Do you need the "best" lens

Gringostarr wrote:

The 14/2.8 has it all but a fast aperture, and even then a 21mm equivilant having a 2.8 still makes it pretty great for astro work. It's a total sleeper lens in the lineup though since it's optically incredibly sharp while being small and light which makes it perfect when you want to travel light since not every vista is accessible with only a mile hike from a parking lot.

Another sleeper lens is the 60/2.4. Take away all the (deserved) criticism for it's autofocus.... unless you think every lens that's labeled "macro" needs a 1:1 reproduction.

Some have criticized the lack of speed with the 14mm and it was quite true before Fuji responded with a major software upgrade. But the reality is you don't need fast autofocus.  The 14mm lens is primarily a landscape lens, of course it can be used for other tasks but its primary job is landscape. For the die hard landscaper with camera/lens on the tripod taking a studied photograph, speed of autofocus is a non-issue.

The same is true of the 60mm lens.  I know it gets heat for its autofocus but again its job was/is taking shots of flowers, berries, grapes, butterflies, spiders, house flies, and other assorted floral and insect based photography. For all of these types of photographs mentioned, one turns off their autofocus and either focuses through body movement or through focus rails or tripod head.

I am always reading that some photographer is disappointed in the autofocus accuracy of said close up or macro lens. They don't understand autofocus does not work well in the macro world.

And now to the meaning of macro.  To a macro snob - I am one - the proper meaning is 1:1 or better, everything else is "close up." I guess we could invent a new category - "really close up."  The reason the meaning has changed is that manufactures have slapped that term on many lenses not deserving of this designation.  The manufactures means the lens takes a decent close up photo.  Consequently newer photographers have bought into this abuse of the term macro - they don't any better - and now insist all manner of lenses are macro's, they aren't.

I own the 60mm and love it, but I bought it knowing it wasn't  true macro. I found with my Canon 150mm f2.8 macro lens (a true macro), about 98 % of my images were close up and not macro, so I went with the 60mm knowing happiness was just  around the corner. I have bought one extension tube, but it still isn't a macro.