stan weisleder

I’ve heard that the Zeis 24 to 70 or is it 24 to 80 2.8 is the sharpest all purpose lens available. If not, then what is?

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Here you go. Check out DXOMARK's comprehensive camera lens test result database:

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/

wetreed

The Nikon 16-80 f2.8 is very sharp. I give it my highest recommendation.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Zeiss would be among the best. Sony's G-Master is in the running. But, who makes a sharper 70:200mm lens than Nikon's 70-200m f2.8E FL ED VR. I have checked lenses quality, occasionally on DXO Mark. I have a Zeiss lens embedded in my Sony pocket camera. It is amazingly sharp for such a small camera. I must admit.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

It could be the sharpest for the format it was designed for. I am sure that it is sharp enough for the format. Now the question becomes, "Do I really need all that sharpnest for my photography for the money I am going to have to pay?" Maybe, maybe not.

Bill_de Loc: US

Good answer!

But using actual test results would make this a very short thread.

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DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

A query of whether or not filters should be used for protection could possibly lengthen it.

wetreed

I use filters for protection of my lenses and have never found them to detract from the sharpness one bit.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

According to the Imatest results of the British magazines I have seen, the Nikon 24-70 S lens for the new Z cameras.....

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

And there you go !
.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Sharpness is subjective. By this I mean that it is not measurable. You can measure with precision a lens' acuity and contrast. But there is no accurate measurement for "sharpness". This is mainly because the perception of sharpness is affected by viewing distance, subject matter, camera resolution, image magnification, and above all a person's eyesight. I am aware that DXO rates a lens with regards to "sharpness" but they are using a subjective determination, and a comparison to a "perfect" or theoretically flawless lens, and they use P-Mpix, or perceptual megapixels to rate the performance of a given lens on a given camera and how it compares to perfection, assuming that the perfect lens returns a P-Mpix number equal to the camera's mp count. So, if a lens shows 21 P-Mpix on a 24mp body, it is telling you that on that body, that lens is providing 21 of 24 mp performance, or 87.5%. If another lens is tested and its P-Mpix score is 12 on the same body, then you are getting only 50% of the camera's resolution.

So, when you say something like "Zeis [sic] 24 to 70 or is it 24 to 80 2.8 is the sharpest all purpose lens available" what exactly are you referring to as sharpness?

repleo Loc: Boston

What mount and what aperture ? I had the Sony Zeiss FE 24-70 F4.0 ZA. It was a nice lens, but I sold it when I got my Sony 24-105 G which is much better in every way except weight and cost.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

My basic "field test" is a newpaper- front page.
Set it up, back up 20-30 feet, and start shooting.
Can I focus sharp enough to zoom in and read the small print? With and without AF?
At home I have an old Voightlander test poster. Lines and circles, grays and colors.
Areas of finer and finer lines, will give you a good example of how sharp your lens- and camera- can be.
An old Canon turns some deep reds a bit orange-y. The same with some skin tones.
Two same-o Nikon 18-55 give different results.
YMMV. We're still in an analog world in a digital age.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Doesn’t this depend on the mp of the camera you are using and the focal length of the lens? Lower mp and shorter focal length would put less mp on the front page and go fuzzy quicker when viewing and zooming in, right.

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

After checking my main used lens . I found out that it is rated poorly for sharpness . I must admit I was very surprised . It would be nice to see the quality of a photo taken with the different lenses of different makers using a lens in the same zoom range I use . I don't take enough photos any more to worry about buying a new high price zoom lens in the range I use or around the same range some what . Thanks for sharing this info and letting me see where my lenses stand in the different categories