Sharpest Lens?

What is the sharpest lens in everyones opinion available for a Canon regardless of focal length?Dont mind if its a prime or a zoom just would like to know everyones thoughts on this as its got me going MAD . Have read loads of posts and reviews but all the L's just keep taking over my thoughts. Please Help !

1st EF 135mm F/2.0L
2nd EF 200mm F/1.8L
3rd EF 85mm F/1.2L:p

My sharpest is the Canon 100mm F2.8 macro. Next is the 70-200 F2.8 IS.

1st EF 200mm f1.8 L

2nd EF 50mm f1.4

3rd EF 100mm f2.8 macro

I think the common consensus is that the 'no longer in production' EF 200F1.8 claims to have the sharpest MTF charts (Photodo). The 135F2 is a close second according to these same charts. In real world terms, you are very safe in thinking that most primes are extremely sharp. Just remember that sharpness, or perceived sharpness is a combination of more factors than just the optics of the glass!!

Good question, if you look at the ratings at http://www.photodo.com​/nav/prodindex.html

And sort by grade "5= best": the top four are :

Grade: 4.8 Canon EF 200/1,8L USM
Grade: 4.6 Canon EF 85/1,2L USM
Grade: 4.5 Canon EF 135/2L USM
Grade: 4.4 Canon EF 50/1,4 USM

Given your gear list, I think that the 50/1.4 or the 85/1.8 might be very nice additions to your bag. Tack sharp and very fast lenses that do not break the bank (about $350 each). Also, the 100/2.8 macro. Answer in short ... you are looking for Canon prime lenses with or without the L designation.

Both are very usable as portrait lenses and will combine nicely with your 70-200/2.8 IS.

Other than that, I also think that the lenses mentioned so far (200/1.8, 135/2.0, 85/1.2) are even a bit sharper or deliver more consistent quality (at a much higher price than those I mentioned).

Best regards,
Andy

Accordimng to Canon's data,. The Sharpest lenses in Canon's current line up are the (in no particular order)

400mm f/2.8L
300mm f/2.8L
600mm f/4L
500mm f/4L
400mm f/5.6L

Then the Mid telephotos kick in;

135mm f/2L etc...

And the Discontinued;
200mm f/1.8L is of course waaaaay up there

This is according to Canon's MTF charts...

As noted above.. Photodo which is more respected universally as an unbiased third party has a different idea all together.. rating the Mid telephotos higher than all of the super tele's save fro the 200mm f/1.8

The question is about sharpness and I don't know the answer other than the 135mm is for me a very pleasing lens in all respects and the 50mm 1.4 is also a lens that seems to have great ability to produce something I want to look at and enjoy rather than analyse. Both lenses are usually owned by excellent photographers so that impacts on quality.

The lens that gives most pleasure in all round 3d colour, contrast and sharpness for me is the 120-300mm 2.8 Sigma. Unpopular no doubt, but sharpness for me only goes so far. The lists above tell us which are 'sharp'. There is so much more to it and we seem to have become obsessed with sharpness and forgotten about what else makes a shot enjoyable and, sometimes, the ability of the person behind the lens!

Here here......the sharpest lens is the one you currently have attached to your camera body!!

nop, sharpest lens is the EF 135 f/2 L

I have 3 'L' lenses (all zooms) 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L, 100-400L. But my sharpest lens is my only prime lens the 100 2.8 micro.

Cheers for all your answers and i know that there is more to a picture than sharpness.I have only just changed over to Canon after years of Minolta SLR use and am over the moon with the quality of the 70 to 200 as i mainly take pictures of motocross.I was just keen to find out from people who have had and have got more experience than myself with Canon lenses which is the sharpest out of there own kit.Now i just have to sell the rest of my Minolta gear and start saving to get some more lenses like the ones you have in your signatures so as to make my kit up and fill in some of the gaps. Thanks once again all the experience from people like yourselves will hopefully make me start to take pictures of other subjects than just motocross and i might even get a bit of an L collection .

My sharpest?
The prime of course: 85 1.8.
Far way come the three zooms.

HKFEVER wrote:
1st EF 135mm F/2.0L
2nd EF 200mm F/1.8L
3rd EF 85mm F/1.2L:p

135 2 has right weight, easily to carry so I shoot more with 135 than 200 & 85.

200 1.8 is too heavy so don't have too many shoots to do a real compare with the 135.

85 1.2 AF is too slow, but it is very very shape.