My Reference Lenses For Testing Sharpness

To cross test for maximum camera/sensor potential, the lens must be the very best.

For a fair cross-comparison test, I need lenses that I can shoot on both Canon and Nikon (so they must have an aperture ring, or I must have both Canon and Nikon versions, e.g. Zeiss ZF.2 and Zeiss ZE; this rules out fine lenses like Nikon’s 60mm ƒ/2.8G, as well as all Canon EF lenses).

I expect to use the following lenses to compare the Nikon D800/D800E, Nikon D4, Canon 1D X, because these lenses have proven themselves as the best of the best in their ranges.

• 15mm ƒ/2.8 Distagon.
• Zeiss 21mm ƒ/2.8 Distagon.
• Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon.
• Coastal Optics 60mm ƒ/4 UV-VIS-IR APO macro.
• Zeiss 100mm ƒ/2 Makro-Planar.
• Leica 100mm ƒ/2.8 APO-Macro-Elmarit-R.
• Leica 180mm ƒ/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R.

Certainly there is ample room for many other kinds of testing, the above list is really for use in testing peak resolving power against a 36-megapixel sensor.

Given the new benchmark of 36 megapixels with the Nikon D800E, I will of course be reevaluating the entire Zeiss ZF.2 line on the Nikon D800E in my Guide to Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses. Which of course cannot happen overnight, but will accrue over several months, and the D800E is not even due until mid April.

See also :

• Lens Performance: What Matters
• Which Wide-Angle Lens is Best?
• Blur Can Be Beautiful
• Lenses as an Investment; Electronic Lenses vs Manual Control.
• My Reference Lenses For Testing Sharpness.
• Shooting a New Lens — Focus.
• What Does Depth of Field Mean on a 36 Megapixel Camera?
• Nikon D800 / D800E — Which Nikon Lenses?
• Reader Comments on Lens Reviews.