----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some Lens Rankings Based upon Personal Experiences of several
Closely Allied Pro Photographers: 


NOTE: THESE ARE OPINIONS OF ABOUT 10 WORKING PROS -- They are 
ONLY OPINIONS If you disagree, fine; if you flame I'll ignore you 
(as will most others). They may not include your pet lens -- if not 
I'm sorry but it isn't one we use or I've omitted it inadvertently. 

This version has updated teleconverter information -- better 
estimation scheme thanks to Bob Atkins -- and it also rates two of 
the Russian lenses often asked about at the end. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rating is on a scale of 0-5 w/5 high and are Optical, Mechanical --
A RATING OF ABOVE 4 IS PRO QUALITY!

5 = Super -- Sharp at All Apertures until Diffraction Limit set in with
Outstanding Contrast and Flare Resistance.

4 = Very Good -- Center 75% of the Image is Sharp Wide Open and by 2
stops down entire image is crisp w/very good contrast and flare
resistance at all apertures.

3 = Good -- May have to be stopped down more than 2 stops to get the
entire image sharp and contrast could be better but is still OK, Flare
resistance is not as good as it could be -- this is a lens you need to
be cautious using a teleconverter with.

2 = So-So -- Portraits and Family Photos -- Contrast is acceptable but
not nearly as good as a 3 or 4 rated lens, don't even think of using a
teleconverter. May have one good aperture for sharpness and contrast
but in general a lens strictly for amateur use.

1 = Dog -- Only slightly better than an Instamatic Lens.

0 = Awful -- a lens polished using sandpaper or bubble gum.

Mechanical Ratings -
5= Pro Quality in EVERY respect
4= Better than Avg. Amateur quality
3= Avg. Amateur Quality.
2= Below Avg. Quality
1= It will Break in Normal Use 
0= Manufactured Broken.

Teleconverter ratings should be as follows (gives ESTIMATE ONLY!)
Lens + TC = Lens rating*Teleconverter rating/5 Hence for the 400 f3.5
EDIF Nikkor the Rating w/a TC14 is = 5X4.5/5 = 4.5
With the TC 300/301 the 400 f3.5 EDIF = 4.2


Lenses:                           Ratings (optical/mechanical)

NIKON:
20 f2.8 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5
24 f2.8 MF AI/AIS Nikkor ------------------ 4.5,5
28 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5
28 f2.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4.5,4
35 f2.5 Series E Nikon -------------------- 3,4
35 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 3.5,5
35 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,5
35 f2.0 AF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,4
50 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5
50 f1.8 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4,5
50 f1.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4,4
55 f1.2 Nikkor ---------------------------- 3,5 (a true dog)
55 f3.5 Micro Nikkor AI and Non-AI -------- 5,5
55 f2.8 Micro Nikkor AIS ------------------ 4.5,4.5
55 mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ---------------- 4.5,4
58 f1.2 Noct Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5
60mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------- 5,4
85 f1.4 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5
85 f1.8 AF Nikkor ------------------------- 5,4
105 f4 Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 4.5,5
105 f2.8 MF AIS Micro Nikkor -------------- 4,5
105 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5
200 IF Micro Nikkor MF -------------------- 5,5
200 IF Micro Nikkor AF -------------------- 5,5 (Goes to 1:1 and 
does better at infinity due to ED Elements)
180 ED MF Nikkor -------------------------- 4.8,5
180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,5 (New Version)
180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,4 (Old Version)
200 f2.0 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.5,5
300 f4.5 MF Nikkor (Non-ED)---------------- 3,4.5
300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5
300 f4 EDIF AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5
300 f2.0 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5
300 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5
300 f2.8 EDIF AF-I Nikkor ----------------- 5,5
300 f2.8 EDIF AF-N Nikkor ----------------- 4.8,4.8
300 f2.8 EDIF AF 1st vers. Nikkor---------- 4.8,4
400 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5
400 f3.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5
500 f8 Mirror Nikkor ---------------------- 3.8,5
500 f4 EDIF-P Nikkor ---------------------- 5,4.5(Wimpy Tripod Mt.)
500 f4 EDIF-AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 
(AF Version IS sharper  wide open in the corners than the MF but 
they both are quite good)
600 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5
600 f4 EDIF Nikkor (AIS) ------------------ 5,5
600 f4 EDIF-AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5
600 f4 EDIF Nikkor (AI) ------------------- 5,5
75-150 f3.5 Series E Nikon ---------------- 5,4.5
80-200 f4.5 AI Nikkor --------------------- 5,5
43-86 Nikkor ------------------------------ 3,4.5  
(Later vers. better but still not great)
80-200 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ---------------- 5,5
80-200 f2.8 EDIF AF Nikkor ---------------- 4.8,4  (No Tripod Mt)
50-300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5
200-400 ED MF AIS Nikkor ------------------ 5,5
Teleconverters:
TC-14/14B/14E ----------------------------- 4.5,5
TC-300/301 -------------------------------- 4.2,4.5 
TC-20E ------------------------------------ 4.8,5 
(Noticably better than TC-301)

CANON:
20-35 f2.8 EF-L --------------------------- 4.2,4.5 
(Flare a bit worse than in prime but still awfully good!)
100 f2.0 EF ------------------------------- 4.5,4
300 f4 EF L ------------------------------- 5,5
300 f2.8 EF-L ----------------------------- 5,5
400 f5.6 EF-L ----------------------------- 4,5
500 f4.5 EF-L ----------------------------- 4.8,5   
(f4.5 + 1.4X = No Autofocus!!!)
600 f4 EF-L ------------------------------- 5,5
24 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.5,5
45 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.5,5
90 EF TS ---------------------------------- 4.8,5
80-200 f2.8 EF-L (Early) ------------------ 4,4.5
80-200 f2.8 EF-L (Recent)------------------ 4.5,4.5
70-200 f2.8 EF-L -------------------------- 4.8,5
100-300 f5.6 EF-L ------------------------- 3.5,4  (
Gets Loads better when you put a tripod mount on it!
A buddy of mine makes such a mount, costs about $150 or so
-- E-mail me for info.)

35mm FD TS -------------------------------- 4.5,5
80-200 f4 FD L ---------------------------- 4.8,5
300 f2.8 FD-L ----------------------------- 4.5,5
300 f2.8 Fluorite ------------------------- 4.8,5
400 f4.5 FD ------------------------------- 3,4.5
500 f4.5 FD-L ----------------------------- 5,5
500 f4.5 FD Fluorite ---------------------- 5,5
600 f4.5 FD ------------------------------- 3.5,4.5
150-600 f5.6 FD-L ------------------------- 4.9,4 
(Some break in the Middle!)
Teleconverters:
1.4X EF ----------------------------------- 4.5,5

PENTAX:
200 f4 Macro ED --------------------------- 5,5
300 f4.5 AF EDIF -------------------------- 4.9,4.5
300 f2.8 EDIF MF -------------------------- 4.5,5
200-600 f5.6 ED AF Zoom ------------------- 4.8,4.8

MINOLTA MAXXUM:
200 f2.8 APO ------------------------------ 4.5,5
300 f2.8 APO ------------------------------ 4.5,5
600 f4 APO -------------------------------- 4.5,5

SIGMA:
80-200 f2.8 APO (Canon EF mt.) ------------ 4.8,4.8
300 f2.8 APO (Minolta Maxxum Mt.) --------- 4.5,4   
(MF Linkage Breaks sometimes)
400 f5.6 APO Canon EF Mt. ----------------- 4.7,4.8
Sigma Teleconverter 1.4X --(AF) ----------- 3.7,4.5 
(Vignettes w/long teles)

TOKINA:
300 f2.8 MF Nikon mt. --------------------- 4.8,4.8
300 f2.8 AF Nikon Mt. --------------------- 4.8,4.5
80-200 f2.8 APO MF ATX Nikon Mt. ---------- 4.5,4.5 
(Tripod Mount is chinzy)
100-300 f4 APO MF ATX Nikon Mt. ----------- 4.5,4.8

TAMRON:
300 f2.8 LDIF MF (Early) ------------------ 4,4.8
300 f2.8 LDIF MF (Recent) ----------------- 4.4,4.8
300 f2.8 LDIF AF -------------------------- 4.5,4.5
400 f4 LDIF MF ---------------------------- 4.2,4.8
200-500 f5.6 MF --------------------------- 3.5,4.5
80-200 f2.8 AF (Nikon) -------------------- 4.5,4.5
Teleconverter 1.4X (AF) ------------------- 3.7,4.5 
(Tends to Vignette w/some long teles)

LEITZ:
100 f2.8 Macro R -------------------------- 5,5
280 f2.8 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5
400 f2.8 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5
180 f3.4 APO R ---------------------------- 5,5
180 f2.8 R--------------------------------- 4.5,5
560 R ------------------------------------- 4,4.5 (Clumsy)
1.4X Teleconverter ------------------------ 4.5,5
2X Teleconverter -------------------------- 4.3,5

Russian 300 f2.8 -------------------------- 3,4
Russian 35mm PC --------------------------- 3.5,4

[Home Page]