Sharpest Lens Ever under $4000 ??

[steveniphoto]

sharpness is a bourgeois concept ;P

 

[DNG]

sharpness is a bourgeois concept ;P

HCB 😛.....

 

[DNG]

Contarex Planar? Icarex Ultron?

For some reason I can't think of many lenses that cost over $4000...(well not ones you'd use on a 35mm still camera) wouldn't this be alot more entertaining if it were lenses under $1000? Or even under $500?

Or how about this? Sharpest lenses under $100... everybody buys a lens off of ebay or some other online retailer so we can be sure of what they paid for it - each person mails their lens to a (single designated) disinterested tester, and then maybe to make it even more amusing, the person who bought the sharpest under $100 lens wins all of the other lenses.😀

Because that was what the group of photographers decided on... Why Not, Why Not ?? 😉

 

[GaryLH]

ownedddddddddd

Lol ... Roger hit that one out of the park...😀. Btw as a gear head, i know i have slipped into this mode more times than i want to admit... So I am guilty as charged 🙁

Gary

 

[Texsport]

I'd also like to mention the Olympus OM 250mm f2.0 as one of the all time great lenses.

Texsport

 

[semilog]

The Olympus Zuiko 50/2 macro for the 4/3 system is staggeringly good. The Zuiko 150/2 is even better.

 

[algrove]

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 🙂)

IMHO. you go up another 1k if it is a Leica lens.

 

[algrove]

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

What part number is your 180? Is it the 3.4?

 

[DNG]

What part number is your 180? Is it the 3.4?

Not sure, at the moment, But, the f/3.4 is the one you have?

 

[filmfan]

Contax G45, G90

Mamiya 80mm f/4 (for the Mamiya 7)

 

[algrove]

Leica R lenses--
280/4.0 APO Telyt-R- around $4-5k
180/2.0 APO Summicron-R -about $5k
100/2.8 APO Macro-Elmarit-R -around $1500.

Zeiss for Hasselblad--

100/3.5 Planar- originally designed for aerial photography. Many fashion pros used to say it was just too sharp for their work and they would have to blur their images. About $1k

 

[Jaans]

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

Cheers,

R.

Perhas the OP likes working in, or is comfortable with small format, i.e 35mm...?

I know that I love the freedom and feel that comes with a roll of 36 exposures of 35mm film.

Also, with regards to your latest comment, perhaps the OP has a budget of $4000, not the 10K that you allude to.

 

[algrove]

Not sure, at the moment, But, the f/3.4 is the one you have?

Yes, it's the "little" APO Telyt 180/3.4. Not the best of the 180's, but I love it's size. That 180/2.0 is a monster, but a lovely monster.

Have not touched a 180/2.8, but example images look very good.

 

[DNG]

I think the 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss will be included, the 1970's version, C/Y mount most likely.

 

[robbiechad]

Sharpness versus cost Helios 44M-4

 

[Matus]

Now to reply to the original question - I think that the sharpest lens is going to be the new Carl Zeiss 55/1.4 - I have seen some Zeiss tests and it was simply incredible from wide open on. I am wondering though how many will buy one (huge, heavy, expensive) ...

 

[DWScarpa]

Now to reply to the original question - I think that the sharpest lens is going to be the new Carl Zeiss 55/1.4 - I have seen some Zeiss tests and it was simply incredible from wide open on. I am wondering though how many will buy one (huge, heavy, expensive) ...

That thing had better be the sharpest lens on earth for what it weighs alone.

 

[Roger Hicks]

That thing had better be the sharpest lens on earth for what it weighs alone.

And what it costs!

Cheers,

R.

 

[tunalegs]

Sharpness versus cost Helios 44M-4

I would say a Tessar is a sharper than the Helios 44 lenses. The Helios lenses weren't even very sharp in their own time. For the cost a Meyer Oreston 1.8/50 is a sharper lens, indeed as sharp as any contemporary Takumar.

The Tessar lenses are also very sharp, just overlooked because they're slow at f2.8 and not very good wide open. But stop down to 5.6 or 8 and they'll match just about anything offered on an SLR for sharpness.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I would say a Tessar is a sharper than the Helios 44 lenses. The Helios lenses weren't even very sharp in their own time. For the cost a Meyer Oreston 1.8/50 is a sharper lens, indeed as sharp as any contemporary Takumar.

The Tessar lenses are also very sharp, just overlooked because they're slow at f2.8 and not very good wide open. But stop down to 5.6 or 8 and they'll match just about anything offered on an SLR for sharpness.

Not in my experience, but then again, how many samples of each has any of us tried?

As for 'sharp at f/8', well, yes, pretty much any lens should be.

Cheers,

R.