[gofour3]

But each to their own. It's I guess a case of neither of us being able to comprehend how the other shoots even with similar gear.

I was shooting 100 ISO film on manual focus bodies, found the zooms too slow a lot of the time. I was a long way from home and could not just take any lens from my collection. You can only take so much gear on a plane when you travel.....

Phil.

[GUB]

For me the most disappointing lenses are the two kit zooms that came with my Kx (18-55 and 55-300 dals)
But then I am not a zoom guy either.

[RICHARD L.]

My best lens ever is the 6X7 PENTAX 55 mm f/4 wide-angle lens, followed closely by the 6X7 PENTAX 75 mm f/2.8 AL. My worst ever lens was an FA J 75-300 mm during my film days, totally useless junk.

[bdery]

Looking at my Niagara Falls images from 2017-12, I have 22 keepers, 8 that could have been taken with a 77_approx. 68-85mm)
4 at 105.
9 between 28 and 55mm.
Using the 77 I'd be forgoing 2/3s of my images, and not one would be framed to my liking. The closest being two at 73mm.
And I've never considered framing my images to my liking "fumbling."
If you understand hyperlocal shooting, you don't need a distance scale.
I tend to go to the best angle free of obstructions etc. and pick the lens that suits it, not expecting the view in front of me to be suited to any of the prime lenses I have in my bag. Is it about the lens or the scene?

Goes to show you that everyone has his own style...

Last week I was at Ek Balam in the Yucatan peninsula. I would have preferred to use the FA 20-35 (not because it's a zoom, but because it's wide) with the FA77. However, the frequent short rain showers forced me to swap between the 20-35 and the DFA 28-105. Nothing wrong with the DFA, but a fast prime would have given me more DOF control. Considering I used the 20-35 almost exclusively at 20, my dream kit for that day would have been a two-primes setup.

[TaoMaas]

My best lens ever is the 6X7 PENTAX 55 mm f/4 wide-angle lens, followed closely by the 6X7 PENTAX 75 mm f/2.8 AL.

Doh! I didn't even think to check the ratings on my 6X7 lenses. I've got that same 55mm f/4 so I guess it qualifies as my top-rated lens.

[luftfluss]

Like @Cipher, I have the "Perfect 10" - the Auto 110 50/2.8

I don't know all the lens ratings, but the Tamron 360B 300/2.8 at 9.67 is probably the highest rated K-mount(ish) lens I own.

And yet, of my 4 lenses that are 300mm+, it's only my third-favorite behind the Tamron 65B 400/4 and Pentax A 400/5.6. Go figure.

That said... I take the ratings in user reviews with a great big pinch of salt. In many cases there are large elements of "confirmation bias" and "new buyer enthusiasm" involved. Plus, one has to consider what other lenses the reviewers are comparing with. As such, all that really matters to me is whether I like a lens or not. It's interesting to reader other folks' reviews of them, and it can be a handy factor in considering lens purchases. But only I can decide if a lens is right for me... and if others don't like what I like, I don't let that affect my personal judgement...

QFT

Tamron 360B

[Turbotak]

The worst lenses I've owned are the Pentax 45-125 and the Minolta 35-70 f/4-f/5.6.

The 45-125 has awful distortion despite being sharp "enough" and the zoom barrel is too loose to stay put.
The Minolta has zero redeeming qualities about it and I use it as a body cap.

[ryanM]

I guess my highest rated lens is my SMC 28mm f3.5 which rates in at 9.41


It's a nice lens, but I also really like the M 28mm f3.5 which renders differently.


Next up would be the SMC 35mm f2 and SMC 135mm f2.5 both of which are rated at 9.31


I don't dig these lenses as much as others and have been thinking about selling them. They are very good lenses, but the focal lengths don't agree with me. I'm more of a 28mm, 50mm 100mm kind of shooter.

[Oktyabr]

I really only look at ratings to keep away from the real junk. It's easy to forget that the ratings are not just "sharpness" but also many other factors as well. For me, if a lens isn't WR/AW, it's much less useful and I wouldn't usually bother with it. As I like to carry as light and compact as possible, "handling" is often a rating I am more concerned with than "sharpness". And if you have to send back half a dozen copies to get one that performs as it should, how useful IS a high rating? All in all, personal preference is just that; subjective.

That said, I've owned two copies of the 100 Macro WR (9.63 average) and both were an outstanding value, ticking all the boxes.

The 55-300 PLM (8.88 average rating) has the fastest AF I've ever seen, and I wouldn't go birding without it.

I'm on my second copy of the 18-135 WR (8.53 average rating), and really think this one should be rated a bit higher, on true value rather than MSRP, since I suspect that many were purchased as part of a kit at a significantly reduced "bundle" price. This is the swiss army knife in my camera bag and does everything reasonably well.

The M50 1.7 (9.38 average rating) is like finding a rare jewel in the bargain bin at most used prices today. Razor sharp stopped down and a bokeh monster wide open with very nice colors.

[TaoMaas]

Like @Cipher, I have the "Perfect 10" - the Auto 110 50/2.8

That's rated a "10"? Guess I have to amend things because I have that lens, too. Geez...I'm bad at this game.

[GUB]

That's rated a "10"? Guess I have to amend things because I have that lens, too. Geez...I'm bad at this game.

I have at least 4 of them!! does that mean I get to score a 40?

[Wheatfield]

The worst of my lenses are probably too good for my photo skills, but it gives me confidence and makes me feel good that the images i attempt will never be limited or spoiled by the optics I'm using.


SUGGESTION-REQUEST: FROM THIS POINT ON, (previous posters welcome to contribute) ALSO MENTION WHAT IN YOUR OPINION IS OR WAS THE WORST, MOST DISAPPOINTING LENS YOU'VE EVER OWNED OR USED.


For me it was a 1000mm f11 reflex Takumar. I worked for weeks with one trying everything I could, but didn't manage to capture a single acceptable image. IMHO, IQ was just awful.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 from the mid 1980s. It was not sharp at any aperture. It was one of the things that put Pentax on my radar.

[pentax360]

The highest rated lens I have is my Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 (# 172E / 272E ) at 9.67.
I certainly like it a lot.

[monochrome]

That's rated a "10"? Guess I have to amend things because I have that lens, too. Geez...I'm bad at this game.

Yikes! Me too.

[WPRESTO]

i have at least 4 of them!! Does that mean i get to score a 40?

Sounds good to me