Sharpest Lens Ever under $4000 ??

DNG

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I am just wandering what your opinion may be...
If there was a shootout on an Leica M9, ME, OR a Olympus E-M5 with adapter for non-Leica mount lenses
....with a controlled target and lighting, Which lens would would it be?

Remember: it must be able to be bought NEW/USED for UNDER $4,000.00

(please don't get side tracked by sensor size. Stay on topic :))
 
I realize this is going to be unhelpful, but I have been taking pictures for about 25 years in formats from Minox to 8x10 and I haven't the faintest clue how to answer or even how you would back up an assertion if you could make one. I think we need more parameters.
 
If sharpness in the final image is your sole criterion, stop piddling around with small formats.

... and accept that you'll have to fiddle around with odd (Apo macro) lenses which are somewhat crippled in other domains like speed or distance range, and must weigh down your tripod with concrete blocks. So far I haven't seen that many appetizing things from the contenders of contrasty 400lp/mm photography.
 
Well, this is for FF to m4/3 sensor.. This is not to BUY a new lens, but it is just a topic to see what is considered the Sharpest Lens at or below $4000.00.

It can be any lens that fits this criteria.
All 35mm RF, All 35mm and FF DSLR lenses, All 1.6x or 1.5x crop DSLR lenses All m4/3 lenses can be used as a selection choice.

There is a competition I heard of that will use a the Olympus E-M5, or Panasonic GH3 (if available in time) as the test house.

I hope this clarifies the topic discussion,
 
I have a manual focus, Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 MACRO, often called the "Bokina", which has a reputation as one of the sharpest lenses ever.

I have an adapter for use on my m43 OMD.

It can be bought for a couple hundred dollars these days.

Texsport
 
I have a manual focus, Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 MACRO, often called the "Bokina", which has a reputation as one of the sharpest lenses ever.

I have an adapter for use on my m43 OMD.

It can be bought for a couple hundred dollars these days.

Texsport

I would think that is one of the sharpest, at least up there. I had one since I started shooting and i think will keep forever!

To add to the list, Nikkor 10.5cm 2.5 in Rangefinder mount is also VERY sharp. I was impressed because even with slight marking on the front glass of my example, produces clinically sharp yet pleasant images.
 
I guessing MTF Charts and practical use. ;)
Insofar as the two are compatible. What sort of subjects do you like to shoot? Do you always use a tripod, the optimum aperture and the optimum ISO? If not, what does your question mean?

Cheers,

R.
 
I'm with Roger. We buy silly expensive, "super sharp" lenses and shoot them wide open, hand held, at high ISO's and silly slow shutter speeds. The OP's question is meaningless in real world photography.

Only something like a MTF chart might settle the point.
 
I am pretty sure that my entire lens inventory cost me less than $4,000. Therefore, all of my lenses are the sharpest lenses under $4,000. A few of my lenses will "hold their own" against all comers.
In the meantime, sharp ain't always where it's at.

Wayne
 
Insofar as the two are compatible. What sort of subjects do you like to shoot?

What the OP shoots is not in question. He's not asking you which lens to buy.

Do you always use a tripod, the optimum aperture and the optimum ISO? If not, what does your question mean?

Cheers,

R.

It doesn't mean anything. Just idle curiosity. A "displacement activity", you know, like when you tell everyone on the internet what you ate for brunch when in fact you should be working. :rolleyes:
 
The konica L-Hexanon 2.4/50mm.

There is a thread in the Konica forum that Ferider (IIRC) started and it is very sharp.


For a 35mm lens, try the Summaron 2.8/35mm. I hear the much-famed Summicron 2.0/35 ain't got nothing on the Summaron.


And then there's the medium format lenses that can be stellar. I had a Mamiya 2.8/80mm 'blue dot' for my C330f that gave digital a run for its money. There's others too.
 
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