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What is the sharpest zoom lens that you have used?

cabstar
Posted 18/07/2011 - 02:04 Link
I think due to most modern lenses being designed by computer, most lenses are sharper than they would have been just maybe 10 years ago...

Both my lenses are sharp at 2.8 & at either end of the zoom range.
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Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released
RioRico
Posted 18/07/2011 - 04:02 Link
My sharpest zoom: M42 Vivitar Series 1 Version 1 (Kiron) 70-210/3.5. Cost all of US$32 shipped.
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: Too many film & digital cameras & lenses, oh my!
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DaveHolmes
Posted 18/07/2011 - 05:20 Link
I'm with the Tamron 17-50 2.8... It is a honking-big lens but well worth the extra weight...
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
Pwynnej
Posted 18/07/2011 - 08:57 Link
On topic..

I'd say my old 70-200 Sigma EX IF and my current DA*60-250. If I knew my DA* would have gone pop a week earlier than it did then I would have bought Mike-Ps example....
Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
womble
Posted 18/07/2011 - 10:33 Link
My DA12-24mm. I never cease to be surprised how sharp that lens is.

K.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.

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Frogfish
Posted 18/07/2011 - 12:31 Link
DaveHolmes wrote:
I'm with the Tamron 17-50 2.8... It is a honking-big lens but well worth the extra weight...

Que ?! Big ?!!

I tried out the 60-250 against the *300 .... and I must say it's not far off the sharpness of the DA*300 - and that is cut-your-throat sharp.
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Edited by Frogfish: 18/07/2011 - 12:32
lemmy
Posted 18/07/2011 - 15:43 Link
Quote:

I tried out the 60-250 against the *300 .... and I must say it's not far off the sharpness of the DA*300 - and that is cut-your-throat sharp.

The 60-250mm is a great zoom, less good at the 60mm end but still OK.

I just bought a 200mm f2.8, too and that is outstanding. Nonetheless, you'd have to look at results side by side to see the difference. And a gem to use, too.

The only problem - not fault - with the 60-250 is its bulk and weight but until someone changes the laws of optics, I guess there is little that can be done about that.
MarkTaylor
Posted 24/07/2011 - 22:14 Link
DaveHolmes wrote:
I'm with the Tamron 17-50 2.8... It is a honking-big lens but well worth the extra weight...

It's a good bit larger than the kit lens, sure, but you have to expect that from an f/2.8 zoom. It is actually significantly smaller and lighter than the other f/2.8 standard zoom alternatives - i.e. the Sigma 17-50 and the Pentax DA 16-50.
My Flickr • Pentax K-5 • K-5 II • Sigma 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6 DC HSM • Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASL • SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 ED [IF] SDM • SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F/4-5.8 ED • SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] WR • Vivitar 100mm F/3.5 Macro AF • Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-2
MarkTaylor
Posted 24/07/2011 - 22:21 Link
My three main zooms are all pretty sharp.

• Sigma 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6 DC HSM (according to some reviews, the sharpest UWA available)
• Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASL (much discussed here already)
• SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F/4-5.8 ED (also had a mention)

In fact I'd highly recommend this combo to anybody, as far as I can tell it's the most cost effective way to get all the way from 'ultra wide' to 300mm all with excellent sharpness - and believe me I have researched this exhaustively, as I'm not exactly rich so I make every penny count when it comes to the gear I buy. (There are usually cheaper ultra-wides available than the 8-16 but right at this moment in time it's available on SRS cheaper than the others. That may not last).

Okay there is a 5 mm gap between the 17-50 and 55-300 but you're unlikely to ever miss it. (If you really must take a shot at 53mm then take it at 50 and crop it a tiny bit, or if possible zoom with your feet).
My Flickr • Pentax K-5 • K-5 II • Sigma 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6 DC HSM • Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASL • SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 ED [IF] SDM • SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F/4-5.8 ED • SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] WR • Vivitar 100mm F/3.5 Macro AF • Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-2
Edited by MarkTaylor: 24/07/2011 - 22:31
Smeggypants
Posted 24/07/2011 - 22:46 Link
My

Sigma 17-70/2.8
DA-10-17
DA* 50-135
DA 14/2.8
Sigma 135-400
Pentax A 50/1.2
Sigma 30/1.4
Pentax A 50/1.4

which are all the lenes I used most ( not in that order ) are really sharp.

With of course the exception of some extremities. For example the 135-400 softens up a bit from 350 to 400 and the 50/1.2 is naturally soft at 1.2


In terms of 'Zooms' only, then the DA*50-135 is probably the sharpest, but the difference between the others is minimal in practise.

But then razor sharpness is not a primary goal of my photography so I may have a looser tolerance than other peeps.
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
kingfisher
Posted 27/07/2011 - 20:07 Link
Sharpest: Contax/Yashica Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.7
Best overall: Pentax FA 43 1.9
K10D
Posted 28/07/2011 - 00:16 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
My

Sigma 17-70/2.8
DA-10-17
DA* 50-135
DA 14/2.8
Sigma 135-400
Pentax A 50/1.2
Sigma 30/1.4
Pentax A 50/1.4

kingfisher wrote:
Sharpest: Contax/Yashica Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.7
Best overall: Pentax FA 43 1.9

And the definition of a zoom lens is???????
Inspiration is rarer than a plate glass camera.....
Smeggypants
Posted 28/07/2011 - 04:49 Link
Smeggypants wrote:


In terms of 'Zooms' only, then the DA*50-135 is probably the sharpest, but the difference between the others is minimal in practise.

[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
K10D
Posted 28/07/2011 - 05:36 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
Smeggypants wrote:


In terms of 'Zooms' only, then the DA*50-135 is probably the sharpest, but the difference between the others is minimal in practise.


Inspiration is rarer than a plate glass camera.....
sam-joseph
Posted 28/07/2011 - 07:45 Link
Quote:
On topic..

I'd say my old 70-200 Sigma EX IF

Sigma 17-70 for me. I've been reading good things about the Sigma 70-200 f2.8- the original version, without the OS of the new one, or the extra glass of the 'macro' previous version. (I've read that the extra elements soften the results of that lens somewhat).
If you'd like to sell yours, Mr. Pwynnej....

Regards
Sam-Joseph
Pentax K7, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 APO EX, Sigma 70-300 APO, Sigma 1.4x TC, Vivitar 2x TC. Takumar 135mm f2.5, SMC Pentax A 50mm 1:1.7, SMC Pentax -M 1:4 200mm, Pentax X70

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