35 RF)
4) f/4.5 21mm Biogon (for Zeiss Ikon Contax)
5) f/2.5 105mm Nikkor (for Nikon AI)

We're not far off :D

[sniki]

ContaxG 45mm/f2
Summilux-M 50mm/f1,4 asph
Hexar 35mm/f2 (on Hexar AF)
Olympus Zuiko 28mm/f2
ContaxG 90mm/f2,8

[monochromejrnl]

LTM/M-mount
Canon 50/1.5 Sonnar LTM
Leica 35/2 Summicron v3

SLR
Nikkor 50/2.8 AF/D
Nikkor 105/2.5 AI/S
Nikkor 28/2.8 AIS (never should have sold it but FrankS has one in the mail to me)

[ZeissFan]

We're not far off :D

Oh -- the 135mm Sonnar. Yes! You're right. Overlooked and underrated because of its speed, it's an outstanding lens.

[kazeonrff]

Some lenses i haven't actually used before, only judged by internet postings..

1st - Schneider Xenon 50mm f0.95

2nd - Angenieux 50mm f0.95

3rd - M-Hexanon 50mm f2

4th - M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2

5th - Noctilux 50mm f1



YES I KNOW I'M A BOKEH AND LOWLIGHT JUNKIE.

One more thumbs up for a non-rf lens
6th - Contax 645 80mm f2 !!

[MRohlfing]

M-Rokkor 40/2
Nikkor AI 50/2
AF-Nikkor 85/1.8
Planar 75/3.5 on my Rolleiflex
Ultron 50/2 on my Vitomatic IIa

and last, but not least: Olympus E.Zuiko 42/2.8 on my sweet little RC!

[Brian Sweeney]

Carl Zeiss Jena SONNAR "T" 5cm F1.5 in LTM;
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 5cm F1.5 (uncoated) modified for LTM;
1953 Jupiter-3 5cm F1.5 in LTM;
Nikkor-H 5cm F2 in S-Mount and LTM;
Leitz 5cm F2 Collapsible Summicron;

Aren't you glad I did not say Sonnar...

[f16sunshine]

Zeiss ZM Biogon 2/35
Contax G series Planar 2/45
Contax Reflex Distagon 2.8/21
Contax Reflex Sonnar 3.5/100
Zeiss T Biotar 1.5/75

Some are favorites, Some are best, Some are both :)
None are my most expensive

[mabelsound]

Pentax-FA 31mm Limited
Zeiss ZM 28mm Biogon
Canon 50mm f/1.2
Contax-G 45mm Planar
Pentax 15mm f/3.5 aspherical

I think I'm the guy you're referring to who just got a nice Serenar--after a couple of days I'm beginning to think it may muscle its way onto the list. The Contax-G 45 is tragic, I've owned it twice but just don't like using the G system. Someday maybe I will get an M conversion, if my ship comes in...

[sepiareverb]

My current favorite 5:

1) Leica 28/2.0 ASPH
2) Leica 50/2.0 latest
3) Leica 24/2.8 APSH
4) Contax G 21/2.8
5) Leica 50/1. pre-ASPH

[mabelsound]

My current favorite 5:

1) Leica 28/2.0 ASPH
2) Leica 50/2.0 latest
3) Leica 24/2.8 APSH
4) Contax G 21/2.8
5) Leica 50/1. pre-ASPH

You have got some hella nice lenses there, friend.

[leivo311]

Leica 24/3,8
Leica 50/2,0
Leica 50/2,8

VC 21/4,0
VC 35/2,5
VC 50/1,5

[Eric T]

My favorite five:

Industrar 58 75mm f/3.5 (from the Iskra 2)
Leica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 (from the Panasonic DMC-L1k)
CV Heliar 15mm f/4.5
CV Ultron 28mm f/1.9
Canon EOS IS USM 70-200mm f/2.8

[digitalintrigue]

Carl Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/1.5. I'm just listing my #1. :)

http://www.restoration35.com/photo_posts/opton.jpg

[f16sunshine]

Carl Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/1.5. I'm just listing my #1. :)

http://www.restoration35.com/photo_posts/opton.jpg
Interesting adapter. Can you reply on how well it works and where to find one. The adapter I have works well enough but, the focus is very heavy and slow. I'm looking for a better solution.

Cheers
Andy

[Benjamin Marks]

So interesting to see others' choices.

Mine really do shift around. For the last week I've been shooting with Nikkors
35/2, 50/1.4, 20/2.8 180/2.8 -- but these were an an evil SLR.

P.S. Also curious about the adapter.

[digitalintrigue]

The adapter in the photo is actually two adapters. The black adapter is a Novoflex Leica M to Micro 4/3. The chrome adapter is custom made by Amedeo Muscelli (amedeo.m (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130298093097) on ebay) with a focusing helical from a Nikon S2.

[projectbluebird]

I could use a bit of folly right now, so in no particular order:

DR summicron 50/2 (leica M)
Nikkor - S.C. 50/1.4 (nikon S/Leica SM/M, depending on my mood)
Serenar 85/2 (leica SM/M)
VC 15/4.5 (leica SM/M)
W-Nikkor C 35/2.5 (leica SM/M)

I know that there are many more modern well corrected fantastic lenses out there, but these are the ones I use and like.

[Eric T]

And for my favorite lens per dollar spent:

Mir 38 65mm f/3.5 Pentacon Six mount

I did a test of several lenses on a Panasonic DMC-L1k recently and found this one to be surprisingly sharp.

[kermaier]

Canon FD 50mm f/1.2 L
Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 L
Leitz Summaron 35mm f/2.8
Konica UC Hexanon 35mm f/2
Voigtlander 28mm f/3.5 Skopar

If I stick to RF lenses, I'd add:
Canon RF 50mm f/1.5
Leitz Summicron 50mm f/2 Rigid

::Ari

[sepiareverb]

You have got some hella nice lenses there, friend.

And that's just my favorites...:D

[maddoc]

In M-mount:

50/1.0
35/1.4 pre-ASPH
21/3.4
90/2.0 pre-ASPH
40/2.0 M-Rokkor CLE

[35mmdelux]

My top 3:
21mm Summilux ASPH
35mm Summilux ASPH
90mm Summicron ASPH.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Olympus 50mm f1.4 (the last version with serial number higher than 1,100,000)
Olympus 40mm f2 pancake (nice bokeh, great focal length for street photography)
Olympus 100 f2.8 (great bokeh, VERY sharp. Better than the 85/2 Zuiko and much cheaper)
Zeiss 50mm f4 CF-FLE Distagon for Hasselblad (used for many of my interiors of abandoned houses. VERY sharp).
Zeiss 80mm f2.8 CF for Hasselblad (everyone says this lens isn't that great for a Zeiss lens, but it beats my Mamiya 645 80mm f1.9N lens for sharpness and has better bokeh. I use it for 75% of my medium format work)

[Krosya]

what you'd consider the best all time lenses. Just for sanity, we'll keep it to miniature format (aka 35mm) but RF, SLR, etc is fair game.


William

I think its pretty clear - posted by OP - list 5 lenses in 35mm format. Why some people list more than 5, why some list Medium Format lenses - is beyond me. :confused: :bang:

Anyway, while I find it hard to list just 5, but based ONLY on the lenses I used here are my five:

1. CV Nokton 35/1.2
2. Nikkor 5cm 1.4 LTM
3. M-Hexanon 50/2
4. Nikkor 10.5cm/2.5 LTM
5. ZM Biogon 21/2.8

[mark-b]

My faves:

35mm Summicron-M, 4th version
24mm Elmarit-M
28mm Elmarit-M
58mm 1:1.4 Rokkor MD
58mm Helios 44
58mm 1:1.9 Hexanon
60mm Micro-Nikkor

[steamer]

In no particular order
50mm 1.5 Zeiss Opton Sonnar
The G's: 45 planar, 28 Biogon, 90 Sonnar
50mm 1.4 Nikkor

Left out of the top 5 but also loved: J12, Nikkor 35 2.5, and Zeiss Jena 135 f4

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I think its pretty clear - posted by OP - list 5 lenses in 35mm format. Why some people list more than 5, why some list Medium Format lenses - is beyond me. :confused: :bang:

Anyway, while I find it hard to list just 5, but based ONLY on the lenses I used here are my five:

1. CV Nokton 35/1.2
2. Nikkor 5cm 1.4 LTM
3. M-Hexanon 50/2
4. Nikkor 10.5cm/2.5 LTM
5. ZM Biogon 21/2.8

I don't know about everyone else, but I did it to piss you off. It worked! YAY! :p

[Dave Wilkinson]

I don't know about everyone else, but I did it to piss you off. It worked! YAY! :p
tut! tut!......Children!:rolleyes:

[Chris101]

After a few days thoughts on this:
24-120vr Nikkor (it does it all)
85 f/1.8 Nikkor (it takes killer portraits)
21 f/2 Zuiko (it does stuff no other lens can do)
35 f/1.7 Ultron (it's my only lens for my Leica)
and my very favorite lens ever, my grunge-photo special, the infamous, earliest model, AI'd, 43-86 f/3.5 Nikkor (I like it because nobody else does.)

[Eric T]

Why some people list more than 5, why some list Medium Format lenses - is beyond me. :confused: :bang:

I forgot to mention that I also like the Arsenal 80mm f/2.8. Almost as sharp as the Mir 65mm f/3.5. :)
Medium format FSU lenses can be used on so many cameras - digital and film.

[ampguy]

That's easy:

German Summilux 75/1.4, Summicron 35/2 v3, Summilux 50/1.4 v2 E43, M-Hexanon 90/2.8, Canon 28/2.8 ltm.

[ampguy]

oh, for SLRs:

105/2.5 PC, 28/2.8 non AI, 43-86 first version zoom, 80-200 fixed 4.5 zoom, 34/1.9 Vivitar branded M42, Chinon 50/1.9.

[Aurelius]

1. Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM
2. Zuiko Digital ED 50mm F2.0 Macro
3. Voigtländer Color-Heliar 75/2.5
4. Voigtländer Super Wide Heliar 15/4.5 ASPH
5. Jupiter-3 50/1.5

[tbarker13]

RIght now, I'd' say:

1. 35 pre-asph summilux
2. 21/3.4 SA
3. 35 UC Hexanon
4. 50 Summicron (rigid)
5. 50 pre-asph Summilux (I do not have one right now, and will probably end up selling one of my 35s to get one. I agonize over which one)

[raid]

This week my top 6 lenses are:

wide: Canon 35mm 1.5 LTM, Canon 19mm 3.5 FL
normal: Zeiss Jena Sonnar 5cm 1.5 LTM, Canon 5cm 1.5 LTM
tele: Nikkor 105mm 2.5 LTM, Canon 85mm 1.2 L FD

I use different lenses as time changes. There isn't much not to like in the above lenses.
Other favorites include Summicron V1 35mm, Summicron V1 50mm, Summicron 90mm

[proenca]

M Mount :

CV 15mm 4.5
Leica 50mm 1.0 Noctilux
Leica 35mm 1.4 ASPH
Leica 75mm 1.4 Summilux

humm thats about it

[Krosya]

I don't know about everyone else, but I did it to piss you off. It worked! YAY! :p

Very classy and mature, but .... - doesnt surprise me.

[NickTrop]

1. 45/1.8 on the Fujica Compact Deluxe. It's a standard 6/4 double gauss that's soft wide open - but 2.8-4 this lens can be magic. One of those ones - like the Leica Summar, that won't win any lens tests but just renders beautiful images. Bitingly sharp 5.6-8.

2. 38/1.8 Konica Auto S3. Lives up to its reputation. Best "wide open" shooter I've ever used. Shoot wide open at 1.8, no worries.

3. Jupiter 9 M42 portrait lens. Wouldn't traded it for any other portrait lens. Love everything about it, including the delimiter ring. Permanently converted this to a K-mount and have a camera body pretty much devoted to it.

4. 50mm/F1.4 Super Tak. This is the 7/5 one with the radioactive element, not the super multi-coated one. Great 50 but don't use it all that much (see "3"). Had to leave it in the sun for a month to de-yellow.

5. 80mm/3.5 on the Iskra MF folder. As gorgeous a MF lens as I've ever owned. But it's on a folder so it's more compact - easier to carry around and I, therefore, use it more.

[Y.B.hudson III]

26mm 1.1 Kern Paillard macro switar

35mm Summilux pre insanity...

50mm Jupiter 3 KMZ

75mm Summilux

[CLE-RF]

1 M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2
2 M-Hexanon 28mm f2.8
3 M-Hexanon 90mm f2.0
4 Kyoei 35mm f3.5
5 Summar 50mm f.20 (1937)

Like others said, my list will be different next week, although some M-Hexanons are always in it. And, the 50mm f1.2 never is out of my fav's list!

There's also M-Hexes 50mm and 90mm, a Komura 28mm f3.5 and (hopefully soon) a UC-Hex 35mm f2.0 on my shelf, and a prewar FED 50mm f2.0 (2nd one in the mail :) ). It's a permanent German/Japanese/Russian roulette at my fav's list!:D

[kdemas]

This is a tough one. Off the top of my head:

- Zeiss 50mm/1.5 C-Sonnar (m-mount)
- Leica Noctilux
- Contax Zeiss 85mm/1.4 N-Mount
- Nikon 45mm/2.8 P F-Mount
- Nikkor 105mm/2.5 LTM

Those are my "favs of the day" :)

Kent

[Roger Vadim]

My 5 lenses with a touch of magic...

Zeiss Jena Sonnar T* 2/50 in Contax mount (the peoples 1.5/50, but it renders just beautiful).

+ don't laugh: Jupiter J8 2/53 - the Zeiss might be a hair sharper, but still a miracle worker.

Leitz Summar 2/50 with a scratched front element, not sharp, but hey...

The 1.7/40 Revuenon on my Revue SE - similar to the Minolta 7II I've heard, shockingly sharp for such a wobbly camera. Really nice lens with a crap camera permanently attached to it... (sic!)

Nikkor Ai 2.5/105 in F mount, sometimes too sharp, the girls are shocked when not underaged.

Last but not least another Sonnar: 2.8/180 in Pentacon mount (MF), huge and sublime.

Cheers, Michael

[BTMarcais]

It's really not all that easy to pick. But out of the lenses that I have... my 5 favorites (which don't necessarily make them the BEST, just the ones i LIKE the best right now) are: (in no particular order)
Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9
Leica 5cm summicron collapsible
Leica 9cm elmar collapsible
Contax G 35mm f/2
Contax G 21mm f/2.8

(the G 45mm f/2 is next on the list probably. It switches places w/ the G 35 on my lineup all the time)

-Brian

[sleepyhead]

For me, these are magic lenses (in no particular order):

1) 75mm Summilux
2) 50mm Dr Summicron (foolishly sold it)
3) 35mm Summicron IV
4) 21mm Super Angulon (recently re-bought one after foolishly selling
5) 85mm Canon f/1.8 LTM (sold it for the 75mm Summilux)

[pvdhaar]

1. Konica 50/2 M-Hexanon for its magic on Reala
2. Voigtlander CV25/4 Snapshot Skopar for its sharpness and vividness
3. Nikon 35-70/2.8 AFD for its sharpness and sheer AF-speed
4. Nikon 28-70/3.5 AFD because it doesn't ghost or flare. Never ever at all..
5. FED 50/3.5 collapsible for no other reason than that it looks ever so slick on a black Bessa-T

[Fuchs]

Today:
- Leica Summilux-M 35/1.4 asph
- Zeiss Planar 45/2 (Contax G)
- HFT Planar 80/2.8 (Rolleiflex 2.8GX)
- Nikkor 105/2.5 AI-s
- CV Nokton 50/1.5 aspherical
Tomorrow I'll change my mind...

[Girmantas]

Summicron 35 8 elements version
Carl Zeiss T* 28 / 2.8 from contax Tix
Jupiter 3 50 / 1.5 - Sonnar clone
Summicron 35 4th pre-asph version
Summilux 50 / 1.4 ASPH version

[fdigital]

Of lenses I have used or at least had some experience with:

Canon 85mm 1.2L - Don't particularly like the focal length but this is one amazing lens
Canon 35mm 1.4L
Canon 24mm 1.4L
Zuiko ZD 7-14mm f4
Zuiko ZD 14-35mm f2 - christ.. what a freakin HONEY of a lens this is. Near "unfaultable" in every way...

I'm sure if I tried or owned some more of the voigtlander/leica/zeiss optics they'd be in there too. For instance I was very tempted to put the 35mm 1.2 voigtlander nokton in there even though I have never actually used one or even seen one. Just the images that come from that lens are nothing short of superb.

[Rico]

CZ Sonnar 100/3.5 in Contax/Yashica mount
CZ Distagon 28/2.8 C/Y
Leitz Summaron 35/2.8 M
Leitz Elmar 50/2.8 classic
CZ Sonnar 35/2.8 for Contax T3 P&S

[sojournerphoto]

Most used, as I don’t know all the lenses ever made.

35/2 Biogon ZM
50/1.5 C Sonnar ZM
35/2 Distagon ZF (with eos adaptor)
50/1.4 Canon EF
Parse from 28/2.8 Distagon (C/Y mount), 85/1.8EF and 100/2.8 macro EF

Bit of a theme to the first 4 really…

Mike