Camera Lenses Considered

If you're a serious 35mm or digital photographer, odds are you own or at least have considered the basic 2.8 zooms offered by the two major camera companies. The wide zooms, 16 or 17-35mm, the 24-70, and the 70-200. If these are the focal lengths you need, and you want the most current AF technology, there are not that many options. You just get the latest of what Canon or Nikon has to offer and off you go.

But if you're interested in fixed focal length lenses, older lenses, or Zeiss and Voigtlander there are countless more options, particularly with Nikon because all their old manual focus lenses can be used on the most current cameras. I'll take into account not just the optical quality but the lens' size and ergonomics, because if you can't work with a lens quickly you'll either miss shots or miss the foucs and then it doesn't matter how sharp it is.

Over the years I've tried so many different camera lenses, it's hard to keep track of every one I have owned. But the better ones I've either kept or are vivid in my memory. I've been a pro photographer for nearly three decades and I've used the best lenses by Leica, Contax, Voigtlander, Nikon and Canon. I'm offering my options about many of the lenses I've used and will concern myself with those at the top end of the spectrum, the ones considered by pros or photogs willing to search for the best.

I'm considering these lenses only on how they perform on FULL-FRAME digital or film camera.