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Canon shooters: What is your single best lens for sheer IQ?
jmphotocraft
Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
I'm not talking versatility, I'm talking pure image quality. Sharpness, color, contrast, bokeh, etc. If it's a zoom, fine, but I'm expecting to see more primes listed here.
I have no primes other than the 300/2.8LIS I'm currently renting, and I would have to put that at the top of my list.
Next would be the 135/2.0L I owned briefly but had to sell to recoup some of the purchase price of my 5DII. I had told myself I would buy it back someday, but now I find myself lusting for a 35/1.4L.
As for lenses I actually own, it's a tossup between my 24-70L and 70-200/4LIS, but I know these aren't the ultimate.
What say you?
I have no primes other than the 300/2.8LIS I'm currently renting, and I would have to put that at the top of my list.
Next would be the 135/2.0L I owned briefly but had to sell to recoup some of the purchase price of my 5DII. I had told myself I would buy it back someday, but now I find myself lusting for a 35/1.4L.
As for lenses I actually own, it's a tossup between my 24-70L and 70-200/4LIS, but I know these aren't the ultimate.
What say you?
-Jack
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
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Canon 7d
2 Canon 40d
70-200 f2.8L IS, 50mm f1.4, 50mm f1.8, 28mm f1.8, Tamron 17-55 f2.8, ProOptic 8mm Fisheye
And a bunch of other stuff
But the 70-200 f/4L IS is rather fine too and more versatile than the 500, easier to carry too. I've started "borrowing" the 1.4x from the 500 and using it on the 70-200 as a BIF lens (70-200 * 1.4 = 98-280 * 1.6 crop = 157-448). It's a lot easier to handhold than the 100-400.
The 1-4 has become a shorter range tripod mounted tele otherwise a monopod mounted lens. Still delivers the goods and zooms really quickly.
Second choice would be 135L f/2, but doesn't blow me away like the 85L.
YMMV
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Cool, I have a Pentax SMC 50/1.4, although it is the K Bayonet mount. It seems very sharp on film, but I haven't bought the EOS adapter yet. Any difference between the K and the screw?
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
It's like magic... I don't know why I waited so long.
But then again, the question is a little silly. Although I find the IQ to be the best, it's not the best choice for every job and situation.
I wouldn't use it for landscapes, birds, outdoor sports, etc. Each type of photography would have a hands down winner.
Other Gear: Olympus E-PL1, Pan 20 1.7, Fuji 3D Camera, Lensbaby 2.0, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Alien Bees lighting, CyberSyncs, Domke, HONL, FlipIt.
~ Gear Pictures
I don't have a "K" mount version, so I don't know personally. If you do get the K-to-EOS adapter be aware that some/many K-mount lenses will have to have the aperture "tang" reduced or removed to use the lens safely on a FF or crop 1.3x EOS body.
Photodo.com rates the Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.4 as better than the Pentax SMC-FA 50mm f/1.4, but they did not review the M42 mount that I see. (I believe what I have would be called an M42 SMC-A 50mm, f1.4)
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
The fact that you could put a sizeable downpayment on a car for the same price?!
I suspect that lens will be the next lust object for me - so many people rave about it for portraits - but I'll need a sizeable injection of cash before I can jump to it. Maybe by this time next year.....
For the record, what is it about it that you like so much? I know I've always felt that the 135 has magic dust in it too since it just has an unquantifiable "sparkle" to the images that it captures. Do you find the 85 is similar?
Not to be pedantic or anything
I believe your lens to be a SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50.
More information on that lens can be found here.
I don't have the 1.4, but I do have a smc-m f1.7 50mm and it is insanely sharp, and can be had for <$50 if you are patient.
Thanks,
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Although I wouldn't mind giving the ol' 500 L and the 200 f/2L a go.
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
I shoot two cameras and two different lenses at weddings. While flipping through lightroom an image will catch my eye. It will stand out more than others. I'll check the meta data and sure enough its the 85mm at 1.2. I don't know how to justify it. I don't think the lens is sharper, it definitely doesn't focus faster, but the images have something.
I know the lens costs an outrageous amount. But it won't depreciate like a car. To me I'm just renting the lens and I can get my 'deposit' back anytime, minus a relatively small rental fee
Other Gear: Olympus E-PL1, Pan 20 1.7, Fuji 3D Camera, Lensbaby 2.0, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Alien Bees lighting, CyberSyncs, Domke, HONL, FlipIt.
~ Gear Pictures