very interested. ohh just FF lenses :-( If you ever do the same test for APS-C sensors it would be great and lower the budget too. an APS-C lens under 600$ shootout would be great.
Zebra-lens manual got 2 meyers heavy lenses with awesome bokeh /contrasts And my Chinon mirror-lens 500m/m F16/F32 the donut maker..lol. oh all M42 love to play with those oldies(got 35 inn-total)
I only have 1 of my 3 making the list: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L. My other Canon lens 24-70mm f/4 L I'm not largely impressed with. It is good, but not great and for that kind of cash I could buy the Sigma. What the Canon 24-70mm has over the Sigma is 'IS' and that feature is worth some gold especially when I used the setup for video. If the Sigma version had 'IS', my Canon would be on Ebay right now.
Todd Kolb i’m willing to get a lens to fill up the gap ( 16mm-70mm) , and i was gonna get the f4 24-70 but i sow some reviews saying that the 24-105 is better , but i’m thinking about getting something with 2.8 , as my other lenses are f4 and 5.6 , any advice ?
Always a pleasure to hear your reviews. In the past you have helped me decide on lens choice. So I am always eager to tune into your words of wisdom. Don't stop! I realised that there is much more when watching your videos. The way you portray your words is very interesting. And your images are amazing as well. All that is lacking is my funds to invest in more camera gear. Still, one must be happy with one has. Have a great day!
If they are sharp on a full frame they will be as sharp or SHARPER on a APS censor since it's 25% smaller. Look at the 85mm 1.8 vs the 1.2 for an example
but you should try the 50mm f/1.8. it is cheap and provide much sharper and better bokehlicious. i have been shooting with this vocal length for a few months despite how i would step back every time because of my crop sensor. 24mm pancake suit me everywhere except 2meter tight space.
Great charts! I bought the Samyang 135 and I can confirm that this lens is incredible sharp. It's now my absolutely favorite lens. On my EOS 6D the manual focussing in Live View Mode is with Magic Lantern very easely. Focus Peaking with an sensitiv treshold and grayscal image "on" and you nail the focus in 80 - 90 % of your images.
As always, thanks for the video Chris! I'm getting a kick out seeing comments asking why a particular lens wasn't mentioned when it clearly does not meet the criteria you set at 0:31 in the video.
It's astonishing how stupid and or ignorant some people can be. I don't normally read an entire comments thread. However it's become quite compulsive reading, the tension builds as I await the next "WHY no NIKON !!!?!!" comment.
Would love to see you switch to Nikon so I could enjoy lens reviews from the other side of the fence. Thanks for all the enjoyable content you have created. Much appreciated by me and many others.
Jayson Akeyla That's just a standard kit lens. It's good and versatile, I still use mine sometimes. But if you're doing pro work, you might wanna consider getting some primes or something faster.
I know this is a really old video now, and I know you qualified to lenses you'd actually tested and therefore no Nikon or Sony... but if we're talking under 1000 pounds, some Pentax lenses would probably get a look in there. Cheers for everything you do Christopher!
Ed Wagoner Sr. , I doubt that there is the whole ten APS-C specific lenses worth the title in existence. Usually the full-frame lenses are of a better quality, so basically, if you shot APS-C, you need only a short focus distance lens to get your wide angle covered, and for the rest a full-frame glass will be a better investment.
I own 3 of these. And agree the sigma art 50 1.4 is amazing. Although I wouldn't say the samyang 14 2.8 deserves a place here. I own it. And use it. But it's not all that great.
Anyone have any suggestions? I like to do everyday city photography. Currently using the 80d with 50mm 1.8 STM Looking to upgrade to a samyang 1.4 or USM 1.4 Canon. Is it worth the extra $300-$400?
not really worth the upgrade. you could get a 35mm f2 or 28mm f2.8 to give you a wider focal length, which is best for street photography. or sigma 18-35mm f1.8, it's a little more, but well worth it.
10 Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM 09 Canon EF 70-200mm f4 IS USM L 08 Canon EF 135mm f2 USM L 07 Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART 06 Venus 105mm f2 STF 05 Samyang XP 14mm f2.4 04 Samyang 135mm f2 ED UMC 03 Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART 02 Sigma 85mm f1.4 ART 01 Samyang XP 85mm f1.2 Honorable Mention: Samyang 14mm f2.8 Sigma DC 18-35mm f1.8 ART Tamron SP 45mm f1.8 VC Canon EF 70-300mm IS USM L Canon EF 100-400mm L II Canon EF 100mm f2 USM Canon EF 100mm f2.8 IS USM L Canon EF 180mm f3.5 USM L Canon EF 400mm f5.6 USM L Nikon AF-S 105mm f1.4
in my opinion number one should go to the sigma and not the samyang, if you look at the picture in the middle samyang has extreme color fringing showing red color around the black bars while the sigma doesnt. still a great list and great video
I thought the same thing and was then like, wait ones at 1.2 the other's at 1.4. There appears to be close to zero chromatic aberration with the Sigma which is so damn impressive
Sorry man but you dropped the ball BIG time saying that the Canon 135mm F2 L has been slightly surpassed...that is the understatement of the year! It has been destroyed not only by the Samyang but even more by the Sigma 135mm Art lens. For example here is a summary of the professional measurement of both "The cult Canon EF 135 mm f2L USM in the frame centre was able to reach 43.2 lpmm at most. The Sigma A 135 mm f/1.8 DG HSM reached 44.1 lpmm on the edge of full frame, when wide open." Do I have to say anything more? What is absolutely a HUGE difference and that is not even mentioning that the Sigma has no CA compared to the CA happy Canon. Canon needs to bring out an update soon.
Alfonso Ignacio It's not misleading at all - it's 100% accurate. The fact that I only shoot Canon is mentioned in the description and right at the beginning of the video
Mr. Ignacio obviously doesn't have any idea what he is taking about. There is no "Canon FX". Honestly some people need to take a chill pill. I watched the entire video and you tested a fairly wide variety of lenses. Of the none Canon lenses my gut tells me most of them can be purchased with Nikon mounts, Olympus mounts, Sony mounts, etc. Which, ultimately means by the hater logic you should title the video "The 10 Sharpest Lenses I've Ever Tested: 2017 (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus)." In reality, there are adapters that will allow you to use Canon lenses on a Sony, on a Nikon, not sure about the Olympus, but you get the idea. Sounds like someone lacks the capacity to listen to your fairly complete detailing of how and what you used to conduct your tests. But they obviously rather blame you than themselves.
I will get this Rokinon (Samyang) SP 85mm f/1.2 tomorrow I really hope I like it. I have the Canon 85 1.8, but I want more bokeh and a nice lifelong lens. I bought the Saymang 50mm 1.4 before, and it was not a pleasant experience it was hard to use.
Nice video Chris... really wish I could afford the Samyang 85mm, it looks great. Im a happy owner of a Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART I got it on a blackfriday sale for about 495£ (lucky me) it really is amazingly sharp and I havent noticed much of the so called "ugly" bokeh that Kai@DigitalRev talked about
I'm looking for a sharp standard zoom for full frame. Any recommendations? Preferably around the 16-35 mark. Not necessarily a necessity, but I'm looking for something within that range of not slightly different.
@Christopher Frost Photography. I think it's time you should compare Nikon lens & camera as well. Could you be kind to suggest good sharp lens (Prime or Telly) under $500. Btw I have Nikon 18-140mm & 50mm f1.8g on APS-C body. God bless. Cheers :)
The sharpest full frame lenses ever - without regard to the price - are and remain the Leica M lenses, such as the 50mm Apo-Summicron 2.0 ASPH. and the 35mm Summilux ASPH. 1.4 FLE.
If you do apsc, could you compare fuji with canon ? I just sold my Nikon system and deciding what to buy. Right now it's d5600 with both kit lens and the 18-35 1.8 Or go higher and fuji x-t20 with 18-55 2.8-4 and 55-200. Both about 2grand
The Canon 70-200 Tele is Amazing! It's my no.1 choice for Wildlife because the size is perfect and of cause you can even upgrade its range. I tried the lens in east-african and it works perfect in rainforest or on safari (with Canon 7D mark 2 )! So in my opinion you should get this lens if you can't carry a really heavy one...for example in action situations when you follow a group of fast chimpanzees...belief me it's great! Just a little clue for you guys...best wishes from Germany ;)
sigma definitely producing nice lenses. But real world they just don't perform. unacceptable focus accuracy. all though fast miss 30 % of shots. not weather sealed! Just think people need to jump of the SIgma fan wagon and stop.buying into hype. Tamron quiet achievers. Sorry both my tamron 35 and 85 resolve images better. I have sigma as well
+Christopher Frost Photography Nice list, one lens I would be interested in seeing a review of is the Sigma 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens. Not for myself, but because I think it's a great lens but it has largely slipped through the cracks in terms of video reviews. Need to turn off the illumination/lens correction, I can confirm this issue also occurs on the 5DSR + 180 Sigma combo: www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/08/sigma-os-macros-on-5diii-1dx-issue/ Scared me half to death my first day shooting with the lens. Also, when on a tripod the OS really must be turned off, unlike some lenses where it doesn't seem to matter it does have a large detrimental effect when on a tripod with this lens. Don't go out of your way for it, but if you happen across a chance to check one out, it will be worth your while.
too bad you only did full frame lenses. Because many of Fuji lenses are ridiculously sharp and are well under a $1000 (like amazing 90mm F2 for example)
The other reason (perhaps) your choice of the Samyang over the sigma (in your decision of #1 lenses) would be that with the Samyang - you don't need a calibrating dock like that for the Sigma Art, contemp. or Sport lenses - which should not be required when making a serious investment in glass. Cheap lenses of poor quality glass and craftsmanship - I could understand having to calibrate but not serious professional glass.
I have the Canon EF-M 22mm F2.0 which is an excellent lens. Cost me £50 from China. The Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.4 (not the 2.8 that I have ) is a legend.
cool janis farhat!!!! . . one of mine is on this list!!!! . . ef 40 stm!!!! . . i dont think my ef 50mm f1.4 is on this list :-( . . do you want to share?? some of your great lenses?? . . god would bless you for that!!!! :-)
wow, nice number of reviewed lenses ... Could you review couple of Nikon lenses as well? Or could you do a lenses roundup for Sony E-mount cameras? Thanks!
SIGMA should release a new generation of the 300 - 800 mm, increase the rear aperture and element to f2.8, increase focusing speed and and make it an ART Lens
You left out the canon 200 2.8L ii on the honorable mentions. I have sigma art lenses and the canon 200mm prime is probably the sharpest lens I've ever used.
Dear Christopher, I have been watching your reviews for a long time. I very much appreciate your hard work and your personal style. The reviews you provide are of high quality and a pleasure to watch. This particular one here is the most useful one I have ever seen.
I hope that the only reason the the Sigma 18-35 1.8 did not make this list is because it is an APS-C lens??? That lens is sharp no matter what you do with it (at least based on all the reviews I have seen)
I'm seeing a lot of 85mm in this List - could you test the Sony A mount 85 2.8 ? I use it an the A7R and found it perfect for portraits and actually really sharp
i have the laowa105 love it to death. picked mine up off B&H for 599$ .and the next day, i seen that they had changed it to now 699$ .really sweet lens to have
Third party lenses are killing Nikon and Canon. I sold all my Nikon lenses and replace it with Sigma and Tamron. Sigma and Tamron are sharper and cheaper.
Lens sharpness is so overrated. I'd much rather have a lens that's not huge and razor-sharp but is a great compromise between smaller size, great handling and optical performance.
The abundance of good Canon EF lenses really arouses big jealousy from a Sony FF user here :D (yes I do adapt lenses sometimes at the expense of AF performance and sharpness)
I got back to your channel after along time and i have to say your channel is one of the best for photography an you cetainly made an impact on me for purchasing the right lens for me and my camera .. i tihnk you made a video once on apsc best lenses for the price . It would be great to do an updated video . And as always it was great.
since the other lens you did a shoutout for and didn't make it to the list and the 40mm did make it to the list. Does it mean the 40mm is sharper corner to corner than the lenses you shout out for? Thanks for making this review.
' AND WE WERE SHARP , AS SHARP AS KNIFES AND PRAYED TO JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL OF ARE MIGHT . AND WE SEAD WE'D ALL GO DOWN TOGETHER ... YES WE WOULD ALL GO D0WN TOGETHER "
