therwol Loc: USA

I didn't compare every lens. Who has time? It would appear that the Z lenses almost always beat their F mount counterparts, at least according to DXOMark. One exception would seem to be the Fmount 35mm f/1.8. In any case, some third party lenses would seem to be good alternatives to the Nikon F mount lenses. The tests were done on two different camera models, Z7 and D850, but the pixel count is the same, and the sensors are similar. You can draw your own conclusions. Download to see the ratings clearly. Also, it was not possible in every case to compare lenses with exactly the same specs.

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Note, these are mostly 'greatest' over 'great' ratings ...

therwol Loc: USA

I agree. These ratings on all of the lenses I show are way above some of the dismal ratings at the botton of the list of F mount lenses. But there are always people who want the "greatest", and I suppose that keeps the camera companies in business.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Note a big dxo bias. "transmission" is the t stop...so all 1.4 lenses will get a boost compared to 1.8 ones, and so on.

therwol Loc: USA

In all but one case, I included lenses with the same focal length(s) and stated maximum apertures. There was no 50mm f/1.4 Z lens. There are differences in transmission, and according to DXOMark, each lens is tested at every available aperture. There are differences in the results of all of these "same" lenses, so I interpret that as being how much light these lenses let through compared with other similar lenses. I could be wrong, but that's my interpretation.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

therwol, it's not your chart, it's how dxo goes about a portion of their composite score. Note that the 1.2 lenses score higher in this particular subscore than the 1.8s and even more the 2.8s. It is not a subscore that says your t stop is very close to your nominal f stop so we will rate you highly. It just flat out introduces a premium for faster lenses regardless of any other qualities. That does not take away from the other factors that get combined into a final score.

I absolutely agree with the proposition that Z Mount lenses are coming in better then the F Mount versions that they are replacing. I just trust other sites and other testing modalities.

therwol Loc: USA

I think that all testing sites are going to agree on this, plus the Z mount lenses on many of the Z cameras benefit from IBIS in the real world. Motion blur can make all of the testing on a tripod meaningless. Some of the F mount lenses have VR, but many do not, especially some of the older ones that people still use.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I don't use DXO, so I'm not deeply versed in how they work and how they may bias their results. What I do know is that when I shot Olympus (and Minolta before that), the faster lenses were generally also just better, more sophisticatedly designed lenses. Specifically, I eventually had f/1.8, f/1.4, and f/1.2 50mm Zuiko lenses. There was nothing similar about those three lenses. The f/1.2 was better in every way. Sharper, smoother to operate, better in the corners. The f/1.4 was almost as good, but not quite. Internal optical design was also very different among the three lenses.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Any COMPETENT photographer can take any of those lenses and get fantastic images.
IT IS NOT THE LENS, IT IS THE PHOTOGRAPHER. And it always will be.
I concentrate on technique, experience, and knowledge, my equipment fulfills my vision.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BEST is always better than you can afford. Always been that way. Always will.

Hal Masover Loc: Iowa and Florida

Thanks. Good reference.

Alphabravo2020

A rating like this is to sell lenses and cameras I'm afraid. It serves the manufacturer and retailer.

The score is based on a weighted average of the several factors like this:

DXO = A*Shrp + B*Dist + C*Vig + D*Trans + E*ChrDist

The factor values like Sharpness and Transmission are in different units and so are not relatable in the first place. They are normalized to an arbitrary dimensionless value.

The weighting coefficients A, B, C... are entirely fabricated in a smokey room and who knows who paid who what to set sharpness as the most heavily weighted and to leave off cost for example.

The end result is that while the final score is not without some value to us, does a difference of 2 or 3 points really mean anything?

Also this score intentionally directs the attention away from things I'm curious about. How many elements and groups? Is there any soul left in the image after it has passed through 20+ pieces of glass? What is the costs to transmission? I have to buy a camera with a next gen sensor just to get any signal through the endless bloated gauntlet of glass. The lens maker is unloading the responsibility for transmission onto the sensor technology because we must all bow down to the god of corner-to-corner sharpness.

Sharpness is over-rated. Vignetting can be completely compensated for in Lr. Chromatic aberration is an artistic feature not a negative aspect of a lens.

Rant mode off.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

It doesn't. If we applied our own weighting factors based on our own needs and desires we could change the final score.

It's performance that counts but we would probably compromise to find a lighter or less expensive lens.

Sharpness is not so much overrated as it is misunderstood. It can't be reduced to a single value. It varies from the center to the corner of the field and with changes in aperture. But a high resolution sensor is not well served by a low resolution lens and a high resolution lens is a waste of money on a low resolution sensor.

Vignetting is the only easily fixed issue. Barrel and pincushion distortions are a little harder to fix.

Chromatic aberration is definitely not an artistic feature. It also varies with distance from the center to the corners as well as with changes in aperture.

All of these issues get even worse with zoom lenses, especially when the zoom range is large.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

F mount lenses also benefit from IBIS if they’re used on a Z body with IBIS.