Most Used Lense Survey 2011 - The Results !

Frogfish · 07-16-2011, 12:30 PM - **2 Likes**

Firstly let me say a big thank you to everyone responding to the thread on 'Your Most Used Lenses' (as opposed to your favourites).

Secondly let me say that I take no responsibility for any mathematical or systemic errors. The survey is what it is, just a bit of fun borne out of an interest as to which lenses we get the most use out of. Also note that the lenses listed in each table are those I think are the best fit to the title e.g. DFA*100 macro has been included in the table of Top Telephoto lenses as it is often used as a telephoto even though it's primary function is as a macro lens, sorry if your viewpoint is different

Thirdly - The way I calculated the scoring was 5 points for a lens in your lists in top place, down to 1 point for a lense in 5th place. Averaged points, for those who didn't give them positions, and only the top 5 of lenses used on digital cameras, were used where people gave more than one list. In some cases I just had to make an educated guess. More than 200 lenses were listed.

Finally there are two results for each table, the first is an aggregate of the results from two forums (184 respondents lists were aggregated, from the PF and PU forums) and the second is the results of the PF forum only.

Hope you enjoy these tables and that it encourages debate, discussion or comment as much as I enjoyed reading the lists of lenses you posted.

Thank you !
Kevin

Last edited by Frogfish; 07-17-2011 at 12:34 AM.

Docrwm · 07-16-2011, 12:43 PM

Fun project. Interesting lists.

Jean Poitiers · 07-16-2011, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the info ("merci beaucoup") ... very interesting.

**Michaelina2** · 07-16-2011, 01:13 PM

Great info... Thank you...

May I ask why FA 43/1.9 is listed twice in several lists (Top Overall, PF Only, etc.)?

Also, I see the FA 31/1.8 did not get a mention in the "Top 50 Overall", or "PF Only" given all of the praise it gets.

Just curious...

Again, thanks... Cheers...

Frogfish · 07-16-2011, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by Michaelina2

Great info... Thank you...

May I ask why FA 43/1.9 is listed twice in several lists (Top Overall, PF Only, etc.)?

Also, I see the FA 31/1.8 did not get a mention in the "Top 50 Overall", or "PF Only" given all of the praise it gets.

Just curious...

Again, thanks... Cheers...

Full marks for observancy and spotting my deliberate error

The 43 Ltd was listed twice in a number of tables where in each case the second 43 Ltd should of course be the 31 Ltd.

Now amended !!

psychdoc · 07-16-2011, 04:27 PM

For all of the reported SDM problems that light up these forums, the 50-135 and 16-50 seem to be quite popular...

hcc · 07-16-2011, 04:48 PM

Thank you very much for posting these challenging results.

It is interesting to see the fairly decent listing of several discontinued lenses incl. DA18-250mm, the Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses...

The other comment is the breadth of lenses listed. Obviously the Pentax dSLR have a great choice of lenses, thanks in part to the backward lens compatibiity.

RioRico · 07-16-2011, 09:07 PM

It's interesting to see just how far from the mainstream I am, and where! Of course, that's mostly about money. I am cheap, and the highest-rated lenses aren't.

My main quibble/question arises from the list of WA lenses. On an APS-C camera, 28mm isn't wide, it's perfectly 'normal'. Are you being FF-centric? Next, besides the normal, wide, tele, and portrait lists, I would be interested in a macro-lens list.

A great effort. Thanks!

Frogfish · 07-17-2011, 11:21 AM

Thanks HCC - the breadth of lenses used is actually amazing, more than 200 lenses were listed.

Thank you Rio - I guess you are not cheap, just better informed ! Glad you only had a 'quibble' and not a complaint. I picked 30 as the cut-off point since most people consider maybe 35mm to be the 'normal' FL for APS-C so anything under 30 became 'wide'.

Docrwm · 07-17-2011, 01:20 PM

It is amazing the range of lenses listed and how many options there are for modern Pentax dSLR users. I've got lenses from the early 60s that are terrific as well as Pentax's newest DA offering from 2010. How many other brands can say that I wonder?

**Digitalis** · 08-01-2011, 01:36 AM

incidentally, there is no such thing as a M series 50mm f/1.2 - the idea of the M series lenses was to fill the need for compact focal lengths e.g 40mm f/2.8 pancake, it is impossible to make a compact 50mm f/1.2

very interesting to see that the FA31mm f/1.8 Limited is so popular. In my part of the world 69 FA31mm f/1.8 lenses would cost as much as 4 645D cameras - and you would still have enough money left over to buy a few copies of the Pentax SMC 645 25mm f/4 ASPH [IF]

RonHendriks1966 · 08-01-2011, 02:08 AM

Fun list and noit the biggest surprise to me is that a macro lens is on top. I don't have one, but you folks like macro's more then I do (I noticed over the years watching pictures).

My lensbag is not mainstream: DA 14mm, 21mm, 40mm, DA* 55mm, 200mm, 60-250mm and FA*85mm. (just sold my 50-135mm before the weekend).

MrA · 08-03-2011, 11:55 AM

Interesting to see that the Sigma 30mm f1.4 isn't mentioned at all.

Jean Poitiers · 08-03-2011, 12:36 PM

Bonjour Frogfish,

Just a quick question ... was the DA* 200/2.8 a part of your survey? I could not find any references. Just curious ... and merci d'avance.

Jean le Frog

**Wormtographer** · 08-03-2011, 12:52 PM

In praise of the SMCP-D FA 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro.

I was not aware it's been given * star status.

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised it was so well used--no other modern day lens I've ever used reminds me so much of an old Takumar. High praise indeed.

-W

07-16-2011, 12:30 PM - 2 Likes	#1
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Most Used Lense Survey 2011 - The Results ! Firstly let me say a big thank you to everyone responding to the thread on 'Your Most Used Lenses' (as opposed to your favourites). Secondly let me say that I take no responsibility for any mathematical or systemic errors. The survey is what it is, just a bit of fun borne out of an interest as to which lenses we get the most use out of. Also note that the lenses listed in each table are those I think are the best fit to the title e.g. DFA100 macro has been included in the table of Top Telephoto lenses as it is often used as a telephoto even though it's primary function is as a macro lens, sorry if your viewpoint is different Thirdly - The way I calculated the scoring was 5 points for a lens in your lists in top place, down to 1 point for a lense in 5th place. Averaged points, for those who didn't give them positions, and only the top 5 of lenses used on digital cameras, were used where people gave more than one list. In some cases I just had to make an educated guess. More than 200 lenses were listed. Finally there are two results for each table, the first is an aggregate of the results from two forums (184 respondents lists were aggregated, from the PF and PU forums) and the second is the results of the PF forum only. Hope you enjoy these tables and that it encourages debate, discussion or comment as much as I enjoyed reading the lists of lenses you posted. Thank you ! Kevin Last edited by Frogfish; 07-17-2011 at 12:34 AM.*

08-01-2011, 01:36 AM	#11
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	incidentally, there is no such thing as a M series 50mm f/1.2 - the idea of the M series lenses was to fill the need for compact focal lengths e.g 40mm f/2.8 pancake, it is impossible to make a compact 50mm f/1.2 very interesting to see that the FA31mm f/1.8 Limited is so popular. In my part of the world 69 FA31mm f/1.8 lenses would cost as much as 4 645D cameras - and you would still have enough money left over to buy a few copies of the Pentax SMC 645 25mm f/4 ASPH [IF] Last edited by Digitalis; 08-01-2011 at 04:56 AM.

08-03-2011, 12:36 PM	#14
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	*[langtitle=fr]Did the DA 200/2.8 make your list ?[/langtitle] Bonjour** Frogfish, Just a quick question ... was the DA* 200/2.8 a part of your survey? I could not find any references. Just curious ... and *merci d'avance. Jean le Frog*

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07-16-2011, 12:43 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Fun project. Interesting lists.

07-16-2011, 01:00 PM	#3
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Thanks for the info ("*merci beaucoup*") ... very interesting.

07-16-2011, 01:13 PM	#4
Michaelina2 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,300	Great info... Thank you... May I ask why FA 43/1.9 is listed twice in several lists (Top Overall, PF Only, etc.)? Also, I see the FA 31/1.8 did not get a mention in the "Top 50 Overall", or "PF Only" given all of the praise it gets. Just curious... Again, thanks... Cheers...

07-16-2011, 01:59 PM	#5
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490 Original Poster	Originally posted by Michaelina2 Great info... Thank you... May I ask why FA 43/1.9 is listed twice in several lists (Top Overall, PF Only, etc.)? Also, I see the FA 31/1.8 did not get a mention in the "Top 50 Overall", or "PF Only" given all of the praise it gets. Just curious... Again, thanks... Cheers... Full marks for observancy and spotting my deliberate error The 43 Ltd was listed twice in a number of tables where in each case the second 43 Ltd should of course be the 31 Ltd. Now amended !!

07-16-2011, 04:27 PM	#6
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	For all of the reported SDM problems that light up these forums, the 50-135 and 16-50 seem to be quite popular...

07-16-2011, 04:48 PM	#7
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Thank you very much for posting these challenging results. It is interesting to see the fairly decent listing of several discontinued lenses incl. DA18-250mm, the Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses... The other comment is the breadth of lenses listed. Obviously the Pentax dSLR have a great choice of lenses, thanks in part to the backward lens compatibiity.

07-16-2011, 09:07 PM	#8
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	It's interesting to see just how far from the mainstream I am, and where! Of course, that's mostly about money. I am cheap, and the highest-rated lenses aren't. My main quibble/question arises from the list of WA lenses. On an APS-C camera, 28mm isn't wide, it's perfectly 'normal'. Are you being FF-centric? Next, besides the normal, wide, tele, and portrait lists, I would be interested in a macro-lens list. A great effort. Thanks!

07-17-2011, 11:21 AM	#9
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490 Original Poster	Thanks HCC - the breadth of lenses used is actually amazing, more than 200 lenses were listed. Thank you Rio - I guess you are not cheap, just better informed ! Glad you only had a 'quibble' and not a complaint. I picked 30 as the cut-off point since most people consider maybe 35mm to be the 'normal' FL for APS-C so anything under 30 became 'wide'.

07-17-2011, 01:20 PM	#10
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	It is amazing the range of lenses listed and how many options there are for modern Pentax dSLR users. I've got lenses from the early 60s that are terrific as well as Pentax's newest DA offering from 2010. How many other brands can say that I wonder?

08-01-2011, 02:08 AM	#12
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Fun list and noit the biggest surprise to me is that a macro lens is on top. I don't have one, but you folks like macro's more then I do (I noticed over the years watching pictures). My lensbag is not mainstream: DA 14mm, 21mm, 40mm, DA* 55mm, 200mm, 60-250mm and FA*85mm. (just sold my 50-135mm before the weekend).

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08-03-2011, 11:55 AM	#13
MrA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England UK Posts: 211	Interesting to see that the Sigma 30mm f1.4 isn't mentioned at all.

08-03-2011, 12:52 PM	#15
Wormtographer Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 166	In praise of the SMCP-D FA 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro. I was not aware it's been given * star status. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised it was so well used--no other modern day lens I've ever used reminds me so much of an old Takumar. High praise indeed. -W