What is your favorite lens?

<p>First, I would like to have Nikon, better quality, both in sensor output as well as bodies.<br>

Second, for camera, I would like to have a full frame, but not d4, it is too big to carry around and maneuver, the camera at the size of d800 or d600 with the characteristics of d4. Let's say a 24 MP full frame like d600 with faster af and speed.<br>

As far as lenses, I would like to cover the entire focal band with the fastest and sharpest lenses, for wide angle, say af-s 18-35mm the new one, for normal range, 50mm f/1.8 af-s, and for normal zoom af-s 70-200 f/4, and for telefoto 500mm f/4 vr with tc-14-e.<br>

Note that my selection also optimizes price to performance, and I do not take specific photography, I'm just an amateur photographer taking bird photos mostly.</p>

<p>Nikon doesn't make what would be my favorite lens: a fast midrange zoom with VR. They don't even make one for the Nikon 1 System, even though an f/2.8 midrange zoom with VR should be reasonably lightweight and compact.</p>

<p>So I don't have a favorite lens. Just a bunch of compromises that deliver acceptable results.</p>

<p>Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar f:3.5 90 mm SL II:<br /> very compact, optics near perfect on a D800, ideal focal length, close focus capable, high quality construction</p>

<p>My 24-120 mm Nikkor AF-S VR f/4 resides on my D600 95% of the time. It has a great zoom range, it's sharp, the VR works very well, and what distortion it has can easily be fixed in software.</p>

<p>25-50mm f4,0 AIS, sharp and flexible.</p>

<p>My most used lens is the 60/2.8D Micro.<br>

My favorite lens (today) is my 18/2.8D-AF.</p>

<p>My most used lens is the AFS 300 f/4 . Why - Sharp, quick auto focus, can handhold. You can add a 1.4TC for extra length with little to no loss of sharpness. Or, you can add extension tubes and use for closer work. </p>

 

<p>I recently changed my philosophy about lenses. When I started out years ago I had a Tamron 28-200 which I got for travel. I thought this lens was great, huge range and small. When I get a little more experience I realized all it's short comings and sold it in exchange for the Nikon 24-120 VR (the old one). I thought this lens was great until I realized all it's short comings. Looking at all my old slides I wish I had purchased something sharper with less range. I later switched to digital and got the 18-200, which I thought was great. I still think the 18-200 is great but the range comes at a cost. The one thing that made the 18-200 so good was it was sharp at most of it's focal range (not so much in the corners). I used it happily for years. Now I've opted for the smaller 16-85. I find it makes less compromises than the 18-200 and is a little sharper, especially in the corners. I really like that it is smaller and lighter. This is something I care about much more these days. With travel or as a street lens around town it is a perfect size and range. I have a number of primes I use when I require high quality. I also have a wide angle lens which I always take along on trips. </p>

<p>I'm really enjoying this thread; thanks to all who have responded. It's a bonus that the Voigtlanders were mentioned; I never heard of that company so naturally I googled it and got to learn a little bit more. <br>

I'm looking forward to the day when I can answer this question for myself.</p>

<p>Sigma 30mm f/1.4</p>

<p>For me, this is a perfect all-purpose focal length on DX. I think this lens has great character and it is sharp enough for my purposes. I just wish it focused a bit closer (i.e. I want the new version!).</p>

<p>I wandered here from the front page, but when I can use it I really like the Olympus 45mm f 1.8. But I often don't have the space or an appropriate subject for it; otherwise I'm often using the Olympus 17mm f 1.8.</p>

Another vote for Voigtlander, mine is 58mm f/1.4. Sweet bokeh, silk smooth focus ring, and very sharp. Excellent build.

<p>Dan said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>My favorite lens (today) is my 18/2.8D-AF.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Wow! Another 18mm f/2.8D owner! I was excited when I first bought mine (used, off of Ebay), <em>until</em> I found out it was Nikon's <em>second-worst</em> lens ever (according to some guy named, "Ken."). Unfortunately, I think it is a bit on the not-so-sharp side. How's yours? That said, it does have "character." I do love the AF Nikkor 18mm f/2.8D on a film body, however.</p>

<p>Toss up between Zeiss 35mm/2 Distagon ZF.2 and Nikkor 28mm/1.8G AFS Nikkor.</p>

<p>Shiang said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Another vote for Voigtlander, mine is 58mm f/1.4. Sweet bokeh, silk smooth focus ring, and very sharp. Excellent build.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Yes, I've been dying to buy one of the shorter Voigtlanders for my old Nikon FM2 someday (or, <em>Nikon Df</em>, if that lotto ticket comes through). Just can't quite decide on which one--will probably go with the 28mm f/2.8:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/890582-REG/Voigtlander_bd296a_28mm_F_2_8_SL_II_Lens_Nikon.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/890582-REG/Voigtlander_bd296a_28mm_F_2_8_SL_II_Lens_Nikon.html</a></p>

<p>ON my D700 the redoubtable and under-appreciated Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D. It was the kit lens sold with the F100, it's not expensive, it has a very good (though technically misnamed) macro function that I use quite a bit, and it's sharp throughout the range with excellent color and tone. I'd love to see some careful work done by someone using that lens on a D800 to see how it holds up. </p>

<p>Dx-- a tie between the 16-85 which really is shockingly good; and the 35 f/1.8 which is also shockingly good. </p>

<p>All that said I do 90 percent of my shooting on B&W film. I have two F's, an F2, an F3, F100, FM2n, FE, and FA. Favorites among the pre-Ai's are the 58/1.4 mentioned above, the early 5cm f/2 S, the 85/1.8 HC and the 105/2.5P (Sonnar). For the F3 and later, the 20/3.5 AI-s, the AI 50/2 (so great), the 105/2.5 AI-s (even greater than you've heard...), and perhaps the most beautiful of all, the AI-s 180/2.8 ED. And EVEN BETTER than all these, for the Nikon S2 Rangefinder I have the 50/1.4 SC; I also have one in Leica LTM mount: and they are just stunning. One shoots with such confidence using that lens.</p>

<p>Indeed this is THE WHY: with all these manual focus film lenses, one shoots knowing that the tool in the hand is the best: and this knowledge helps me both to see and to take the photograph. When people say a great photographer can take a great picture with an utterly mediocre lens they are quite right; but excellent, beautiful lenses help you approach that place where the great photographers already live. </p>

<p>I "re-discovered" the 28mm focal length after getting a 28mm/f2 AIS to shoot basketball with a different prospective.<br>

That lens now lives on the front of my D600. It seems to have more "room" in an image vs. a 35mm, but the shots don't the "look I shot this with a wide angle" wow factor that is too common. </p>

<p>It is sharp enough stopped down a little that I can crop on the D600 (enough MP) to achieve a 35mm or almost 50mm prospective, if need be. Low distortion of people's faces (for a WA) leave a natural look to the images(yes, I could fix this with other lenses in PS, but no fun).</p>

<p>The 28/1.8G might be better, have not tried one out yet.</p>

<p>I've got a few favourites - the 105 AF-S VR macro lens, I bought this lens to do macro work and discovered that I really like to shoot at this focal length. Also, my 300mm f4 af-d, I bought a barely used version for 700 dollars, I just can't believe the value in this lens. Great tele, well built, fairly light and small for its focal length...</p>

<p>I also have a Zenza PS 110 macro for my Bronica that I love, and don't use often enough.</p>

<p>That 300mm sure is getting a lot of attention here. Daniel, you got a great deal on yours!</p>

<p>The AI (in my case) 28mm f/2 is another lens I should have mentioned, as per Robert above. Twenty eight is a great focal length for city streets and buildings and the like and my 28/2 is very sharp. That said, if you are looking for affordable 28mm, the AI-s (NOT the AI, only the AI-s) 28/2.8 is justly famous; no sharper (except in very close) than the 28/2 it nevertheless has a look -- as the 105/2.5 has a look -- that can often just take your breath away. </p>

<p>Since everyone's so fond of the 35mm Sigma and I've already got behind the 200 f/2 and 150mm Sigma, I should sound supportive of the 35mm Sigma as well. I have one, and it seems pretty impressive - but the reason I've not yet grown fond of it is that I've yet to get around to tuning it so the AF isn't a mile off. I have several blurry wedding snaps (fortunately only as a guest) before I noticed how far out it was. I'm fond of the 14-24 too, but I'm a little unimpressed by the field curvature on mine. My budget performer is probably a 135 f/2.8 AI-S.<br />

<br />

Just to take a second for the wish list: 6mm f/2.8, 21mm Zeiss, 55mm Zeiss Otus, 60mm Coastal Optics, 125mm Voigtlander APO-Lanthar, 300 f/2, 400 f/2.8 VR and possibly the 1200-1700. Though I might get an 85 f/1.8 first. :-) (I also have 17mm f/4 tilt-shift envy from the Canon mount.)</p>

<p>Andrew said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>I have several blurry wedding snaps (fortunately only as a guest) before I noticed how far out it was. I'm fond of the 14-24 too, but I'm a little unimpressed by the field curvature on mine</em>.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>My Sigma 35mm f/1.4 focused fine on both of my D3s bodies, but was waaaay out on my D800E. I mean waaay off. However, once my Sigma USB-dock finally arrived, I updated the Sigma lens' firmware, and then the focus on the D800E was spot-on. Have you tried the dock yet?</p>

<p>In order decending: Voigtlander 40mm F2 Ultron, Nikkor 105mm 2.5, Nikkor 85mm 1.4. This week.</p>

<p>My favorite is on the Rolleiflex. 75mm f/3.5 Carl Zeiss Planar. There is a porcelain smoothness to tones with this lens. It's ability to add a touch of magic to images has allowed me to work in a New Topographic fashion ( what some mistakenly call banal ) and discover surprising beauty in the play of graphics and light.<br>

But that is only because of traditional black and white fiber printing. The digital for all it's great abilities has yet to seem charming. Or at least I can't see it on a computer screen or inkjet print. I therefor only look for sharpness. Older Nikon AIS lenses are usually not as sharp as moderns, and I can't make out their special qualities. I have 55 Micros and 105 P, but if they are imparting anything unique to digital capture I'm missing it. <br>

So I shoot with a Nikon AF 35mm F/1.8 G DX, and it does a fine job in a matter of fact way. Period. Oh and that little 18-55 is sharper than most all my older Nikkors, as long as you stop it to F/5.6 for the corners. I'm not one to dismiss the kit lens. It's a real performer.</p>

<p>My personal favorite is the Sigma 8-16mm HSM. It is super sharp, and is an insanely wide angle for getting really creative with perspective. For more normal shooting, it's tough to beat the 50mm f1.8G Nikkor as well.</p>