Are Modern or Vintage Lenses Better for Your Work?

It might seem like a silly question; after all, modern lenses are almost universally optically superior to their vintage counterparts. But photography is about more than technical perfection, and vintage lenses may actually be the better choice for a variety of photographers and situations. 

Coming to you from Matt Granger, this great video discusses using modern versus vintage lenses. Of course, modern lenses offer better technical image quality, with high levels of sharpness, better control of aberrations, capable autofocus, and improved ability to handle things like backlit scenarios. However, the rise of mirrorless cameras and their ability to easily adapt a variety of SLR lenses has caused a resurgence in the popularity of vintage lenses, and for good reason. First, vintage lenses are usually vastly cheaper than their more modern counterparts, often costing just a tenth of what you would pay for a newer lens. Moreover, the optical imperfections of vintage lenses are often seen as creative boons, great for creating more organic or visually interesting shots. No doubt, after using a vintage lens or two, you might find more modern lenses almost sterile in their renderings. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Granger.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

I think this really is just more opinionated situation. Nothing says "this is better for your work" than the shooter themselves. But I love both vintage and current gen equipment. AF is easier to deal with for certain paid jobs.