In article
>All of the above have exquisite lenses. nikkor has traditionally been the
>most highly thought of (by those not using Leitz/Zeiss), but this seems to
>be largely propaganda in todays computer designed lens environment. The L
>series from canon has tested out as sharp as just about anything ever
>made, as have the AIS IF*ED Nikkors. I have personally tested Olympus'
>finer optics against high grade Nikkors and Leitz glass and saw no diff.
>in sharpness. Leitz wins by having the best lens contrast, which enhances
>colour, and _apparent_ sharpness.
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A point which I have tried to make in various posts about different lens
lines is this: if you compare the best lenses of the various lines, the
above is quite true, but if you compare the lines as a whole, it is not.
Almost all Nikkors I would call either first or second rate, even the
cheapest lenses (and the sample-to-sample consistency is excellent). In other words, virtually all Nikkors are capable of producing fine, professional quality images (there have been a few exceptions, but only
a few in a large line of lenses produced over the last 30 years). I have seen too many defectively manufactured samples of both Canon and Leitz lenses for comfort, in addition to many fair-to-poor optical designs - lenses that even in the best samples are below my standards for use (and these are not cheap lenses).
Hope this helps