Criteria when selecting for your next lens

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gqtuazon

Gear Head
I’m interested in knowing your criteria when selecting for your next lens purchase. It is expected to get various answers based on what type of camera you have and your budget.

Some may not even care about these stuff as long as it is a good deal when buying a new or used lens. For most beginners, it is important that their lenses covers from wide to the long end.

To give you an idea, these are my preferences:
Sharpness
Larger aperture
Good performance (faster and quiet AF)
Price – good value
Must be able to use filters without buying additional adapters
Bokeh


Least concerns:
Brand
Construction
Weight
Lens flare
Vignetting
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
Great Idea Glenn! Mine are as follows:

1- IQ (sharpness, resolution ability, distortion)
2- Large Aperture (except for UW lenses)
2- Bokeh (again, except for UW's)
2- Accept filters
2- How it fits in my arsenal/matches my needs
3- Compact Design
3- Quality construction
4- Brand/Resale value

My least concerns
1- Anything that can be corrected in post processing
2- Price, I'm not rich, but would rather save to get the best I can.
3- Weight
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Rick - you've pointed out good things that I did not cover.

Software technology helps out a lot to fix or correct lens distortion.

Re-sale value is huge. With most or all of your lenses, you can use them for several years and still get to sell them near their retail value. I would say they should retain about 80% of their value unlike cameras.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Eye-level said:
Is it a so called "legacy" lens?

​That is all I care about... :)
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Some of the legecy lenses demand have increased within the last two years since the introduction of the M4/3 mounts or other interchangeable cameras by using adapters. The legacy lenses are cheaper and can still perform very well since they still have the aperture ring.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
gqtuazon said:
Re-sale value is huge. With most or all of your lenses, you can use them for several years and still get to sell them near their retail value. I would say they should retain about 80% of their value unlike cameras.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that of the higher rated Fx lenses, they hold value very well. Dx, on the other hand, is like driving a new car off the lot. If anyone has any thought of ever going Fx, they should not buy another Dx lens.
 
A

Akiviri

New member
For me it's

1) Well controlled (minimal or 0) Chromatic Aberration - just because I hate dealing with it.

2) Depending on it's intended use - Fast can be a consideration.

3) Resale value - although decent lenses tend to hold their value by default, and I usually don't switch much.

4) Construction Quality

5) If I shot more portraits Bokeh would be a consideration, and sometimes it's nice to have for nature shots - the 35mm 1.8 seems to be decent enough for my uses.

The rest is a simple click in LR so it doesn't matter - unless Vignetting is severe - in which case it probably won't make the cut anyway. My 2c
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Rick M said:
I've noticed that of the higher rated Fx lenses, they hold value very well. Dx, on the other hand, is like driving a new car off the lot. If anyone has any thought of ever going Fx, they should not buy another Dx lens.
Click to expand...

Some DX lenses tend to hold their value depending on the lens condition such as the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 but I agree with your thoughts. Since DX lenses are commonly available and just about every beginner has one, the demand is not that great which affects their value.
 
E

Eye-level

Banned
See the 17-55 f2.8 is a "legacy" lens...

You all know I shoot old primes but if I had the 17-55 f2.8 I'd be one happy camper...

​They'll always bring a premium if they are in good shape.

Speed does help I guess...
 
J

JDFlood

Senior Member
1) it is Nikon ?
2) is it a prime?
3) it is the best / fastest Nikon makes?
4) no reviews have identified a serious flaw in it.


JD
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
JDFlood said:
1) it is Nikon ?
2) is it a prime?
3) it is the best / fastest Nikon makes?
4) no reviews have identified a serious flaw in it.
JD
Click to expand...


The Nikon 200mm f2 VR fits this criteria and has been on my shopping cart since it was released. The stiff price deters me from buying it.
 
E

Eye-level

Banned
Yeah but is 200 the exact focal lenght you need to get the job done that you do???

​I justify it by saying we need pictures of the kids...hahhaa

Got Nikkor?
 
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G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Eye-level said:
Yeah but is 200 the exact focal lenght you need to get the job done that you do???

​I justify it by saying we need pictures of the kids...hahhaa
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The Nikon 200mm f2 is arguably one of Nikon's near perfect lens.

Even if I use the "kids" excuse, I just cannot get myself to buy that lens since it is not practical for me as an enthusiast. Same with the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 which is also another superb lens from Nikon.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
gqtuazon said:
The Nikon 200mm f2 is arguably one of Nikon's near perfect lens.

Even if I use the "kids" excuse, I just cannot get myself to buy that lens since it is not practical for me as an enthusiast. Same with the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 which is also another superb lens from Nikon.
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I have the same struggle sometimes, need to keep this hobby in perspective. Although, you could depreciate the cost over few years :)
 
E

Eye-level

Banned
Well it gives you a little bit of room...

Oh Rick you oughtta see the snap I made of a special Ford truck today sir...I'm thinking about bringing it out in "true" HDR first sir...I have the brackets and maybe I can work with a set...stay tuned...

It is a really neat old truck!

Please disregard this post you all I'm getting us way off topic...to much moonshine I guess...LOL
 
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C

crycocyon

Senior Member
gqtuazon said:
The Nikon 200mm f2 is arguably one of Nikon's near perfect lens.

Even if I use the "kids" excuse, I just cannot get myself to buy that lens since it is not practical for me as an enthusiast. Same with the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 which is also another superb lens from Nikon.
Click to expand...

Why would it not be practical? It really depends on your subject matter and how you wish to resolve it. If I had a choice for an ultimate portrait lens, that would be it.
 
C

crycocyon

Senior Member
1. Sharpness (optical performance)
2. Larger aperture (low light plus sharper when stopped down at relatively large apertures, plus good Bokeh so that falls under this category)
3. Construction
5. Brand
6. Price
7. Lens flare (goes with optical performance)
8. Vignetting (goes with optical performance)
9. Good performance AF (faster and quiet AF)

Least concerns:
Must be able to use filters without buying additional adapters
Weight
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
crycocyon said:
Why would it not be practical? It really depends on your subject matter and how you wish to resolve it. If I had a choice for an ultimate portrait lens, that would be it.
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If I was shooting professionally and have models to shoot, I might consider it. If I buy that lens and don't have any subjects to shoot, the lens will have minimal use, thus making it not practical just like with my other lenses that have been on idle in my camera bags.
 
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