PHOTODO COMPARISONS

85mm primes, excluding f1.4: contax and nikkor af non-D are best

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@85mm: Canon EF 85/1,8 USM prime id181    0.72      0.76       0.8           0.83 
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 85/1,8D prime id2091    0.65      0.74       0.79       0.82     
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 85/1,8 prime id2098    0.64      0.79       0.82           0.84 
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon 85/2,0 prime id2548      0.6    0.73       0.8           0.85 
@85mm: Contax Sonnar T* 85/2,8 prime id836           0.8       0.82           0.83 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

85mm f1.4 primes

pentax is best, by quite a margin, esp. wide open.

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@85mm: Minolta AF 85/1,4 (G) New prime id1734  0.59   0.71    0.77       0.8             
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon 85/1,4 prime id2541  0.62   0.72    0.79       0.84             
@85mm: Pentax SMC-A 85/1,4 prime id3200  0.73   0.8    0.84       0.87             
@85mm: Contax Planar T* 85/1,4 prime id829  0.63   0.77    0.84       0.87             
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

very fast 100mm/105mm non-macro lenses: all great lenses

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@100mm: Minolta AF 100/2,0 prime id1751      0.75    0.77       0.84           0.85 
@100mm: Canon EF 100/2 USM prime id188      0.71            0.81           0.85 
@100mm: Olympus 100/2 prime id2772      0.73    0.77       0.81           0.81 
@105mm: Nikkor/Nikon 105/1,8 prime id2564    0.61      0.8       0.84           0.85 
@105mm: Nikkor/Nikon 105/2,5 prime id2571        0.75          0.82           0.84 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

90mm or 100mm f2.8 macros

all are good, leica > minolta = old tokina >= new tamron = oly > pentax smc-f > new sigma > nikkors > old tamron = old sigma > pentax smc-fa = new tokina

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@90mm: LeicaM Summicron-M 90/2,0 prime id1286      0.71    0.78       0.84           0.85 
@90mm: Olympus 90/2 macro prime id2763      0.76    0.78       0.82           0.84 
@90mm: Sigma AF 90/2,8 Macro (discontinued) prime id3537           0.72       0.8           0.86 
@90mm: Tamron AF SP 90/2,8 Macro prime id3915           0.79       0.83           0.84 
@90mm: Tamron SP 90/2,5 macro prime id4063        0.68          0.81           0.85 
@90mm: Tokina AT-X 90/2,5 macro prime id4285        0.77          0.85           0.87 
@100mm: LeicaR Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100/2,8 prime id1383           0.87       0.88           0.84 
@100mm: Minolta AF 100/2,8 Macro 1:1 prime id1758           0.79       0.85           0.86 
@100mm: Pentax SMC-FA Macro 100/2,8 prime id2872           0.67       0.75           0.83 
@100mm: Pentax SMC-F 100/2,8 macro prime id2879           0.76       0.81           0.86 
@100mm: Pentax SMCP-FA 100/3,5 Macro prime id2886               0.73               0.83 
@100mm: Tokina AT-X AF 100/2,8 Macro prime id4151           0.69       0.76           0.83 
@100mm: Vivitar AF 100/3,5 macro prime id4355               0.72               0.76 
@100mm: Cosina AF 100/3,5 Macro prime id929               0.68               0.73 
@105mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF Micro 105/2,8D prime id2107           0.75       0.8           0.81 
@105mm: Nikkor/Nikon Micro 105/2,8 prime id2578           0.74       0.81           0.84 
@105mm: Sigma AF 105/2,8 EX Macro prime id3544           0.77       0.81           0.83 
@105mm: Vivitar 105/2,5 Macro Series 1 prime id4457        0.6          0.78           0.83 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

50mm f1.7 or f1.8 primes

contax best, then canon fd and nikkor af, pentax smc-f and canon ef, then nikkor manual last

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: Canon EF 50/1,8 II prime id160    0.67      0.77       0.81           0.85 
@50mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 50/1,8 prime id2075    0.62      0.78       0.83           0.86 
@50mm: Nikkor/Nikon 50/1,8 prime id2520    0.57      0.72       0.78           0.85 
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/1,7 prime id2859   0.65  0.71    0.75       0.82             
@50mm: Canon FD 50/1,8 prime id616    0.55      0.77       0.84           0.85 
@50mm: Contax Planar T* 50/1,7 prime id818   0.62       0.78       0.86           0.88 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

50mm f1.4 primes

toss up? even yashica competes with leica-r, except wide open.

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: LeicaM Summilux-M 50/1,4 prime id1258  0.6   0.69    0.76       0.8             
@50mm: LeicaR Summilux-R 50/1,4 prime id1363  0.58   0.72    0.81       0.84             
@50mm: Canon EF 50/1,4 USM prime id153  0.58   0.73    0.78       0.84             
@50mm: Minolta AF 50/1,4 prime id1716  0.51   0.75    0.78       0.83             
@50mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 50/1,4D prime id2068  0.56   0.68    0.75       0.8             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-FA 50/1,4 prime id2836  0.5   0.66    0.75       0.82             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/1,4 prime id2845  0.52   0.71    0.8       0.85             
@50mm: Yashica ML 50/1,4 prime id4612  0.53   0.68    0.8       0.83             
@50mm: Contax Planar T* 50/1,4 prime id811  0.57   0.69    0.8       0.85             
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

24mm primes

sigma af and mf slightly on top, all generally very good, though leica-r and minolta af, and esp. tamron lag the pack

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@24mm: Canon EF 24/2,8 prime id111           0.77       0.81           0.8 
@24mm: LeicaR Elmarit-R 24/2,8 prime id1319           0.71       0.75           0.74 
@24mm: Minolta AF 24/2,8 prime id1681           0.7       0.73           0.78 
@24mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 24/2,8 prime id2045           0.74       0.78           0.79 
@24mm: Nikkor/Nikon 24/2,0 prime id2420      0.59    0.68       0.76           0.79 
@24mm: Nikkor/Nikon 24/2,8 prime id2427           0.74       0.78           0.81 
@24mm: Pentax SMC-FA 24/2 AL (IF) prime id2813      0.65    0.73       0.77           0.79 
@24mm: Sigma AF 24/2,8 prime id3514           0.76       0.8           0.82 
@24mm: Sigma MF 24/2,8 prime id3718           0.77       0.79           0.82 
@24mm: Tamron 24/2,5 prime id4037        0.59          0.7           0.73 
@24mm: Canon TS-E 24/3,5L prime id598               0.73               0.77 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

50mm f1.4 vs. 85mm f1.4: every big 85mm is better than corresponding 50mm

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: Minolta AF 50/1,4 prime id1716  0.51   0.75    0.78       0.83             
@50mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 50/1,4D prime id2068  0.56   0.68    0.75       0.8             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/1,4 prime id2845  0.52   0.71    0.8       0.85             
@50mm: Contax Planar T* 50/1,4 prime id811  0.57   0.69    0.8       0.85             
@85mm: Minolta AF 85/1,4 (G) New prime id1734  0.59   0.71    0.77       0.8             
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon 85/1,4 prime id2541  0.62   0.72    0.79       0.84             
@85mm: Pentax SMC-A 85/1,4 prime id3200  0.73   0.8    0.84       0.87             
@85mm: Contax Planar T* 85/1,4 prime id829  0.63   0.77    0.84       0.87             
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

Older vs. Newer Nikkors: 85mm f1.8 AF better than AF-D-version, 180mm f2.8 ED bettern than AF version

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 85/1,8D prime id2091    0.65      0.74       0.79       0.82     
@85mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 85/1,8 prime id2098    0.64      0.79       0.82           0.84 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@180mm: Nikkor/Nikon AF 180/2,8 ED prime id2123           0.72       0.75       0.79   0.8 
@180mm: Nikkor/Nikon 180/2,8 ED prime id2593           0.75       0.81           0.83 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

best Pentax 50mm lens: smc-f f2.8 macro > smc-f f1.4 > smc-f f1.7 > smc-fa f1.4 > smc-a f2.0

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: Pentax SMC-FA 50/1,4 prime id2836  0.5   0.66    0.75       0.82             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/1,4 prime id2845  0.52   0.71    0.8       0.85             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/2,8 macro prime id2852           0.82       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/1,7 prime id2859   0.65  0.71    0.75       0.82             
@50mm: Pentax SMC-A 50/2 prime id3165      0.51    0.64       0.76           0.85 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

50mm-55mm macro/micro lenses: pentax smc-f >= leica m / leica r >= minolta af >= nikon mf > canon ef > sigma af

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: LeicaM Summicron-M 50/2,0 prime id1251      0.78    0.81       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: LeicaR Summicron-R 50/2 prime id1356      0.68    0.79       0.87           0.85 
@50mm: Canon EF 50/2,5 Macro prime id167        0.73          0.83           0.86 
@50mm: Minolta AF 50/2,8 Macro1:1 prime id1725           0.79       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/2,8 macro prime id2852           0.82       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: Sigma AF 50/2,8 EX Macro prime id3530           0.77       0.81           0.84 
@55mm: Nikkor/Nikon Micro 55/2,8 prime id2527           0.8       0.83           0.86 
selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11

Short macro/micro versus long: except for amazing leica 100mm f2.8 R, slight edge to shorter macros

selecttested focal length/lens designationf1f1.2f1.4f1.7f1.8f1.9f2f2.3f2.5f2.6f2.7f2.8f3.2f3.3f3.4f3.5f3.6f3.7f3.8f4f4.2f4.5f4.6f4.7f4.8f5f5.2f5.6f6.3f6.5f6.7f8f11
@50mm: LeicaM Summicron-M 50/2,0 prime id1251      0.78    0.81       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: LeicaR Summicron-R 50/2 prime id1356      0.68    0.79       0.87           0.85 
@50mm: Canon EF 50/2,5 Macro prime id167        0.73          0.83           0.86 
@50mm: Minolta AF 50/2,8 Macro1:1 prime id1725           0.79       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: Pentax SMC-F 50/2,8 macro prime id2852           0.82       0.85           0.87 
@50mm: Sigma AF 50/2,8 EX Macro prime id3530           0.77       0.81           0.84 
@55mm: Nikkor/Nikon Micro 55/2,8 prime id2527