When buying a lens, what do you value the most?

[dcsang]

I don't see "price" there anywhere 😀 😀 😀

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Murchu]

Optimal blend of max aperture and size. Sharpness, CA, corner sharpness and bokeh are all things that need to be acceptable though.

 

[Stuart John]

I'm really concerned with the over all package. I'm usually looking at the cheaper end of the scale and usually used equipment. I like lenses to be in good condition at least the glass. Sharpness is important but most lenses are usually sharp enough at F4 or F5.6. I really like my little 50mm Elmar f3.5. It seems to produce pleasing images. My early Nikon 105 f2.5 P is real nice to.

 

[jammcat]

Ergonomics before all else.
I have a lovely Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM that has beautiful rendition, character, and sharpness but its long focus through, finicky aperture ring, and infinity stop make it a bit annoying to use. Might switch to a planar.

 

[truefriendship]

Resale value 😀

 

[ferider]

I hate flare.

Other than that, these days, mostly handling, build and maximum aperture. And some (very few) lenses are just too soft to be useful for me.

 

[Pablito]

The most important aspect is whether it's the focal length I need...
If I need a 35, then a 90 is of no use no matter how good it is...

 

[DNG]

I marked sharpness.... but, flare control (via Lens Coatings), which effects contrast at wider f/stops is also a big thing I look for.
Yes, I use Lens hoods, but a good coating + hood is the best combo...

Sharpens must be good, not... almost sharp. Edge sharpness sometimes...I don't mind a little fall off.

 

[Richard G]

None of the above. I assume most of them, and don't so highly value the others, like maximum aperture.
1. Handling, for the lenses I will use a lot.
2. Size, for the lenses I will use a lot.
3. Character, but only for focal lengths 21 to 90.

The last four lenses I bought were max aperture 4.5, 4, 2.8, 2.8. And the 4.5 was before I bought the M9. The look of my little Elmar M 50 at 2.8 is nicer than my Summicron wide open I think.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

A lens made by Leica.

 

[rfaspen]

Jeez. about 3 or 4 of these traits are equivalent "priority". The others are important too, but maximum aperture is only a factor for those lenses and situations where its a factor🙂 Sharpness center to corner is a combined trait I like to consider. Flare is an awful and hard to pin down because of the lens under consideration -- modern designs or hoods, we know what we gotta do for a given lens.

Now bokeh, yeah I consider that. Not as much as some folks though. I can't afford some of the lenses with both sharpness and bokeh that I would love to achieve.

I bet I'm not alone...
(I voted for corner sharpness because it incorporates both center and corner sharpness by default)

 

[brusby]

It would vary greatly in relation to the intended subject. For example, an ultra sharp, slower lens I'd buy for landscapes or architecture wouldn't necessarily be my first choice for portraits.

But in almost every case I'd have to rank rendering or drawing ability appropriate for the subject at the top of the list.

Although I like sharp lenses as much as anyone, it's interesting to consider that most of the great historical paintings are not as sharp as even the poorest lenses many of us have in our kit, yet the rendering qualities of great paintings (the way tones, colors, hues, shades and light are handled) usually make up for any lack of photograph-like super fine detail.

 

[charjohncarter]

I like it most if it is a leaf shutter, I like to use flash.

 

[Bill Clark]

Quality product that works consistently, all the time.

Don't need to be making photographs and an oops happens.

 

[Tijmendal]

- Ergonomics/handling
- Size (I never shoot faster than f/3.5 anyway really)
- Rendering
- Sharpness (to a very small extent. Don't care much about this)

 

[shadowfox]

Sharpness is important to me for 35mm (film size, not focal length).
Because detail and tonality is limited.

But in mid to large -format film, I look more towards contrast, and bokeh.

 

[lynnb]

agree with brusby - depends on the subject. For portraits rendering and the quality of the bokeh. For most landscapes, sharpness.

 

[anerjee]

Many things to think about when buying lenses. But which one is the most important to you?

Just out of interest. Thanks!

Other people's opinion. Especially Ken Rockwell. 😎

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

The options to me look like they're for shopping for a lens.

When buying a lens, I value that it's in good & perfect order first.

 

[msbarnes]

hype.

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