2019 has seen a wealth of new glass with some truly amazing lenses coming to market. With new mirrorless systems starting to mature and third party manufacturers starting to make very smart compromises when it comes to keeping down the cost, how do you choose a winner?
Ted Forbes makes an excellent case for the lens that has impressed him the most since appearing on shelves in the last 12 months. Before choosing his overall winner, he picks out his favorite ultra-wide, wide, standard, short telephoto, and long telephoto. For the wide, I’d at least give an honorable mention to the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8, which I had the chance to test earlier this year and which I just got around to purchasing.
Forbes’s selection for his overall winner took me a little bit by surprise, but it’s worth listening to his reasoning, as it makes a lot of sense. When released, I thought it was a little too expensive, but Forbes makes a good case for the price point, and it’s definitely a lens that’s on my shopping list. Perhaps one of the other contenders was the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4, which has been getting fantastic feedback since its launch in the summerand more proof that third party lenses have come a long way in the last couple of years. The thought of a 35mm f/1.4 for less than a thousand dollars seemed impossible, and I wish that Tamron could make a version for Sony.
Which would be your choice and why? Leave a comment below.
Nicely presented and you did a fine job justifying your choices.
I am a Sony APS-C user, and recently bought their new 70-350 mm G zoom lens for APS-C. It is a terrific lens. Most telephoto zoom lenses get downright soft at the long end of the zoom. This lens is incredibly sharp at the full 350 mm focal length. It includes really fast and accurate auto-focus, and optical stabilization and weather sealing. And it is relatively small and light considering what it offers, and not terribly spendy. I love mine.
The one which you use and made your living for you :)
That Panasonic 50 is huge! Love that system though
Imagine doing street with it! Actually, I’ve done. Oh boi it renders heaven...
Yes I agree - excellent presentation and reasoning. I was looking for an AF 35mm to backup my 35 MF Voigtlander f1.7 so that Sony is well and truly on the radar now.
I was going to say one lens that is missing, in my opinion, from the UWA category is the Laowa 12/2.8 but just realised that although I only bought it this year it was actually announced in 2016 LoL !
Thanks, Andy. Interesting stuff. It appears that the price was a limiter, except supertelephotos. If image fidelity and vividness would have been the only factor, some recents like 90mm f/1.5 and 58mm f/0.95 have a chance. Then, of course, the review would run a risk to be less popular.
sigma art 14mm or the 14-24 art and for every day use i really enjoyed the nikon 24-120 F4 ED
While I like to geek out on equipment, especially lenses... this article is really pointless. Each of us, by necessity, have our own "lens of the year". What is valuable and important to me is probably not on the radar in your world. If you focus on other people's priorities you will lose sight of your own.
RF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM <3
Tamron is currently doing phenomenal lenses for a handful of dollars!