Solarflare
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- May 24, 2012
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Which lenses do you think are the most classic ? Lenses I know off:
- Leica Summicron-M APO 50mm f2.0
Is there even any original Leica lens, even those that arent still made, that wouldnt qualify for this category ? The APO 50mm is just a random pick, really.
- Zeiss Distagon T* 2.0/28mm
The "Hollywood" lens, popular for its dramatic rendering. Zeiss is mostly like Leica, really, a lot of really desireable lenses, though theres also some stinkers like the 2.8/25mm.
- Zeiss Makro Planar T* 2.0/100mm ZF
Used by NASA to record rocket starts because according to their tests you can see more details with this lens than with any other optics. Of course most other Zeiss lenses would probably equally qualify for this category. AFAIK NASA uses the ZF version, which basically is a Nikkor AI. Theres also a ZF.2 with CPU-contacts (Nikkor AI-P), ZE for Canon EF, ZK for Pentax K, and I think a version for Minolta A. This is only a 1:2 macro, manual focus only.
- Canon TV Lens 50mm 1:0.95
The "dream lens", famous for its seas of Bokeh. Also interestingly much cheaper, shorter and more lightweight than a Leica Noctilux 50mm f0.95. There are some Leica M mount conversions around of this.
- (Nikon) Nikkor AF 135mm f2.0 [D] DC
With the unique DC mechanism. Allows to optimize Bokeh without loss of light. The 105mm is of course also great.
- (Nikon) Nikkor [AI[-S]] 105mm f2.5
The famous classic portrait lens.
- Nikon 24mm f2.8
Galen Rowell's famous pick for a landscape wide angle.
- Minolta (now Sony) 135mm f2.8 [T4.5] STF
Same as the Nikon 135mm DC. Sadly "only" f2.8. However, thanks to an apodization(?) filter, both foreground and background Bokeh are gaussian and thus perfectly smooth and "creamy". Sadly due to this filter this means this lens is manual focus only and it also loses a lot of light. According to Ken Rockwell, the Minolta 100mm macro is also a classic.
- Canon EF 85mm f1.2
The reason to join Canon. Theres also FD versions of this lens, I think ?
- Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8
The popular magnifier lens, 1:1-5:1, for Canon. Another reason to join Canon.
- Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5L II
The Canon Tilt/Shift lens.
P.s: I really should add the
Voigtländer "Ultron" 40mm f2.0
Which also has something of a cult following. Also:
Voigtländer "APO-Lanthar" 125mm f2.5 Macro
- Leica Summicron-M APO 50mm f2.0
Is there even any original Leica lens, even those that arent still made, that wouldnt qualify for this category ? The APO 50mm is just a random pick, really.
- Zeiss Distagon T* 2.0/28mm
The "Hollywood" lens, popular for its dramatic rendering. Zeiss is mostly like Leica, really, a lot of really desireable lenses, though theres also some stinkers like the 2.8/25mm.
- Zeiss Makro Planar T* 2.0/100mm ZF
Used by NASA to record rocket starts because according to their tests you can see more details with this lens than with any other optics. Of course most other Zeiss lenses would probably equally qualify for this category. AFAIK NASA uses the ZF version, which basically is a Nikkor AI. Theres also a ZF.2 with CPU-contacts (Nikkor AI-P), ZE for Canon EF, ZK for Pentax K, and I think a version for Minolta A. This is only a 1:2 macro, manual focus only.
- Canon TV Lens 50mm 1:0.95
The "dream lens", famous for its seas of Bokeh. Also interestingly much cheaper, shorter and more lightweight than a Leica Noctilux 50mm f0.95. There are some Leica M mount conversions around of this.
- (Nikon) Nikkor AF 135mm f2.0 [D] DC
With the unique DC mechanism. Allows to optimize Bokeh without loss of light. The 105mm is of course also great.
- (Nikon) Nikkor [AI[-S]] 105mm f2.5
The famous classic portrait lens.
- Nikon 24mm f2.8
Galen Rowell's famous pick for a landscape wide angle.
- Minolta (now Sony) 135mm f2.8 [T4.5] STF
Same as the Nikon 135mm DC. Sadly "only" f2.8. However, thanks to an apodization(?) filter, both foreground and background Bokeh are gaussian and thus perfectly smooth and "creamy". Sadly due to this filter this means this lens is manual focus only and it also loses a lot of light. According to Ken Rockwell, the Minolta 100mm macro is also a classic.
- Canon EF 85mm f1.2
The reason to join Canon. Theres also FD versions of this lens, I think ?
- Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8
The popular magnifier lens, 1:1-5:1, for Canon. Another reason to join Canon.
- Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5L II
The Canon Tilt/Shift lens.
P.s: I really should add the
Voigtländer "Ultron" 40mm f2.0
Which also has something of a cult following. Also:
Voigtländer "APO-Lanthar" 125mm f2.5 Macro
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