Who made the best manual focus SLR lenses of each focal length?

[redisburning]

I have none of your chosen best lenses. What should I now do?

well, that depends.

if you measure your self-worth in objects I suggest you buy a Patek Phillipe watch.

if you don't then I wouldn't worry about it.

FWIW I own only one lens on that list, though I have owned one other. Anything that's not in the 40-60mm range is largely irrelevant to me which is why I haven't sold all of my stuff to buy the Zeiss 135/2 APO-Sonnar which as far as I can personally tell the current best lens in existence. I'd rather own the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. best ~50mm macro lens down until there aren't any good ones left and I'm working on it:


macro family portrait by redisburning, on Flickr

btw my education was extremely statistics heavy so I have a way of looking at things that exaggerates the importance of small but measurable differences. take for example the two middle lenses in this shot. they are pretty much the sharpest 50mm lenses at f2 that exist (well, 50AA excluded, and maybe the 50LuxASPH although I havent seen any imatest results on a shared platform) and both are 1:2 macros with extreme sharpness stopped down. I guarantee that optically, any human being would be thrilled with either. Even an owner of the latest Leica 50s. but the Zeiss is significantly better, even if the magnitude of that difference is relatively small. It has higher global contrast at f2, a better shaped aperture (and one I think is more accurate with it's f stops), vignettes less and has a bit better field flatness. Which is why I own both even though the Zeiss cost me literally twice as much as the Zuiko and is really only marginally better.

 

[shadowfox]

Never seen this old thread, a good one though.

My completely and absolutely subjective list:

300mm f/4 --> Pentax Takumar
200mm f/3.5 --> Mamiya Sekor CS
200mm f/4 --> Pentax Super Takumar
135mm f/2 --> Canon FD
135mm f/2.8 --> Nikkor-Q
85mm f/2 --> Zuiko
50mm f/1.4 --> Konica Hexanon AR
50mm f/2 --> Leica R
35mm f/1.7 --> CV Ultron
35mm f/1.8 --> Minolta Rokkor-HG
35mm f/2 --> Canon FD, Zuiko, Konica Hexanon AR, Minolta Maxxum AF <--- different look, all good.
35mm f/2.8 --> CY Zeiss Distagon ties with Nikkor-S
28mm f/2 --> Zuiko
28mm f/2.8 --> Ricoh GR1
28mm f/3.5 --> Pentax Takumar ties with Zuiko
24mm f/2 --> Zuiko
24mm f/2.8 --> Nikkor (any version) ties with Tamron SP2
21mm f/2.8 --> Mamiya Sekor CS
20mm f/2.8 --> Nikkor

 

[squareshooter]

You are asking people for a value judgement. There's plenty of fine lenses out there. It is easy enough to buy a variety of bodies to accommodate a p articular lens or two. Those old bodies do go haywire from time to time, as well. What may be best for one person is a coke bottle bottom for the next.

 

[Addy101]

You could make this real easy and just say Nikon, Leica, or Olympus. That's why I have both Nikon and Leica now, and had Olympus too. ;-)

G

😕 because you used Nikon, Leica and Olympus those makes made the best lenses? Weird.

I don't have enough experience with different makes to say anything conclusive, however, I really, really like my Minolta MC 50/1.4 Rokkor-PG. And I'm sure the best 24mm if you consider price, is the Sigma 24/2.8 Super-Wide II.

 

[L Collins]

"Best glass" is a bourgeois concept that I tired of long ago.

Frankly, after owning almost every Leitz R and MF Nikkor prime along the way, I ultimately bought both a Leicaflex and Nikon T4 adaptor and some Vivitar T4 lenses (24 3.8, 28. 2.8, 35 2.8, 105 2.8), all for less than one Nikkor 50mm 1.4 prime. I'll be darned if I can tell much of a difference, but then again discussing "resolution" and "pixel peeping" and "bokeh" is enough to put me to sleep.

 

[Godfrey]

😕 because you used Nikon, Leica and Olympus those makes made the best lenses? Weird.

No, you read the logic backwards.
They were the best overall that I found in the past, that's why I re-acquired them to use them now.

G

 

[Texsport]

I like the older MF lenses for another reason also.

My hands aren't compatible with tiny, plastic, light weight lenses.

The older, big heavy metal stuff is more comfortable for me.

I like hefty cameras also!

Texsport

 

[Sid836]

I love the Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8 DX. I use it as an all around lens and it gives me the freedom of focus from 3.5cm and on. It is small and sharp all over leaving me a few to worry with and focus in composition.
I will really miss it when I go FF.
On my analogues, the best among those I have managed to own and try so far is the Canon FD L 85/1.2.

 

[dc5]

The Canon FL 100 3.5 is the best short tele around, if you don't mind the slow speed. I have had one for over 40 years and still use it on a nex.

 

[Timmyjoe]

😕 because you used Nikon, Leica and Olympus those makes made the best lenses? Weird.

Well Yeah, this thread is TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE.

Been shooting "seriously" since 1975, and over those thirty eight years I've handled alot of different equipment and alot of different lenses. IMHO there were certain of those lenses that I love their look on film/sensor, loved their handling on the camera (weight/feel/focus) and were just the "BEST" at what I was trying to do with them at the time. TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE. Couldn't care less about MDF (sp) charts or online reviews or whatever.

And I think much of it has to do with what images you made with particular lenses. And where you were in your life when you were using that equipment. The Leica 50 Lux I used exclusively in Paris when I was younger is subjectively an outstanding lens IMHO because of the images I was able to make with it, and it's a lens that I hope to never part with. But I know it's not the best 50mm out there by a long shot, and I probably could have made similar images with another lens.

But it's fun to read what lenses other photographers have liked.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Kent]

I
anyway here would be my greatest hits of SLR lenses:

15 : Zeiss 15mm f2.8
18 : Olympus 18mm f3.5
19 : Leica 19mm Elmarit
21 : Zeiss 21mm f2.8 Distagon
24 : Olympus 24mm f2.0
25 : Zeiss 25mm f2.0 Distagon
28 : Contax 28mm f2.0 Hollywood
35 : Zeiss 35mm f2.0 Distagon (exceptionally high large structure contrast, in general I find 35mm to be the weakest lenses in the 35mm slr repetoire, very disappointing compared to excellent RF lenses such as Biogon 35/2, 35/1.4 ASPH, etc, 8 element cron, etc)
40 : Voigtlander SL II
50 : tie - Zeiss 50mm f2.0 Makro-Planar or Summilux-R E60
55 : Canon 55m f1.2 FL
58 : Minolta 58mm f1.2
60 : Coastal Optics 60mm f4.0
80 : Leica 80mm Summilux
85 : Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar
90 : Leica 90 Summicron-R ASPH
100 : Zeiss 100mm f2.0 Makro-Planar
125 : Voigtlander 125mm APO
135 : Zeiss 135mm f2.0 Sonnar
Above 135 : Pick the best Leica-R or Canon L
Zoom : Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS II

THAT is a very good list which I could easily agree to.

Generally, I think the best lenses were built by Leica (Leitz), followed by Zeiss. Then Nikon (Nikkor) and Olympus (Zuiko). After that Canon (FD), Minolta (Rokkor), Konica (Hexanon) and Tamron (Adaptall-2).

If Leica and Zeiss lenses (which also can be adapted to EOS and Nikon cams) are too expensive (because they are!), you can't go wrong with a set of Nikkors or Zuikos. Nikon and Olympus cams are also avialable and not too expensive nowadays.

Here is the list of my personal favourite lenses:

<20mm: Vivitar (Tokina) 3.5/17 - sold it and regret it!
20mm: Nikkor-UD 3.5/20 - sold it and sometimes regret it
24mm: Tamron 2.5/24 and Nikkor-N.C 2.8/24 (still have both)
28mm: Minolta Rokkor 2/28 - my copy was rebuilt to fit the EOS system
35mm: Nikkor-O 2.0/35 and Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/35 - sold both and regret it
40mm: Konica Hexanon 1.8/40 - love it on my NEX cams
50mm: Leica Summicron-R 2/50 and Olympus Zuiko 1.4/50 - two times WOW!
55mm: Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55 and Mamiya Sekor 1.8/55
57mm: Konica Hexanon AR 1.4/57 - love it on my NEX cams
58mm: Helios-44-2 2/58 - a very special lens
85mm: Nikkor-H 1.8/85 and Jupiter-9 2/85 - still have and love both
100/105mm: Zuiko 2.8/100 and Asahi Takumar 2.8/105 - sold them and regret it!
135mm: Tamron 2.5/135 and Jupiter-37 3.5/135 - pretty good
180mm: Leica Elmar-R 4/180 - very compact for a 180mm and still great
200mm: Vivitar 3.3/200 - gave it to a very good friend for his 40th birthday
>200mm: Tamron SP 8/500 - love and hate relationship 😉

 

[sparrow6224]

There are some surprising trends here... particularly in terms of kudos paid to the 24mm Nikkors. I've had five of them now and they are simply not that special. The best SLR 24mm I've used is the Rokkor f/2.8. It was adapted to become the Leica R 24mm f/2.8 as well. Even better (slightly -- flatter field certainly): Zeiss Contax 25mm f/2.8 -- a miraculous lens.

My highly subjective, of course, personal list:

20mm Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AIS -- I've heard the Oly is possibly superior but haven't had one. Same with the 19mm Leica. Or the Zeiss.

24mm: Rokkor 24/2.8; Zeiss 25/2.8; Oly 24/2.0. The Oly 2.8 is not a special lens in my experience.

28mm A lot of surprising picks here. The Nikkor 28/2.0 is, in my view, better than its f/2.8 counterpart which does have a great look and which is really quite stunning in close. Any distance over a meter and a half, the f/2.0 kills it. Add here what might be best of all, the Minolta Rokkor 28/2.0. Finally, on a par with the other two, the OM Zuiko 28/2.0. The Zeiss C/Y is supposed to be great but I haven't had one.

35mm -- Canon FD 35mm f/2 concave. (Stunning. I sold mine as I wasn't using the Canon FD system much. As I grow more experienced the difference between a very good lens and an amazing one like this means less and less to me. The other reason to own the Canon FD system is the 80-200mm f/4 L which produces the most beautiful IQ of any manual zoom I've ever encountered. One hears about the 24/1.4 and the 85/1.2 but I ain't had my hands on none.) Other great 35s I've had or still have: the Nikkor 35/2 AIS; the latest model OM Zuiko 35/2.

50s: So many great ones. I suspect the two best among those I've owned are the SMC Takumar 50/1.4 screwmount and the Zeiss 50/1.4 for C/Y. Also the MD Rokkor X 50/1.4 in 55mm filter size, which I love; and the OM Zuiko 50/2 macro, which I only used once. I've never had any of the Leica R's. Finally the Nikkor 50mm f/2 is an undersung hero. Really beautiful. The Canon FD SSC 50/1.4 I had was beautiful also, at f/2.8 and above.

Special word for the Leica Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 macro. An amazing lens.

85mm: I love 85mm. I think my favorite for look -- not necessarily sharpness and contrast and all that -- is my uncoated Nikkor-H 85/1.8. I have the AF-D version as well: a totally different albeit very good lens. I've never used the Canon or the Leica or the Zeiss. I did have, and sold for very good money to Japan, the SMC Takumar 85/1.8 screwmount and it was very, very good, but not such as I'd put up with shooting the Spotmatic cameras.

I know that technically and empirically Nikon has made better 105's, but the 105/2.5 AIS is... I don't know. Saintly. It produces such beautiful, rich images.

135: Rokkor 135/2. and Canon FD 135/2. I know there are others.

180: I've only had the Nikkor ED 180/2.8 AIS and boy is it beautiful.

200: Best I've had and still have is the Rokkor 200/2.8. It's a wowzer.

In the end, of course (we all say it but it doesn't slake our gear-mania) any decent lens in the hands of a world class photographer can produce world class images. But one thing great photographers know is that better is, you know, better.

 

[Wadidiz]

After enjoying and learning from this site for a couple of years I now join. This thread has helped me a lot with my buying decisions for putting together a lens system.

For whatever it's worth, I've compiled all the listings according to the brand names and number of times each brand name is mentioned just to get a feeling for what folks here think:

Nikon F 62
Canon FD 28
Leica R 25
Minolta MC, MD 25
Zeiss-various 24
Olympus 17
Asahi M42 17

 

[Wadidiz]

Here is a list of my favorites in my collection:

24mm/2.8 Canon FD (looking for the FDn 24/1.4 L)
28mm/2 Soligor, FD-mount (surprised by performance)
35mm/1.8 Minolta MD f:1.8
40mm/1.8 Konica AR Hexanon (looks as sharp as the AR 50/1.7 to me)
45mm/2 Minolta MD
50mm/1.4 Canon FDn (best-performing normal FL 1.4 IMO)
50mm/1.7 Yashica Auto Yashinon DX - M42 - or...
50mm/1.7 Konica AR Hexanon (early with CF to 0.45m)
50mm/1.9 Schneider Xenon, DKL-mount (close-focus beats the Heligon)
55mm/1.7 Minolta MC
58mm/2 Helios 44-2 (character lens)
85mm/1.8 Canon FD (got hooked on this FL, looking for the 1.4 L)
100mm/2.8 Canon FD SSC
135mm/2.8 Expert, MC-mount (amazed; identical to Chinon; made by Tomioka?)
200mm/2.8 Canon FD SSC
400mm/5.6 Tokina RMC, FD-mount
500mm/8 Canon FDn reflex

 

[johannielscom]

I like low-contrast lenses, with an occasional high-contrast lens for perceived instant sharpness.

SLR lenses, used on Sony A7:
Tamron Adaptall 17mm 3.5 in various mounts
Chinon 24mm 2.5 in M42
MIR-24N 35mm 2.0 in Nikon mount
Canon FD 50mm 1.2L in Canon FD mount
Canon FD 85mm 1.2L in Canon FD mount
Canon FD 135mm 2.0 in Canon FD mount


RF lenses, shot on film:
Leitz Super Angulon 21mm 3.4 in Leica M mount
W-Komura 35mm 3.5 in LTM mount
Jupiter-8 50mm 2.0 in LTM mount
Jupiter-9 85mm 2.0 early 1950s (Carl Zeiss Sonnar in disguise) in LTM mount


Bodies, I don't care so much. I use what I have and like. If its Canon FD it goes on the Sony A7, if it's M42 it can also double on the Chinon Memotron CE-II which is a very underrated camera. Some day I might like a Leica M again, for several years it's been a much-loved Leica II.

 

[narsuitus]

Who made the best manual focus SLR lenses of each focal length?

Nikon F mount:
180mm f/2.8
105mm f/2.8 macro
55mm f/3.5 macro

Pentax m42 screw mount:
50mm f/1.4 8-element

Zeiss ZF 2 mount:
135mm f2 APO Sonnar

 

[Canyongazer]

55 3.5 Nikkor
105 2.5 Nikkor

 

[raid]

If we are discussing our own favorite lenses:

Zeiss 35/1.4 50/1.4 85/1.4 for Rollei SL series: these lenses are amazingly good in my opinion.
Canon FD 50/1.2L 85/1.2L 80-200/4L: Canon's finest. The zoom is a very special zoom indeed.
Nikon 55/3.5 micro 105/2.5 Sonnar: I don't have many Nikon lenses, and these two rock.
Angenieux 70-210/3.5 (in FD mount): WOW. A masterpiece.
Pentax 50/1.4 85/1.8: Never underestimate Pentax lenses.
Tamron 90/2.5 macro: A great macro lens.

 

[Canyongazer]

Wow Raid!
I have not seen the word "Angenieux" for many years.
Way back when in my 16mm days the 12-120 was the lens to have on your Beaulieu camera.
Unless you put it on your Arriflex...🙂

 

[raid]

Angenieux 70-210. A costly lens, but it is a wonderful lens.