Originally posted by Wheatfield What makes you decide a lens is worth keeping?
Its price/performance, if its the right focal length for me personally, etc.
What makes you decide that a lens is junk?
Performance, i.e. sharpness and bokeh. Its physical condition also.
For example, if a lens has good bokeh, but can be forced to show CA/PF, will you keep it for the bokeh or get rid of it for the fringing?
Keep it.
Another example: Is it unadulterated sharpness above all else or can a little softness be forgiven if the lens has other attributes that you like?
Its not all about sharpness. The sharpest lens in the world is not one I would like to use for portraits Also non-dizzying bokeh is more important than straight up sharpness. Besides USM helps a lot now-a-days.
I'll jump back in with my philosophy at some point, but I am interested in how other people view a lenses worthiness or lack of same.
Basically I look at a lens and decide whether its worth its price. I.e. my M 85mm. I bought that lens without really thinking, I just jumped on the first one I saw in the marketplace. Price was in the mid $200's. I refused and still do, to spend that much on an old MF film lens unless its something a la A* 200mm macro. I was very weary but it has grown to be my favorite lens I own
Was it worth that much? YES. I was close to sending it back when I first got it though :ugh: Its focal length is my favorite on APSC thus far. Its sharpness @ F/2 is very sharp. This lens is a beauty at portraits because despite its sharpness, DOF is so small usually only the eyes are in focus making it ok. From F/2.8 on its crazy sharp
Another different example is my DA 55-300mm. I bought it for a great price (to bad Gus isn't here anymore. He could re-call how upset he was that I PMed the guy just before he did, because of its great price
) here on the market place despite me not looking for this lens. I simply saw it and jumped on it so to speak
I HATE zoom's and this is no different with this lens. Its performance is pretty good but not any where near prime territory. Its build is crap compared to my old M lenses, and its focus ring and zoom ring are both terrible to turn feal wise. Despite this I keep it. Why? Well the great price is one factor, and the other is the fact that I now own nothing longer than 135mm. If I ever need longer thats the only lens I can grab. How often have I grabbed the lens and used it in the field? Maybe twice
Its there when i need it though, and until I can afford something better it will continue to stay in the bag ready....
edit: I'd like to add the DA 55-300mm is the best lens in that range of any brand I've used to date....