Sharpest Lens Ever under $4000 ??

[DNG]

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 🙂)

 

[Roger Hicks]

If sharpness in the final image is your sole criterion, stop piddling around with small formats.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

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.

 

[sevo]

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.

 

[DNG]

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,

 

[kzphoto]

Just a shot in the dark, but I imagine it would be a 50 Summilux ASPH?

 

[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

 

[NeeZee]

a scratched, hazy uncoated pre-war summar?

 

[kxl]

Define sharpness. 😉

 

[whitecat]

25mm ZM.New version.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

For 35mm, the APO Telyt-R 180 is famous for being really "sharp". I have one for use on my NEX an it is indeed my sharpest lens

 

[DNG]

Define sharpness. 😉

I guessing MTF Charts and practical use. 😉

 

[Classique]

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.

 

[Roger Hicks]

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.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

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.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/01/the-great-50mm-shootout

Some idea here of testing limitations, sample variation, which focus point you test at, etc etc etc. IMHO you are on a hiding to nothing but whatever passes your time 😉

 

[venchka]

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

 

[RObert Budding]

If sharpness in the final image is your sole criterion, stop piddling around with small formats.

Cheers,

R.

+1! Step up to large format. Here's a link to lens tests:

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/testing.html

Almost any lens listed can be had for far less than $4,000. And you can put it on a Crown Graphic if you want to stay with a rangefinder.

 

[D.J.]

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. 🙄

 

[johannielscom]

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.