What are Canon's sharpest lenses?

[Jack Douglas]

Canon 300f/2.8 IS II

Edward, that's pretty good. After 5 years from your previous post here when the thread started, it's still your favorite. I finally put mine up for sale since it's not getting used. Not because it isn't great but the reach I typically need is better served now by my 400 DO II. Mind you I don't get to shoot many larger critters where the 300 would shine. I like the 400's slightly reduced throat for my hand size and it's quite good performance with the converters out to 800.

Jack

 

[johnhenry]

The old 200mm f/1.8

 

[AlanF]

Canon 300f/2.8 IS II

Edward, that's pretty good. After 5 years from your previous post here when the thread started, it's still your favorite. I finally put mine up for sale since it's not getting used. Not because it isn't great but the reach I typically need is better served now by my 400 DO II. Mind you I don't get to shoot many larger critters where the 300 would shine. I like the 400's slightly reduced throat for my hand size and it's quite good performance with the converters out to 800.

Jack

I missed that Jack. As you know, I sold my 300/2.8 II a year after buying the 400/4 DO II as I no longer used the 300. According to Art Morris, the price of used 300s tanked because of the 400. The performance of the 400 with extenders is more than quite good. With the 1.4xTC, it's as sharp at 560mm on my 5DSR as is the bare 100-400mm II at 400. Mind you, the 300/2.8 II is very sharp at 420mm, similar to the bare 400mm, and good at 600mm, and it is a great lens - the minimum focal distance of 2m is unusually short and useful for close ups of dragonflies etc.

 

[privatebydesign]

The old 200mm f/1.8

Not even close to the 300 f2.8 IS MkII.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=432&Camera=9&FLI=0&API=4&LensComp=739&Sample=0&CameraComp=453&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

 

[NancyP]

The old 200 f/1.8s have a new life as members of a wide-field astrograph lens array searching for planets.

 

[mikekx102]

It puts a smile on my face to read so many people commenting 200mm F2L ;D

It's my favorite lens!

I've also noticed how its not on DXO (is it too good?) I've messaged them asking them to add it several times over the past few years.

 

[johnhenry]

200mm F/2L

I agree the 200mm 1.8 is amazingly sharp, even wide open

 

[Zeidora]

The Zeiss Oti are not too shabby either. I own a 55 and it is crisper than the 100 Makroplanar (also own that), which is no slouch, but the 55 apparently still lags behind the 28 (never had that, not interested in it either). I also own a Canon 180M and a Canon 300/2.8 IS (I), and both are quite a bit soupier than any of the Zeisses. Shooting on 5DsR.

 

[Don Haines]

None of my Canon lenses are sharp. My sharpest lens is an old manual focus Tamron 90mm macro lens.... which I somehow managed to cut myself on.... Now THATS a sharp lens!

 

[stevelee]

I cut myself on a picture frame this afternoon.

 

[mihazero]

Canon EF 180mm f3.5 Macro L lens is sharpest baddest meanest lens i have ever had in my hands. It surpasses anything else i have tried. I did not try 300mm 2.8 II, but i can not imagine it being sharper or much sharper then this.