Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Thanks!

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

Bob G schrieb:
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Thanks!
Nikon AF-D 50mm 1.8

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

Bob G wrote:

I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Thanks!


Two conflicting questions: best image quality or the sharpest.

Which is it?

Or do you only consider sharpness when assessing image quality?

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

In article , Torsten Driese
wrote:

Bob G schrieb:
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Nikon AF-D 50mm 1.8

14-24 f/2.8
200-400vr f/4
70-200vr f/2.8

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

On 2008-02-20 10:04:00 -0800, Bob G said:

I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Thanks!

Opinions vary widely. The 55mm f/3.5 micro-Nikkor and the old
Ultra-micro-Nikkor lenses get mentioned a lot in discussions like this.
But none of these are AF.

The fact is, image quality is far more dependent on the photographer
than it is on the lens. Nearly all of Nikon's lens line-up has higher
resolution than any of the sensors, anyway.

Extremely wide and extremely small apertures will cause softness. It is
no longer true that zoom lenses are softer than fixed lenses -- the
extremely sharp 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-D and AF-S VR lenses being proof of
that.


--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

Bob G wrote:
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/bestof.html
eliminating the ancient ones from his list:

* Wide-angle lenses
o 35 mm f/1.4 Nikkor
o 28 mm f/2 Nikkor
* Normal lenses
o 50 mm f/1.8 Nikkor
o 50 mm f/1.4 Nikkor (latest versions, including AF D)
* Medium short ("portrait") lenses
o AF 85 mm f/1.4 Nikkor
o AF 105 mm f/2 DC Nikkor
* Short telephoto lenses
o AFS 200 mm f/2 ED IF VR G
o AF 180 mm f/2.8 ED-IF Nikkor
* Long telephoto lenses
o AFS 300 mm f/2.8 ED-IF Nikkor (Mk. I only)
o AFS 400 mm f/2.8 ED-IF G VR Nikkor
o AFS 500 mm f/4 ED-IF Nikkor
* Lenses for close-up photography
o AFS 60 mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor ED G N (well, sometimes
"newer" is in fact better!)
o AF 200 mm f/4 ED-IF Micro-Nikkor
o 85 mm f/2.8 PC-Micro-Nikkor
* Zoom lenses
o AFS 14-24 mm f/2.8 ED G N Nikkor
o AFS 200-400 mm f/4 ED-IF VR G Nikkor
o AFS 24-70 mm f/2.8 ED G FX Nikkor (the old king 28-70/2.8
has been overthrown by a new, state-of-the-art optic)
o AFS 70-200 mm f/2.8 G VR ED-IF Nikkor (a long march but
leading to revolution)
o AFS 17-35 mm f/2.8 ED-IF Nikkor
* Late-breaking entries, too good not to be mentioned here
o 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E ED N Nikkor (wide-angle tilt and shift)

And http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html#super
16mm f3.5 5
18mm f3.5 4.5
20mm f2.8 4.3-4.7
24mm f2.8 AI 4.2-4.7
28mm f3.5 AI 4.8
28mm f2.8 AIS 4.8
28mm f2 4-4.6
35mm f2.8 PC AI - latest 4.8
35mm f2 3.5-4.8
50mm f1.8 larger metal-barrel 4.8
50mm f1.2 5 at 4 to 15 feet or so, otherwise 3.6-4
55mm f3.5 Micro 4.8 close, 3.8-4.5 near infinity
55mm f2.8 Micro 5 at infinity, 4 close
60mm f2.8 Micro AF 3.5 at infinity, 5.2 close
85mm f2 4.8
85mm f1.8 non-AI 4.8
85mm f1.8 AF 4.9-5.2
85mm f1.4 4.8
100mm f2.8 E 4.8
105mm f2.8 Micro 5 at infinity, 4.4 close
105mm f2.8 AF Micro 4-4.5 at infinity, 4.8 close
105mm f2.5 later 4.8
135mm f2.8 compact 4.8
135mm f2 4.9 beyond about 10', 3 at minimum focus
180mm f2.8 EDIF AF 5.2
300mm f4.5 ED non-IF 4.8
300mm f4 EDIF AF 4.8
300mm f2.8 EDIF 5
400mm f5.6 EDIF 4.8
400mm f3.5 EDIF 5
17-35mm f2.8 EDIF AFS 4.8

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

"Bob G" wrote in message
...
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Thanks!

Great question. Could someone please begin a new thread about Canon lenses
with the Rebel Xti in mind?

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

Bob G wrote:
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Best for what?

The Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 is reputed to be the sharpest
zoom lense ever produced. I don't own one, and have no
intention of ever buying one.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lense is also reputed to be one of
the sharpest fixed focal length lenses around. I do own
one. I never use it.

See the point?

Tell us what you want to do, and we can tell you what we
think the best lenses are to do that specific thing.
Just keep in mind that if 5 people respond, you'll
probably get at least 3 lenses lists as "the best"! :-)

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

Floyd L. Davidson wrote:
Bob G wrote:
I'm switching to Nikon and I would like you to list the three Nikon
lenses (current or not, but AF only) you think are the best in image
quality.

Best for what?

The Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 is reputed to be the sharpest
zoom lense ever produced. I don't own one, and have no
intention of ever buying one.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lense is also reputed to be one of
the sharpest fixed focal length lenses around. I do own
one. I never use it.
Funny, I was doing a shoot in a low-light setting and the 50mm 1.8 saved
my life. I don't really go anywhere without it.


See the point?

Tell us what you want to do, and we can tell you what we
think the best lenses are to do that specific thing.
Just keep in mind that if 5 people respond, you'll
probably get at least 3 lenses lists as "the best"! :-)

That's probably the best advice so far in this thread.
:-D

P.

Please name the sharpest Nikon lenses
 

C J Campbell wrote:

Nearly all of Nikon's lens line-up has higher
resolution than any of the sensors, anyway.

Sure ... that's why nearly all the Nikon lenses at
photozone.de max out the MTF in all apertures?


Look at e.g.
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi...5_28vr/mtf.gif
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi...0_28vr/mtf.gif
establishing that the sensor at least resolves 2250 LW/PH
(reaching 2264 and 2296 in the center respectively).

Now, if the lenses would be near or over the sensor
resolution, one would expect all values below f/8
(diffraction!) to be above 2250 LW/PH --- center and border.

Just these 2 excellently resolving lenses show that that's
not so ... and after one sees:
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi..._60_28/mtf.png
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi...18_ais/mtf.gif
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi..._50_14/mtf.gif
http://www.photozone.de/images/8Revi...5_3545/mtf.gif
etc.etc.etc.
the claim "Nearly all of Nikon's lens line-up has higher resolution
than any of the sensors" must be mistaken.

Note: I am not saying Nikon lenses are bad, or that others do
much better. I am merely saying that they simply don't outresolve
the D200's sensor. And that many lenses do not even reach the
sensors resolution, especially when used wide open or looking at
the border performance.

-Wolfgang