which slr system has the best lenses?

[reiki_]

get zeiss in nikon mount?

 

[ChrisN]

The Pentax FA lenses, and especially the Limited series, are top performers with very pleasing characteristics. Used with consideration for their strengths and awareness of their weaknesses, you can be very confident that you'll get good results from them.

In fact, this is so true that it applies to each and every camera system.

Indeed! I was confident that someone would make this point for me. Thank you! 😉

 

[normclarke]

Best SLR lenses.

Best SLR lenses.

Having used both Leica and Nikon primes I can find little difference between them. My main Leica shooter is the 35mm Summicron IV and it difficult to evaluate it to be substantially better than my pre AI 35mm Nikkor f2. I also found the 21mm SA f3.4 to be only slightly better than the old 21mm f4 mirror up Nikkor. The 105mm pre AI Nikkor f2.5 is at least as good as the Tele-Elmarit late version. The only Nikon lens that I did'nt rate was the early 35mm f2.8, as this was my first Nikkor it put me off Nikon for many years!

Best,

normclarke.

 

[gavinlg]

A better option be would be to get a canon or nikon film body and buy the new zeiss lenses for those. Many canon and nikon camera owners buy the zeiss manual focus lenses for their digital bodies. They are essentially the same design as the original contax slr lenses but with latest glass.

I do this with my SLRs - I use a 5d and a 1N with zeiss lenses and they're brilliant.

 

[kbg32]

Contax and Leica. Fantastic SLR lenses! I was always disappointed with Olympus and Nikon.

 

[thawkins]

Minolta MD lens

 

[M4cr0s]

From the lenses I've used, Nikons, Tamrons, Sigmas, Cosinas, Petris, Minoltas and (Cosina) Voigtländers on various mounts, my impression is the same of several of the posters. There are a lot of good pieces of glass out there. All brands have somewhat poorly performing ones, and some very good. Also those that don't make bodies.

The larger the brand and the greater the selection of lenses, the easier it is to point out weak ones. Especially considering the largest brands have had different classes/quality grades of lenses and the pro/large aperture lenses tends to be the best, especially stopped down just a little bit. Basically it's as good thing for us, there's great lenses to be had that'll fit your mount of choice, almost regardless of nametag.

Nothing I've seen from Leica glass for instance, have convinced me these lenses are totally superior everything else and worth the huge premium, be it rangefinder or SLR versions. They are clearly beautifully built and valuable collectables, no question about that. Great color, nice OOF rendring and good resolution is available everywhere and it's up to the photog how to utilize the qualities of the lens and more importantly, compose an image and capture the moment.

Mac

 

[johannielscom]

Recently I really warmed up to EBC-Fujinon lenses. M42, all glass-to-air surfaces are coated and they provide open-aperture focusing and metering on a Fujica ST-801 😱

 

[L. M. Tu]

Clearly, this depends on what you're shooting. If you shoot static scenes, you can probably be happy with equipment from many manufacturers. If you're shooting a baseball game and you want a lens that is long, fast and sharp enough to show the veins in the pitcher's eye as he stands on the mount, you would need something very big and very expensive and made only by Canon or Nikon.

 

[rbsinto]

There has never been any particular manufacturer's system whose lenses in all focal lengths and speeds were consistantly better than all other manufacturer's lenses in those same focal lengths and speeds.
All the major manufacturer's products had their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[rover]

I grew up using Minolta MC and MD lenses. As an adult I have put together a real nice set of Minolta primes which I think are as good as any from any other manufacturer. Currently I am using Pentax lenses which I find to also be excellent, and the compatibility with the current Pentax DSLRs is a great selling point.

 

[jbielikowski]

Contax and Leica, between them its only matter of taste.

 

[ZeissFan]

By far, the Carl Zeiss lenses for the Yashica/Kyocera Contax are in a class by themselves. The older ones for the Rolleiflex SL 35 series and the Zeiss Ikon Contarex also are excellent.

I've not used a Leica SLR, but I've read favorable comments about them.

I've used Nikon for many years. My first 50mm lens had a loose element from day one. I should have returned it. The others lenses that I have (not a huge collection): 20, 28 and 105 are very good.

The Zeiss lenses, I think, are better.

Most of the "kit" lenses sold with cameras since the 1990s are adequate, but their construction is only average, and quality control is only average, too. But they cost a lot less. So, you get what you pay for.

 

[david.elliott]

I love old takumar m42 lenses, personally. Can use them on m42 bodies or on k-mount ones via an adapter.

 

[Red Robin]

The "Best" lens system

The "Best" lens system

Bless you child. It all comes down to how YOU see things. What are your eyes telling you . Like a recipe for meatloaf, everyone is sure their combo of ingredients is best. As a practicing chief your tastes will change as you practice your art. Please yourself, so I ask you which lens is best? Have fun Red R.

 

[sircarl]

Jan (and others) have hit the nail on the head, as far as I'm concerned. I've used Contax lenses with a number of SLRs over the past 20 years, and have always been struck by their sharpness (almost too sharp, I would say) and superb color rendition. Recently I switched to a Leica R7, and while I have only owned the 35/2 and 50/2 Summicrons, I find them perfect for the black-and-white street photography I like to do. For some examples, see the first 40 shots in my London Streets gallery: http://sircarl.smugmug.com/Photography/London-Streets/5641502_aBoca

 

[funkpilz]

Has no one voted Olympus yet?

 

[kshapero]

Dollar for dollar, I don't think you can surpass the results from the Olympus Zuiko lenses.

...and I have, and have used, Nikons and Nikkors for 30+ years.

I agree about the Olympus Zuiko lenses, but I am too far down the Nikon rabbit hole to change. Love those CV lenses for Nikon.

 

[tlitody]

hasselblad or were you thinking 35mm only in which case contax/zeiss or for digital nikon/canon/sony/pentax all of which take zeiss lenses.

 

[nobbylon]

Leica for 35's. Nikon, Olympus and Leica for 50's.
I use only Nikon SLR's now but the 2 lenses I really miss are the Summicron 35 f2 R and the Macro Elmar 60mm f2.8.
The one lens I miss as a prime in the Nikon range is a 35 to rival the Leica 35.
I recently bought myself a 24-70 2.8 Nikkor and it blows away most other glass. I just wish it was a third of it's size.