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![]() ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are some Lens Rankings Based upon Personal Experiences of several Closely Allied Pro Photographers: NOTE: THESE ARE OPINIONS OF ABOUT 10 WORKING PROS -- They are ONLY OPINIONS If you disagree, fine; if you flame I'll ignore you (as will most others). They may not include your pet lens -- if not I'm sorry but it isn't one we use or I've omitted it inadvertently. This version has updated teleconverter information -- better estimation scheme thanks to Bob Atkins -- and it also rates two of the Russian lenses often asked about at the end. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rating is on a scale of 0-5 w/5 high and are Optical, Mechanical -- A RATING OF ABOVE 4 IS PRO QUALITY! 5 = Super -- Sharp at All Apertures until Diffraction Limit set in with Outstanding Contrast and Flare Resistance. 4 = Very Good -- Center 75% of the Image is Sharp Wide Open and by 2 stops down entire image is crisp w/very good contrast and flare resistance at all apertures. 3 = Good -- May have to be stopped down more than 2 stops to get the entire image sharp and contrast could be better but is still OK, Flare resistance is not as good as it could be -- this is a lens you need to be cautious using a teleconverter with. 2 = So-So -- Portraits and Family Photos -- Contrast is acceptable but not nearly as good as a 3 or 4 rated lens, don't even think of using a teleconverter. May have one good aperture for sharpness and contrast but in general a lens strictly for amateur use. 1 = Dog -- Only slightly better than an Instamatic Lens. 0 = Awful -- a lens polished using sandpaper or bubble gum. Mechanical Ratings - 5= Pro Quality in EVERY respect 4= Better than Avg. Amateur quality 3= Avg. Amateur Quality. 2= Below Avg. Quality 1= It will Break in Normal Use 0= Manufactured Broken. Teleconverter ratings should be as follows (gives ESTIMATE ONLY!) Lens + TC = Lens rating*Teleconverter rating/5 Hence for the 400 f3.5 EDIF Nikkor the Rating w/a TC14 is = 5X4.5/5 = 4.5 With the TC 300/301 the 400 f3.5 EDIF = 4.2 Lenses: Ratings (optical/mechanical) NIKON: 20 f2.8 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 24 f2.8 MF AI/AIS Nikkor ------------------ 4.5,5 28 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5 28 f2.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4.5,4 35 f2.5 Series E Nikon -------------------- 3,4 35 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 3.5,5 35 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,5 35 f2.0 AF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,4 50 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5 50 f1.8 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4,5 50 f1.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4,4 55 f1.2 Nikkor ---------------------------- 3,5 (a true dog) 55 f3.5 Micro Nikkor AI and Non-AI -------- 5,5 55 f2.8 Micro Nikkor AIS ------------------ 4.5,4.5 55 mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ---------------- 4.5,4 58 f1.2 Noct Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5 60mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------- 5,4 85 f1.4 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 85 f1.8 AF Nikkor ------------------------- 5,4 105 f4 Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 4.5,5 105 f2.8 MF AIS Micro Nikkor -------------- 4,5 105 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5 200 IF Micro Nikkor MF -------------------- 5,5 200 IF Micro Nikkor AF -------------------- 5,5 (Goes to 1:1 and does better at infinity due to ED Elements) 180 ED MF Nikkor -------------------------- 4.8,5 180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,5 (New Version) 180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,4 (Old Version) 200 f2.0 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.5,5 300 f4.5 MF Nikkor (Non-ED)---------------- 3,4.5 300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5 300 f4 EDIF AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 300 f2.0 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 300 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 300 f2.8 EDIF AF-I Nikkor ----------------- 5,5 300 f2.8 EDIF AF-N Nikkor ----------------- 4.8,4.8 300 f2.8 EDIF AF 1st vers. Nikkor---------- 4.8,4 400 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5 400 f3.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5 500 f8 Mirror Nikkor ---------------------- 3.8,5 500 f4 EDIF-P Nikkor ---------------------- 5,4.5(Wimpy Tripod Mt.) 500 f4 EDIF-AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 (AF Version IS sharper wide open in the corners than the MF but they both are quite good) 600 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5 600 f4 EDIF Nikkor (AIS) ------------------ 5,5 600 f4 EDIF-AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 600 f4 EDIF Nikkor (AI) ------------------- 5,5 75-150 f3.5 Series E Nikon ---------------- 5,4.5 80-200 f4.5 AI Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 43-86 Nikkor ------------------------------ 3,4.5 (Later vers. better but still not great) 80-200 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ---------------- 5,5 80-200 f2.8 EDIF AF Nikkor ---------------- 4.8,4 (No Tripod Mt) 50-300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 200-400 ED MF AIS Nikkor ------------------ 5,5 Teleconverters: TC-14/14B/14E ----------------------------- 4.5,5 TC-300/301 -------------------------------- 4.2,4.5 TC-20E ------------------------------------ 4.8,5 (Noticably better than TC-301) CANON: 20-35 f2.8 EF-L --------------------------- 4.2,4.5 (Flare a bit worse than in prime but still awfully good!) 100 f2.0 EF ------------------------------- 4.5,4 300 f4 EF L ------------------------------- 5,5 300 f2.8 EF-L ----------------------------- 5,5 400 f5.6 EF-L ----------------------------- 4,5 500 f4.5 EF-L ----------------------------- 4.8,5 (f4.5 + 1.4X = No Autofocus!!!) 600 f4 EF-L ------------------------------- 5,5 24 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.5,5 45 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.5,5 90 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.8,5 80-200 f2.8 EF-L (Early) ------------------ 4,4.5 80-200 f2.8 EF-L (Recent)------------------ 4.5,4.5 70-200 f2.8 EF-L -------------------------- 4.8,5 100-300 f5.6 EF-L ------------------------- 3.5,4 ( Gets Loads better when you put a tripod mount on it! A buddy of mine makes such a mount, costs about $150 or so -- E-mail me for info.) 35mm FD TS -------------------------------- 4.5,5 80-200 f4 FD L ---------------------------- 4.8,5 300 f2.8 FD-L ----------------------------- 4.5,5 300 f2.8 Fluorite ------------------------- 4.8,5 400 f4.5 FD ------------------------------- 3,4.5 500 f4.5 FD-L ----------------------------- 5,5 500 f4.5 FD Fluorite ---------------------- 5,5 600 f4.5 FD ------------------------------- 3.5,4.5 150-600 f5.6 FD-L ------------------------- 4.9,4 (Some break in the Middle!) Teleconverters: 1.4X EF ----------------------------------- 4.5,5 PENTAX: 200 f4 Macro ED --------------------------- 5,5 300 f4.5 AF EDIF -------------------------- 4.9,4.5 300 f2.8 EDIF MF -------------------------- 4.5,5 200-600 f5.6 ED AF Zoom ------------------- 4.8,4.8 MINOLTA MAXXUM: 200 f2.8 APO ------------------------------ 4.5,5 300 f2.8 APO ------------------------------ 4.5,5 600 f4 APO -------------------------------- 4.5,5 SIGMA: 80-200 f2.8 APO (Canon EF mt.) ------------ 4.8,4.8 300 f2.8 APO (Minolta Maxxum Mt.) --------- 4.5,4 (MF Linkage Breaks sometimes) 400 f5.6 APO Canon EF Mt. ----------------- 4.7,4.8 Sigma Teleconverter 1.4X --(AF) ----------- 3.7,4.5 (Vignettes w/long teles) TOKINA: 300 f2.8 MF Nikon mt. --------------------- 4.8,4.8 300 f2.8 AF Nikon Mt. --------------------- 4.8,4.5 80-200 f2.8 APO MF ATX Nikon Mt. ---------- 4.5,4.5 (Tripod Mount is chinzy) 100-300 f4 APO MF ATX Nikon Mt. ----------- 4.5,4.8 TAMRON: 300 f2.8 LDIF MF (Early) ------------------ 4,4.8 300 f2.8 LDIF MF (Recent) ----------------- 4.4,4.8 300 f2.8 LDIF AF -------------------------- 4.5,4.5 400 f4 LDIF MF ---------------------------- 4.2,4.8 200-500 f5.6 MF --------------------------- 3.5,4.5 80-200 f2.8 AF (Nikon) -------------------- 4.5,4.5 Teleconverter 1.4X (AF) ------------------- 3.7,4.5 (Tends to Vignette w/some long teles) LEITZ: 100 f2.8 Macro R -------------------------- 5,5 280 f2.8 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5 400 f2.8 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5 180 f3.4 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5 180 f2.8 R--------------------------------- 4.5,5 560 R ------------------------------------- 4,4.5 (Clumsy) 1.4X Teleconverter ------------------------ 4.5,5 2X Teleconverter -------------------------- 4.3,5 Russian 300 f2.8 -------------------------- 3,4 Russian 35mm PC --------------------------- 3.5,4
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