Sharpest Lens you own?

stevebrot · 04-20-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

Really, Steve? I love my Heliosen, but I can't imagine ever putting them among the sharpest I own.

I have done some comparison shots of the Helios 44M vs. the Pentax-M 50/1.7 and the Helios has a definite edge. Now that I have let the sharpness cat out of the bag, I think it is important to qualify a little bit. The wonderful sharpness falls off somewhat towards the corners and on FF 35mm film the Helios is fairly consistently soft at the edges regardless of aperture!

Here are the comparison shots:

Here is a link with a selection of my Helios shots: LINK

And finally, anyone care to guess how may of my small number of PPG images were taken with the Helios 44M? (LINK)

Now I don't want to sound like a fan boy, but I have consistently been impressed with the performance of this lens on my K10D. So, it stays on the list

Steve

flippedgazelle · 04-20-2010, 08:20 PM

Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro. Hard to believe so much acuity coming from a lens that looks like it was built from a Canon Rebel's leftover plastic!

(Or maybe it's the M 50 f/1.7...

)

**Digitalis** · 04-20-2010, 08:45 PM

Pentax 200mm f/4 macro - mind bendingly sharp lens

Pentax FA77 FA31 SMCP50mm f/1.2 -@f4 each lens is superbly sharp. I also have the Pentax 43mm f/1.9 in leica M mount and it is absolutely superb on t-max 100

Leica summilux lenses 21mm f/1.4- 35mm f/1.4 -50mm f/1.4 & 75mm f/1.4 - each of these are incredibly sharp at f/2.8

Canon EF 135mm f/2 - 85mm f/1.2 - 50mm f/1.4 - (the f/1.2 fails to impress me) 35mm f/1.4 - 200mm f/1.8 - 400mm f/2.8

audiobomber · 04-20-2010, 08:51 PM

Originally posted by Indecent Exposure

By far my A f1:2.8 Macro has been the sharpest lens I have ever experienced in 30 + years of Pentax photography.

?? Is the focal length a secret?

Doanh · 04-20-2010, 09:03 PM

FA 43 Ltd at f4 and Sigma 70 Macro

henryjing · 04-20-2010, 09:26 PM

DA 40 though I have got FA 31 43 77

GatorPentax · 04-20-2010, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by Itai

Pentax FA 31mm Limited closely followed by the DA* 55mm F1.4.

- Itai
Digital Camera Buying Guide, Photography Articles and Reviews | NeoCamera.com

Im so jealous....

Bramela · 04-20-2010, 09:45 PM

I will give a plug for Macro lenses and say the sharpest I have is :

Vivitar Series 1 105mm Macro lens.

For Macro work this is a gem, even though a manual lens.

I repeatedly see the FA 43 mentioned above. It appears I will have to check this one out along with others mentioned.

Eagle_Friends · 04-20-2010, 10:12 PM

Wow, a lot of people are suggesting the DA 40, I feel glad cause I just purchased one. =D

Also the Sigma 70mm Macro, the sharpness is incredible!

JP_Seattle · 04-20-2010, 11:38 PM

Toss up between Vivitar Series 1 90mm and Vivitar Series 1 105mm - both incredibly sharp.

For zoom lens - Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 (v2 by Tokina)

Pentax-K 35mm f/3.5 and Pentax-F 50mm 1.7 are both razor sharp as well.

garth1948 · 04-21-2010, 12:05 AM

In my collection of 1 to 40 year old lenses the F series 50mm f1.7 is easily the sharpest.

goddo31 · 04-21-2010, 02:54 AM

DA35 macro Ltd @ f5.6 is my sharpest
followed by M 50 f1.4 at smaller apertures
Then perhaps the DA15 Ltd, M28 f3.5, M400 f5.6, DA55-300 in rough order

elpolodiablo · 04-21-2010, 02:59 AM

Out of my current collection I think it's the FA43 stopped down,closely followed by DA 55-300, took both out the other day and the DA55-300 performed a lot better than I expected as a portrait lens.

aaronius · 04-21-2010, 03:23 AM

Mine would definitely be the FA35.

vsl3-e · 04-21-2010, 04:26 AM

A50 f1.7, cheap and sharp, i dont have many lenses though to pick from

04-20-2010, 08:13 PM	#46
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by deadwolfbones Really, Steve? I love my Heliosen, but I can't imagine ever putting them among the sharpest I own. I have done some comparison shots of the Helios 44M vs. the Pentax-M 50/1.7 and the Helios has a definite edge. Now that I have let the sharpness cat out of the bag, I think it is important to qualify a little bit. The wonderful sharpness falls off somewhat towards the corners and on FF 35mm film the Helios is fairly consistently soft at the edges regardless of aperture! Here are the comparison shots: Helios vs. Pentax: Helios 44M 58/2 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Helios vs. Pentax: Pentax-M 50/1.7 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Full Resolution Center Crop: Helios 44M on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Full Resolution Center Crop: Pentax-M 50/1.7 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Here is a link with a selection of my Helios shots: LINK And finally, anyone care to guess how may of my small number of PPG images were taken with the Helios 44M? (LINK) Now I don't want to sound like a fan boy, but I have consistently been impressed with the performance of this lens on my K10D. So, it stays on the list Steve

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04-20-2010, 08:20 PM	#47
flippedgazelle Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,270	Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro. Hard to believe so much acuity coming from a lens that looks like it was built from a Canon Rebel's leftover plastic! (Or maybe it's the M 50 f/1.7... )

04-20-2010, 08:45 PM	#48
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Pentax 200mm f/4 macro - mind bendingly sharp lens Pentax FA77 FA31 SMCP50mm f/1.2 -@f4 each lens is superbly sharp. I also have the Pentax 43mm f/1.9 in leica M mount and it is absolutely superb on t-max 100 Leica summilux lenses 21mm f/1.4- 35mm f/1.4 -50mm f/1.4 & 75mm f/1.4 - each of these are incredibly sharp at f/2.8 Canon EF 135mm f/2 - 85mm f/1.2 - 50mm f/1.4 - (the f/1.2 fails to impress me) 35mm f/1.4 - 200mm f/1.8 - 400mm f/2.8

04-20-2010, 08:51 PM	#49
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Indecent Exposure By far my A f1:2.8 Macro has been the sharpest lens I have ever experienced in 30 + years of Pentax photography. ?? Is the focal length a secret?

04-20-2010, 09:03 PM	#50
Doanh Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 247	FA 43 Ltd at f4 and Sigma 70 Macro

04-20-2010, 09:26 PM	#51
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	DA 40 though I have got FA 31 43 77

04-20-2010, 09:37 PM	#52
GatorPentax Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Originally posted by Itai Pentax FA 31mm Limited closely followed by the DA* 55mm F1.4. - Itai Digital Camera Buying Guide, Photography Articles and Reviews \| NeoCamera.com Im so jealous....

04-20-2010, 09:45 PM	#53
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	I will give a plug for Macro lenses and say the sharpest I have is : Vivitar Series 1 105mm Macro lens. For Macro work this is a gem, even though a manual lens. I repeatedly see the FA 43 mentioned above. It appears I will have to check this one out along with others mentioned.

04-20-2010, 10:12 PM	#54
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971 Original Poster	Wow, a lot of people are suggesting the DA 40, I feel glad cause I just purchased one. =D Also the Sigma 70mm Macro, the sharpness is incredible!

04-20-2010, 11:38 PM	#55
JP_Seattle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 206	Toss up between Vivitar Series 1 90mm and Vivitar Series 1 105mm - both incredibly sharp. For zoom lens - Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 (v2 by Tokina) Pentax-K 35mm f/3.5 and Pentax-F 50mm 1.7 are both razor sharp as well.

04-21-2010, 12:05 AM	#56
garth1948 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 293	In my collection of 1 to 40 year old lenses the F series 50mm f1.7 is easily the sharpest.

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04-21-2010, 02:54 AM	#57
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	DA35 macro Ltd @ f5.6 is my sharpest followed by M 50 f1.4 at smaller apertures Then perhaps the DA15 Ltd, M28 f3.5, M400 f5.6, DA55-300 in rough order

04-21-2010, 02:59 AM	#58
elpolodiablo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,637	Out of my current collection I think it's the FA43 stopped down,closely followed by DA 55-300, took both out the other day and the DA55-300 performed a lot better than I expected as a portrait lens.

04-21-2010, 03:23 AM	#59
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188	Mine would definitely be the FA35.

04-21-2010, 04:26 AM	#60
vsl3-e Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Photos: Albums Posts: 116	A50 f1.7, cheap and sharp, i dont have many lenses though to pick from