What is a Wonder Lens?

The very definition of the Wonder Lens is very simple. As we all know by reading my previous blogs that lens design is a trade-off. To make lens sharp, you need to compromise on several items and on several levels. A sharp lens may or may not able to produce good bokeh. If you design a lens with great bokeh, then it may not render the image well. If it renders the image well then it may be not a sharp lens and list goes on and on. So, in short, Wonder Lens are those lenses, which are sharp, able to render image beautiful, have ability to produce micro-contrast, produces images rich with color and contrast and having great creamy Bokeh.

Due to modern day lens design, which is basically over correction, new lenses are not able to exhibit above mentioned parameters in one shot. They are missing many elements one at a time. But there are lenses (both new and old) which are filling the criteria of a Wonder Lens. Below is the list of few commonly known ones,

·      Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 (for APS-C camera)

·      Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 (G1 & G2 both)

·      Tamron 35mm f/1.4 (newly announced)

·      Fujifilm 45mm f/2.8 (For GFX Medium Format series)

·      Voigtlander 50mm f/1.2

·      Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 SL II

·      Fujifilm 80mm f/2.8 (Macro Lens)

·      Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL

·      Canon 135mm f/2 L

·      Nikon 300mm f/2.8 (All versions)

If you own any of the lens from above lens, you are one lucky person. Keep these lenses with your selves as they will last for the life time if you care them properly.


Happy Learning Guys …

Babar Swaleheen

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