What is the sharpest possible landscape lens?

[closeupfanatic]

"But the 14-24 is in a class of it's own."

Agreed in spades - it's an incredible lens, both in sharpness and in contrast - see http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=30457297 for my contrast test.

 

[Finalshot]

no filters for the 14-24? this subject always surprises me. I've shot for a long time and to this day Ive never used a filter holder that's not attached to my arm. . .

My hand is the best filter holder I have. It's cheap and works great. . . Give it a try before you throw the baby out with the bath water.

Tony

--
http://www.tonybynum.com
http://www.glacierparkphotographer.blogspot.com

 

[jtra]

I would like to know what is considered the sharpest landscape lens.

You will get sharpest results when you snap several pictures with average quality tele lens and stitch.

With good stitching software the results will be great. No regular lens and body will give you clean 100% crops and picture of 100MPixels, but stitching makes this possible.

This all works when your landscape doesn't move very much. It is usually OK in country unless wind moves cloud shadows too fast. It is not good for places with people or moving vehicles or animals.

 

[Revision]

The 14-24 is not an obvious landscape lens, it is a wide angle zoom.

To me (and not to me only) the obvious landscape choice for a DX or FX camera is a moderate tele, a very good tripod, a panorama head and panorama software.
--
Best Regards,
Renato

'The world is going to pieces and people like Weston and Adams are photographing rocks.' Henri Cartier Bresson, in the 1930's

 

[Ray Jeffery]

Picking up on your point about stability should one use the feature that is present on some cameras of delaying the Exposure Delay Mode which is on the D80 and may be present on others. This is supposed to prevent shake from the shutter.
--
Raymond

Box Brownie, Zeiss Nettar, Practica, Fuji DX10, Fuji S602, Fuji 9500, Nikon D80 18-200 VR, Nikon 18-135, Nikon 50mm 1.8D Nikon 70-300Vr

Printers Epson 2100, Canon MP600

 

[nearly-an-old-codger]

n/t

 

[Stoker98]

For landscapes, I use 17-55mm f2.8 or 16-85mm VR. Although I would not want to use any of the following any wider than f5.6, I have also taken super-sharp shots with the 28-105mm D lens, the Tokina 20-35mm f2.8 and the Sigma 20mm.

The 17-55mm may be optimised for around f4, but I find it performs well at any aperture. There is also absolutely nothing wrong with the sharpness of the 16-85mm. Believe me, its a very sharp lens from f5.6. In fact, you do not need to open up wider than f5.6, as the VR enables you to hand hold in low lighting.

S.
--
Wait, watch, listen, then pounce !

 

[Wicked_Cricket]

The Tokina 11-16mm appears to be a great ultra WA
--
Practice makes perfect, but obsession makes even better!

 

[stromaroma]

I'm still using my 18-55 kit lens on my D300. I'm seriously lacking in lenses. But I made some great shots with that one stopped down on the tripod. Maybe I just don't know what I'm missing.

I broke my 70-300 VR and bought a crappy sigma 70-300 emergency replacement while travelling. I think I may be sinking a bunch of money on lenses soon.
--
where the cold wind blows