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EliotK · 12-25-2009, 05:02 PM

What lens would produce tack-sharp images for the obsessed pixel-peeper at a reasonable price? (under $500-600?) This is indoor/studio detailed photography but NOT macro, shot from approximately 3-12 ft distance on a tripod.

Thank you.

ivoire · 12-25-2009, 05:49 PM

What are you shooting? portraits? food? product shots? jewelry? etc. DA40mm is very sharp

kristoffon · 12-25-2009, 05:52 PM

the DA35 seems to fit the bill

being a macro doesn't really hurt

geauxpez · 12-25-2009, 08:45 PM

It would help to know what kind of focal length you are looking for (100mm/f2.8 vs. 31mm, etc.) or even a zoom range if a zoom is what you're hunting for.

Fixcinater · 12-25-2009, 09:07 PM

Almost any lens at f/8-f/13 will do this for you.

Marc Sabatella · 12-25-2009, 09:44 PM

Between f/8 and f/13 there is very little difference between lenses - they're pretty much all diffraction limited around there. But if you want to see specific numbers, check out the lens reviews on photozone.de

Mechan1k · 12-26-2009, 04:22 AM

If you want a sharp lens ... the main ones tht come to mind are usually Macro lenses.

But they aren't just for Macro ... I use my Tamron 90mm Macro for long portraiture work ... nice and sharp.

There's a number for good ones ... the DA35 has already been mentioned ... the Sigma 70mm Macro ... the Tamron I mention.

But ... if you want some thing decent ... and not much money ... and see as it will be on a Tripod ... may as well got a manual lens (there's nice old school 50mm macro's out there for not much coin).

WerTicus · 12-26-2009, 05:29 AM

Welcome to Photozone!

has the numbers for you.

DA70mm looks to be nice and sharp for example, check out its resolution numbers

Kaimarx · 12-27-2009, 07:47 AM

FA 50 2.8 Macro or the much cheaper used variants Super TAK/M 50 f4 macro. Regardles if you do macro or not these are some of the sharpest lenses Pentax have made. The DA Limited 70 is not too shabby as well.

Pentaxor · 12-27-2009, 09:51 AM

usually macro lenses fits this category. you can try out the prime Sigma 70/2.8.

EliotK · 02-07-2010, 12:29 AM

It is product studio photography, off a tripod, focal distance probably 35-75mm, shot from about 3-10ft, but has to be sharp so that later when customer reviews images they can zoom into parts of image reasonably tight without heavy blur.
Thanks everyone.

asdf · 02-07-2010, 12:42 AM

Originally posted by EliotK

It is product studio photography, off a tripod, focal distance probably 35-75mm, shot from about 3-10ft, but has to be sharp so that later when customer reviews images they can zoom into parts of image reasonably tight without heavy blur.
Thanks everyone.

Dedicated macro lenses have a flat field of focus and are sharp, so you won't get surprises in the borders and corners or when shooting flat products. So you may still want a macro lens for non-macro work. Although, nothing is sharper (in the center at least) than the FA limited lenses, DA* 55 and FA 50 (and similar fast fifties)...at ~f/4. But with digital, because of the Bayer pattern of sensors and the anti-aliasing filter, all images straight out of RAW will be a bit blurry at the pixel peeping level.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 02-07-2010, 01:55 AM

Macro lenses aside, I found the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 to be a very sharp lens.

Mike.P® · 02-07-2010, 02:54 AM

I have quite a few macro lenses but have found the DA 70mm to be sharp as any of them. Otherwise SIgma 70mm f2.8 is good.

Wheatfield · 02-07-2010, 06:17 AM

Pretty much any lens at f/8.

12-25-2009, 05:02 PM	#1
EliotK New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 10	Sharp lens for pixel-peepers?? What lens would produce tack-sharp images for the obsessed pixel-peeper at a reasonable price? (under $500-600?) This is indoor/studio detailed photography but NOT macro, shot from approximately 3-12 ft distance on a tripod. Thank you.

12-25-2009, 05:49 PM	#2
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	What are you shooting? portraits? food? product shots? jewelry? etc. DA40mm is very sharp Last edited by ivoire; 12-26-2009 at 01:15 PM.

02-07-2010, 12:29 AM	#11
EliotK New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 10 Original Poster	Clarification It is product studio photography, off a tripod, focal distance probably 35-75mm, shot from about 3-10ft, but has to be sharp so that later when customer reviews images they can zoom into parts of image reasonably tight without heavy blur. Thanks everyone.

02-07-2010, 12:42 AM	#12
asdf Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,252	Originally posted by EliotK It is product studio photography, off a tripod, focal distance probably 35-75mm, shot from about 3-10ft, but has to be sharp so that later when customer reviews images they can zoom into parts of image reasonably tight without heavy blur. Thanks everyone. Dedicated macro lenses have a flat field of focus and are sharp, so you won't get surprises in the borders and corners or when shooting flat products. So you may still want a macro lens for non-macro work. Although, nothing is sharper (in the center at least) than the FA limited lenses, DA* 55 and FA 50 (and similar fast fifties)...at ~f/4. But with digital, because of the Bayer pattern of sensors and the anti-aliasing filter, all images straight out of RAW will be a bit blurry at the pixel peeping level. Last edited by asdf; 02-07-2010 at 12:48 AM.

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12-25-2009, 05:52 PM	#3
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	the DA35 seems to fit the bill being a macro doesn't really hurt

12-25-2009, 08:45 PM	#4
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	It would help to know what kind of focal length you are looking for (100mm/f2.8 vs. 31mm, etc.) or even a zoom range if a zoom is what you're hunting for.

12-25-2009, 09:07 PM	#5
Fixcinater Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 409	Almost any lens at f/8-f/13 will do this for you.

12-25-2009, 09:44 PM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Between f/8 and f/13 there is very little difference between lenses - they're pretty much all diffraction limited around there. But if you want to see specific numbers, check out the lens reviews on photozone.de

12-26-2009, 04:22 AM	#7
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	If you want a sharp lens ... the main ones tht come to mind are usually Macro lenses. But they aren't just for Macro ... I use my Tamron 90mm Macro for long portraiture work ... nice and sharp. There's a number for good ones ... the DA35 has already been mentioned ... the Sigma 70mm Macro ... the Tamron I mention. But ... if you want some thing decent ... and not much money ... and see as it will be on a Tripod ... may as well got a manual lens (there's nice old school 50mm macro's out there for not much coin).

12-26-2009, 05:29 AM	#8
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	Welcome to Photozone! has the numbers for you. DA70mm looks to be nice and sharp for example, check out its resolution numbers

12-27-2009, 07:47 AM	#9
Kaimarx Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Auckland Photos: Gallery Posts: 452	FA 50 2.8 Macro or the much cheaper used variants Super TAK/M 50 f4 macro. Regardles if you do macro or not these are some of the sharpest lenses Pentax have made. The DA Limited 70 is not too shabby as well.

12-27-2009, 09:51 AM	#10
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	usually macro lenses fits this category. you can try out the prime Sigma 70/2.8.

02-07-2010, 01:55 AM	#13
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Macro lenses aside, I found the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 to be a very sharp lens.

02-07-2010, 02:54 AM	#14
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	I have quite a few macro lenses but have found the DA 70mm to be sharp as any of them. Otherwise SIgma 70mm f2.8 is good.

02-07-2010, 06:17 AM	#15
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987	Pretty much any lens at f/8.

Sharp lens for pixel-peepers??

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