Krosya
Konicaze
Well, I know it's hard to define "perfect". Plus there are many very good, even Great lenses. We love them for their signature or speed or bokeh. Or something else. But is there a lens that combines all things in it and you never ever heard anyone say anything bad about? It would have a great sharpnes, good speed, nice bokeh, great flare control, good size and weight, comfortable handling and priced reasonably? It can be current or vintage lens. One that wouldnt have any compromise?
I was thinking about all the lenses that I have or have had and while some do come close - none is really "Perfect". Even my beloved Hexanons - superb lenses and while I have never had any problems with them and for me they come to be nearly perfect, - being objective, I do realize that some people claim that they dont focus right on their Leicas. And that makes them "Almost Perfect". CV Nokton 35/1.2 comes close as well, but while it's not an issue for me - for some it's size is a problem. UC-Hexanon - superb lens, but it's min focus could be better/closer. Nikkor 105/2.5 LTM - superb optics and built, but heavy, with long focus throw and hard to focus on RF. CV 15mm Heliar - great, but too slow for some applications and not RF coupled. Hope you get the point.
Sure, many of these things we can deal with, but in the perfect world they would be better.
So, thinking objective - i.e. not just for you but for anyone - is there a "Perfect" lens for RF? Any brand, any FL? One that does everything perfect?
I was thinking about all the lenses that I have or have had and while some do come close - none is really "Perfect". Even my beloved Hexanons - superb lenses and while I have never had any problems with them and for me they come to be nearly perfect, - being objective, I do realize that some people claim that they dont focus right on their Leicas. And that makes them "Almost Perfect". CV Nokton 35/1.2 comes close as well, but while it's not an issue for me - for some it's size is a problem. UC-Hexanon - superb lens, but it's min focus could be better/closer. Nikkor 105/2.5 LTM - superb optics and built, but heavy, with long focus throw and hard to focus on RF. CV 15mm Heliar - great, but too slow for some applications and not RF coupled. Hope you get the point.
Sure, many of these things we can deal with, but in the perfect world they would be better.
So, thinking objective - i.e. not just for you but for anyone - is there a "Perfect" lens for RF? Any brand, any FL? One that does everything perfect?
yanidel
Well-known
After going through a dozen lenses, my current "perfect" lens is the 35mm Summicron IV.
Why? Because it is a perfect balance between weight, size, speed, cost, sharpness, build quality and bokeh. It is not the best in any of these categories (except mabye the bokeh), but it is good in all of them, one never outweights the other.
Since I own it, I have almost gone to the one lens approach, using it on 90% of my pictures.
Why? Because it is a perfect balance between weight, size, speed, cost, sharpness, build quality and bokeh. It is not the best in any of these categories (except mabye the bokeh), but it is good in all of them, one never outweights the other.
Since I own it, I have almost gone to the one lens approach, using it on 90% of my pictures.
Your experience seems to be telling you there's "better" and then there's "different" and it's often a matter of what the user likes. While there are favorites, there may not be a perfect lens. Some lenses, though, seem to have something extra, often hard to define, and for me it's the 28 Summicron.
maddoc
... likes film again.
I don't think that there is a "perfect" lens at all ... it is more like best compromise. However, the one lens that comes closest to perfect for me, with respect to rendering, size of the lens, speed, handling, and versatility is my 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH. I could easily take all the photos I take with a RF camera with only this one lens and wouldn't miss any other lens ...
Cheers,
Gabor
Cheers,
Gabor
pvdhaar
Peter
Nope, you got it mixed up..
If you really want to be objective, you should also investigeate the reverse statement; some people have Leicas that dont focus right with the Hexanons, and that makes Leicas "Almost perfect"..
Hexanons are perfect..
__hh
Well-known
Price, Features, Performance... pick any TWO....
Krosya
Konicaze
harry01562
Registered semi-lurker
Perfect can vary with the situation... When you add any variety of inexpensive to the mix, you really make it difficult.
As a toss-out, I'd put up the Canon 50/1.5. Reasonable size, heavy for its size, but certainly no 1.2!! Most people love the rendition of the Sonnar design, and it can be bought without trying for a mortgage.
I've used mine for people, landscapes, snaps, whatever.. Always satisfied.
But then, there is also the Canon 35/2. Somewhat more modern, great glass, compact and relatively light. But a different perspective...
Harry
As a toss-out, I'd put up the Canon 50/1.5. Reasonable size, heavy for its size, but certainly no 1.2!! Most people love the rendition of the Sonnar design, and it can be bought without trying for a mortgage.
I've used mine for people, landscapes, snaps, whatever.. Always satisfied.
But then, there is also the Canon 35/2. Somewhat more modern, great glass, compact and relatively light. But a different perspective...
Harry
JohnTF
Veteran
Keith, I have been wandering through the various possibilities of the glass I have accumulated and can fit to my Leica M's. I probably have been the most pleased with this lens.
A friend got a deal, had to buy two, and I ended up with one. I thought it was expensive at the time (we had to buy the hoods), relative to CV prices, but it is not in terms of results (or relative to anything in its category).
It is one of those lenses that if I do my part, it does its part.
You get a lot of lens, and though I feel guilty leaving vintage CL, LTM Leitz, Canon, CV, other M mounts in the bag, and my Zeiss G lenses, this lens delivers in contrast, sharpness, and yes, look.
If I had to take two lenses on an M mount RF, probably this and a 90mm, three, add the 12mm CV.
I would like to know the signatures of most of the other glass I have, but I knew this lens delivers the first time I used it with a model and natural light.
The soup will be stirred a bit more when Mr. K sends forth his new line up of M mount glass, as I have heard he is not going to produce LTM soon, (now?).
Regards, John
mfogiel
Veteran
Krosya,
The answer is simple - Planar 50/2 ZM - if it is not considered perfect by many, it is only because it is not very expensive. Another perfect RF lens, or actually RF camera-lens is the Hasselblad SWC Biogon, although I wish it could have today's Zeiss coatings... Its 35mm brother - the Biogon 21/4.5 ZM could be considered less than perfect, only because in this format an f4.5 max aperture can be in fact a bit limiting...
The answer is simple - Planar 50/2 ZM - if it is not considered perfect by many, it is only because it is not very expensive. Another perfect RF lens, or actually RF camera-lens is the Hasselblad SWC Biogon, although I wish it could have today's Zeiss coatings... Its 35mm brother - the Biogon 21/4.5 ZM could be considered less than perfect, only because in this format an f4.5 max aperture can be in fact a bit limiting...
nightfly
Well-known
35mm Summicron v3.
Generally when I shoot with a camera for awhile, I gravitate to specific lens and use it 90% of the time. When I shot with a Pentax MX it was the 50mm 1.4 and I still keep the camera around collecting dust in case I ever want to use the lens.
With the Leica it's the 35mm Summicron. I think mine is a 3rd generation and it works beautifully with the film I use and my technique and it's on my camera 90% of the time. It's fast enough to use all the time, I love the focus tab and it's small and well built. I could easily live with just that lens and really only use my CV 28/3.5 when I need to go wide or if I'm shooting color because it seems to really pop with the contrastiness of that lens.
I'm sure the other versions of this lens are as good or better, I just happen to have this one.
Generally when I shoot with a camera for awhile, I gravitate to specific lens and use it 90% of the time. When I shot with a Pentax MX it was the 50mm 1.4 and I still keep the camera around collecting dust in case I ever want to use the lens.
With the Leica it's the 35mm Summicron. I think mine is a 3rd generation and it works beautifully with the film I use and my technique and it's on my camera 90% of the time. It's fast enough to use all the time, I love the focus tab and it's small and well built. I could easily live with just that lens and really only use my CV 28/3.5 when I need to go wide or if I'm shooting color because it seems to really pop with the contrastiness of that lens.
I'm sure the other versions of this lens are as good or better, I just happen to have this one.
micromontenegro
Well-known
My thoughts exactly
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
While I like the Zeiss lenses, I don't think it qualifies as an answer to "One that does everything perfect"
The 50mm f/2 Planar doesn't do wideangle, or telephoto, or f/1.4, or autofocus, right? It doesn't do "everything perfect".
"Everything perfect" is "Everything perfect", not "a lot of things perfect except those that it can't do", which is the nondefinition of "Everything perfect".
There is no lens "that does Everything perfect". Not a single one in the Universe. Not man-made, anyway.
Nando
Well-known
I think that the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH comes pretty close.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Here it is!
Here it is!
Here's how I go about thinking about the question "What's the perfect lens?":
First, I have to factor in cost. There are many lenses I will never touch because my wife would throw me out of the house if I attempted to use the college savings money to buy one (Summiluxes for example).
Second, I ask myself "If I could only have one lens, what would I choose?"
So... my answer is the Zeiss Biogon 35/2. Its nearly affordable and it does 95% of what I need a lens to do. Sharp, fairly small, nice bokeh, covers landscape to portraits, and its fast enough. Its perfect in my world.
Here it is!
Here's how I go about thinking about the question "What's the perfect lens?":
First, I have to factor in cost. There are many lenses I will never touch because my wife would throw me out of the house if I attempted to use the college savings money to buy one (Summiluxes for example).
Second, I ask myself "If I could only have one lens, what would I choose?"
So... my answer is the Zeiss Biogon 35/2. Its nearly affordable and it does 95% of what I need a lens to do. Sharp, fairly small, nice bokeh, covers landscape to portraits, and its fast enough. Its perfect in my world.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I do think the Hexanons are awfully close to perfect. I'd also put in a vote for the 40/2 Rokkor.
I expect I'd add some of the new Zeiss lenses to the list if I had the chance to try them.
I expect I'd add some of the new Zeiss lenses to the list if I had the chance to try them.
alan davus
Well-known
My all most perfect lens is the Hexanon 50 2.4 collapsible. O.K. it's a tad slow but she's AT LEAST as sharp as my other 7 lenses (4 Hex's, 2 CV's, 1 Zeiss) small, light, beautifully built as are all Hex's. no focus shift problems on Hexar or M6's and that bokee thing is just creamy smooth. And you never see them for sale. Why?????
cmogi10
Bodhisattva
Hm.
No.
Because then we'd all be using it.
No.
Because then we'd all be using it.