Sharpest non "L" lens

well, if youre not talking specifically of canon lenses then a tamron 28-75 should be in that list

braduardo wrote in post #2056049
I wouldn't consider this all that sharp. When you consider that for *close* to the same price, you can pick up the 70-200mm f4 L. I didn't think it would make much of a difference, until I found that I could take the picture at 200mm, crop it down, and have it still be sharper than I could get at 300mm otherwise.

For the sharpest *bargain* (and yes, I know that $600 is hardly a bargain for most of us) L, you would have to go with the 70-200mm f4 L. It's amazingly sharp, and the IQ is just crazy. It always amazes me.

For non-L lenses, I don't really know where to point you. I've gotten some REALLY sharp shots from my 50mm f1.8, even wide open.

hey, he did ask for non-L! what else is there? ef 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM? not many choices for sharp non-L telephotos - especially when canon is a monster at delivering L telephotos!

50 1.4 or 1.8 (prefer 1.4) Even when you have L glass this baby will stay in our bag!!

the 60mm macro is probably their sharpest lens, but its ef-s

Of the primes I have experience of I'd say the 85 f/1.8 is the sharpest, followed by the Sigma 30 f/1.4 then the 50 f/1.4 and the 50 f/1.8 (Very little difference to me between the two 50's other than the bokeh)

Of my collection I have found my 100mm f/2.8 macro and my 50mm f/1.4 to be the sharpest. Sharper and cheaper then my 2 L zooms

Jaetie wrote in post #2055978
ef 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

A slow wide-ranging focal length zoom, against the list of superb primes everyone else has nominated? Beware low-flying pigs
Never mind the primes: most top-end Sigma zooms will see this off with ease.

http://www.photozone.d​e …/sigma_100300_4​/index.htm

Jaetie wrote in post #2055978
ef 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

This has been called "Canon's hidden L" by a few reviewers...

ben4633 wrote in post #2055917
Just would like to find out what is the sharpest non "L" lens in your opinion. I cant quit afford the L yet.

liza wrote in post #2055927
Any of the Canon primes produce reasonably sharp images. Among those I'd recommend include:
50mm f/1.4
85m f/1.8
100 f/2
100 f/2.8
135 f/2.8 SF

That last lens may have been discontinued, but it's really very sharp and produces lovely bokeh. I picked one up for a little over $200 and continue to be amazed by it.

ben4633 wrote in post #2055930
How about Telephoto also?

I would agree with Liza.
Also some of the f2.8 wide angles are not bad as long as you don't mind the AF.

If you want a good quality prime telephoto there are not many options without going L. You could look at the 200/f2.8L, fantastic quality but not as expensive as many of the Ls.

EF28-105/3.5-4.5/II-USM
Works good for me!

Hi Ben 4633,

A very usefull site for comparing lenses on a purely technical basis is Photodo, what they basically do is grade the lens depending on its MTF chart. The MTF chart measures how sharp the lens is from its center to the corner. Simply put lines higher up the chart are better than lines lower down. They then take the chart information, run it through a calculation and out pops a grade between 0-5 (far right of the screen under Photodo MTF). This allows you to compare lenses made by different manufacturers without bias. The high scorers in the canon lineup are

50 1.4 at 4.4
50 2.5 compact macro at 4.4
50 1.8 at 4.2
85 1.8 at 4.1
100 2.0 at 4.2
135 2.8 soft focus at 3.9

You do however need to be aware that these are the scores from single lenses not from a batch of lenses, so they may have a good one or they may have a bad one, also not all lenses have been tested.

I hope this helps

BearSummer

I would think (and not just because I have it), that Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro is as good as it gets.

I bought the 85 1.8 before joining the forum and had that lens on my 10D for a very long time when I wanted a good portrait lens. It has too much bokeh for shots having more than 4 people, but I love that lens. Then I got the 50 1.4 because I wanted something I could use most of the time indoors and it hasn't disappointed. It's a great lens. Both those lenses stay in my bag when I go out for an event because in low light, they are very good.

SuzyView wrote in post #2056667
It has too much bokeh

??? Qualities don't have quantity.