She's the Lens he sees the Future with. (just my holiday dose of sappiness.) My current favorite lense is the Sigma 35 f1.2 Art. Just got it for shooting artwork. And anything else I can.
@@randolphcroft4212 That lens is a beast, I heard. Sigma's Art seris is just so top-tier. I don't have any big lens to show since I'm an hobbyist. But I'm pretty proud to own a Tokina AT-X 10-20mm f/2.8. It really broadens my photography world.
A lot of photography reviews of kit on UA-cam I am not blown away by the quality of the photos they present as examples, but your photos are always just simply beautiful and do blow me away!
Christopher, you are a truly wholesome guy and a blessing to the UA-cam and photography community, as well as our society as a whole. Your content has always been top notch, to the point and overall enjoyable. Keep up the good work! Greetings from the Netherlands.
A very appropriate ending to the video, a very heart felt thank you for that. My lenses that I seem to love to use the most: Voigtlander 10mm E-mount Fuji XF 8-16 Fuji XF 14 (for infrared) Lensbaby 56 Velvet (which also happens to be one of the few close-up/macro lenses that can be used for infrared) Voigtlander Nokton 58 SL II (F-mount so I get to enjoy using it on my Fuji and Sony cameras) Fuji XF 80 macro Fuji XF 90
Christopher, never commented to you before, but wanted to let you know I've watched your lens reviews hundreds of times and you are my go-to lens reviewer, par excellance. Thank you so much for all you do. I appreciate your standard regimen, that allows comparisons between lenses and across time. I too am fascinated with lenses, but I think you exceed me in that regard! With appreciation, Bill Hahn Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Thank you Chris! What a great milestone reviewing 277 lenses! You have always sent a subtle but solid message in your reviews. Let those that have ears hear and let those that have eyes see.
Great Summary of good lenses. You not only provide good reviews but also know how to tell an excellent story. I have been watching your reviews for the last few years. Before I buy a lens I search your videos for a review.
I always watch your videos twice, usually the first time at night when I find your voice so calm and soothing it sends me off to sleep. I then watch them again for the content. Keep up the good work, thank you.
it took me 10 months to get around to watching this video. I really appreciate your videos, my wife even says I don't mind when you watch his videos his voice is so relaxing :). Even ended up buying both the 85mm RF samyang and sigma 150-600 c based on your review.
You are my go to guy for dependable lens critiques. Thanks for your precise videos. I like seeing your very lovely wife in the videos too! God bless you you both!
Christopher Frost is the best lens reviewer on the planet. I wish he would make generalizations like this every three months. If I am going to buy a lens, I look to Christopher Frost and Ken Rockwell. Then you get an honest, fair, correct review. It is of inestimable value. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The one lens I love the most and probably never sell is an old beat up Super-Takumar 105/2.8 from late 60s. It has just the loveliest rendering i've ever seen - creamy buttery bokeh with plenty of sharpness while not being too long to completely detach me from my subject. Combined with my Pentax Spotmatic it's my favorite setup for portraits.
Hi Christopher. Thanks for this and all of your reviews. I am shocked that the Sigma 40mm F1.4 Art is not included here. In your review of it, you seemed a little more than blown away by it... Merry Christmas guy and please keep up the good work in the new year!
I've lived in Cardiff most of my life and had a static caravan down Aberporth. I'd be amazed if I hadn't bumped into you. Great vids. I love the Samsung 50mm and 12mm on my Fujifilm xt10.
A while ago I bought the Canon 50mm 1.4 and little bit later I got the 10-18mm. Both of the times I went to your UA-cam to watch your test. You are a person I trust ☺️
Here's an unusual one: the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. It came as a kit lens for the OG EOS M, and it was ridiculously sharp, fast f2 aperture, super compact pancake lens. It was the lens (and camera) where I started my photography journey, and the relatively unusual fixed focal length helped me to understand the value of simply using your feet as the best zoom "lens."
First of all congratulations to you and your stunning wife. Another wonderful video. My current combination is an EM5 ii with a Minolta Rokkor 58mm 1.4. The combination has really prodded my creativity and enjoyment of photography.
I'm so happy you enjoyed the Sigma 105mm f1.4 Art...It's my go to lens for model photography and it's just simply magic in so many situations. I shot a model at a simple bus stop no less, and yet it made the images truly special. The buses in the background became these lovely abstractions and mixes of color and shapes. Other reviewers have said it's as close to a Nikon 200mm f2 as one could get and at a fraction of the price. I'll have to check out your review of it because surprisingly it doesn't appear on DXO Mark, which I fail to see why since it's performance is amazing. I hope you'll be able to get one someday, whether by selling other lenses or by some good fortune because it truly is special.
Dear Chris, I own 2 of your favorite lenses: The Samyang XP 85mm 1.2 (I use it with an adapter), and the Samyang 18mm 2.8. I think I would have added the Sony 90 2.8 macro lens to your list. Finally may I suggest a lens for your review: Samyang XP 35mm 1.2. Thank you for all your outstanding work and ... Merry Christmas.
Thank you for the video, Chris. I have been following all your videos every since I found you last year. After watching your review of the Sigma 14-24 DG DN and now this video, this lens will be my birthday gift next week. Keep up the great work! 😃
the lens I really Fell in Love with ist the Sigma 17-50 2.8. I payed around 300€ for it and it serves me great for some years now. A real bang for your buck! The other one I would recommend if you are working with Canon is the 55-250 IS STM. It is a real joy to work with both those lenses and they are real budget friendly and good for getting into fotography.
I bought a Canon RP so that I could buy the 35 f1.8 IS macro (I’m a Sony shooter). Coupled with the RP it’s such a versatile and lightweight do-everything combination - especially for travel. Really fun to use!
Wow...what a list.. i must say.. ur review on laowa 9mm for apsc blew me away.. and i got it.. but now looking to upgrade to a a7iii.. the sigma 14-24 just seems a must. Will be the most expensive lens i ever have purchased. Keep up the great work! God bless
My favourite lense is for sure the Canon EF 100mm 2.8 macro, that thing is amazing. And I also love, as everyone else does, the nifty fifty. Thanks for the great vid.
Since I bought a Canon AE-1 in 1980 , I have owned in excess of 200 lenses and the one I most fell in love with was the Canon FD 24-35mm f3.5L , just the right size and incredibly sharp and contrasty , knocked the spots off of the Canon FD 24mm f2 , 24mm f2.8 and even the 24mm f1.4L ( Impressive for hand held night shots at f1.4 though ) , yes , give me my 24-35 and another fav , the Canon FD 85mm f1.8 ( preferred this to the 1.2L version by the way ) and I would have a very happy days shooting .
Nothing more beautiful than a pregnant wife who loves and is loved in return except maybe a little baby joining in! ❤️ All my best wishes to the three of you!
I'm really surprised you are not a pro photographer Chris. Absolutely superb work and you even have the perfect built in model (though I'm sure she is far more than that to you!) :-)
Here's my list of affordable lenses that I enjoy: Canon 100mm f/2 USM Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM II Samyang 45mm f/1.8 Sigma 16/30/56mm f/1.4 (I've only tested them without owning these three) Sony 35mm f/1.8 (I've only tested this without owning it) Sony 55mm f/1.8 Sony 85mm f/1.8 (I've only tested this without owning it) Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 (I've only tested this without owning it) Tamron 90mm f/2.8 VC (if you don't mind its short focal length)
First thing you need to do is define "affordable". I should note I got my Sigma 18-35mm for $400. That seemed "affordable for such a great/useful lens.
Loved this, some of your recommendations are now on my list to buy. To answer your question at the end, one lens that I absolutely fell in love with is the Mitakon EF-M 35mm f/0.95. Obviously I bought it for the aperture but after taking thousands of photos with it I just love the overall feel and quality of the image. It's not perfect but it's what's usually on my Canon Mirrorless.
The samyang 12mm f2 is a wonderful lens at a great price. I use it on the Fuji for a wide range of photography. Astro, landscapes, indoor. It has very good close focus too. It’s sharp, versatile, and affordable.
I agree with the comments about your wife Chris and it's always great to see her in your reviews. Back on topic, you continue to produce the best lens reviews on UA-cam. For me the format is logical, unbiased and backed up by real world examples of god's greatest country! Long may you continue...
Fujifilm XF-90mm F2 is my current favorite! It's one of the sharpest, fastest, and most colorful lenses I've seen that isn't a cinema lens or a pro zoom! And i'm really keen on trying out the XF16mm F1.4!
Over the years I've purchased several new or used lenses and before making the purchase I always watch your reviews and after I get the lens I watch your review again to make sure my recent acquisition gets the same results as the lens you've tested. Keep bringing us reviews, I'm thinking about getting a mirrorless Z camera sometime this year and I'm hoping you'll review Nikon's Z lenses.
When I first started out in photography, my favorite lens was a little Tokina 35mm F2.8 macro. It could do everything I ever wanted.....and helped me to learn more about photography. These days, I there is one lens I love above all my others: Canon 50mm TS-E L Tilt Shift Lens. A bit heavy, a bit slow, manual focus....but I just love it.
Samyang XP 85mm 1.2 Canon Mount combined with the Techart-Pro Autofocus Adapter for Sony Mirrorless cameras is a beautiful combo. You can pre-focus a little and then let the AF adapted nail it in.
Don't know if its the format or the calm voice, but this is easily one of the best photography orientated channels out there. :) I'm starting to make the move to mirrorless by swapping my 6D with an EOS R, I like that I can fit FD lenses on it, but do you have a video in the works that tackles third party full manual lenses for RF mount? Info on it is a bit all over the place at the moment from other channels.
Agree, the little RF 35 1.8 Macro is utterly brilliant (small, macro, control ring, IS) it's quite good value to be honest. Thanks for giving it a red ring
Watched almost all your videos, after 6 months I discovered your channel, I decided to go for the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 alongside my already bought Canon 80D, marvellous lens
I fell in love with photography after I saw your review of the Rokinin 35mm manual lens. Since then my life has changed :-) Though it is not showing in your most favorite list (and its not the sharpest lense). But it works the best for me!
Canon 135mm f2.0 L is my favorite by far. Rather unique focal range but it always surprised me with great images and loved the build quality and handling. Would love to try the Sigma 105mm f1,4 sometime.
Been watching you for a bit now Chris. I am so thankful for your clear and realistic reviews. The detail and usability facts are very useful to me. I also love that you do reviews for ordinary people who cannot afford some of the stuff out there. Most of all I appreciate your love for Jesus, your family and photography.
Perfect review, short and crisp! I owned a Sigma 18 - 35 f/1.8 which I had in my Canon 700D for year. Though it is quite heavy, it is build like a tank and the image Quality is indeed perfect! If you've ever wanted a lense that can all you need from an 18-35mm lense, the this is the Ultimate lense to pick!!!
I liked the video, I haven't used the ones you described, but the one I've used that made me fall in love with photography again was the voigtlander 58mm f1.4. There's something about how it renders the image which I cant really explain.Images are simply beautiful.
My favorite lens that made me want to photograph and video forever was the Asahi Pentax 50mm f/1.4 M42 mount lens. I adapted it on a Canon 5D Mark II with Magic Lantern installed and enjoyed every minute of using that lens. It was not the sharpest wide open, and it had the limitation of manual focus, but it was such a joy to use with focus peaking.
Fun fact, some versions of that lens have throrium glass and are actually radioactive; that's why the glass turns yellow or orange over time. You need not to worry about it as the radioactivity is way too weak to do any harm unless you decide to eat your lens.
The yongnuo 50mm f1.8, its an astonoshing lens for reverse macro, and its bokeh is amzing, the nifty fifty by yognuo is my absolute favorite lens ive owned.
On your review from a previous video, I recently acquired the Sigma 14-24mm 2.8 Art lens for Sony E mount. I’m new to wide angle shooting and enjoying the my new experience with a lens that delivers without concern for settings. Thanks for the review.
I used that canon 35mm for some wedding photography two weeks ago. It is on my list to add to my bag! I think I would be a great addition for both photos and video!
Loving the dog photo on the beach, nice reviews also. My personal favs lens of all time would be Nikon 17~55 2.8 IFED G, Canons 24mm pancake stm, 18~55 2.8 R LM FujiFilm on an XT1/XT2 best married combo ever, and Takumar f4 or Tokunon 3.2 135mm vintage manual lense for bokeh and artistic works.
My favourite lens has got to be the H. Zuiko 24mm F2.8. Smallest 24mm of its time, it renders colours like Leica lenses (at 1/10 of the cost) and using it on aps-c and m43 I've produced some of my best shots on the streets or in nature. Even the out of focus shots look great!
Hi Chris, thanks again! The Canon EF 2.0/35mm USM IS and the Canon EF 2,0/100mm USM are two very affordable options on my Canon RP with the control ring adapter. I use them for travel and when taking pictures of my five year old daughter in Austria. Best wishes, Ralf
Great list!My favorite lenses are Canon 35 1.4 II and Canon 85 1.4 IS.I own and love Sigma 14-24 2.8 as well but mine is EF version and is much more heavy and bulky than FE and I tend to leave it home more often.
Great round-up. Thank you. I have used most of your selection at some stage for the very reasons they made your list. We are blessed with some great manufacturers in current times.
Chris, it would be great to have you do an update to this video. So much has happened with lens releases over the last couple of years and I am interested in your latest favourites!
I saw immediately that a change had taken place, :-) for she now had such a wonderful Monalisa expression, and then I got the explanation from you, and then I can only congratulate you both. :-) :-) :-) And, by the way, a pretty good and useful summary of your reviews.
Really interesting list. I highly appreciate you are sharing your experiences with us in a neutral and thoughtful way. I have not found a lens for my wishes yet, but maybe there is coming one out in the future. Until then, I use my Sony SEL35F18 on my Sony A6000 with another Nikon50mmF1.8 (manual, from 1996) adopted. Have a nice sunday!
Totally amazing you killed it you put up fantastic content an invaluable information to all us thank you for all these years of contributing this good information a big fan of Steve Costello
My dad has a 70-200mm f2.8 L and damn, it's so good that at times I doubt photography is a skill. Obviously I'm not 100% serious but that lens just seems to make every single picture gorgeous, it's magic. I have a 100D and it really proves that the lens is so much more important than the body.
My favorite lens that I have ever owned would have to be the Voigtländer 40mm f1.2 for sony E. It's hard to find a situation when I don't want to use it or at least have it close. Amazing build quality, optics, low light capability and is only made better by the ibis in the a7iii + the manual focus features that make it even more of a pleasure to use. De-clickable aperture ring for video, metal construction and lens hood, what more can you ask for?
I really loved my Sigma 16mm f/1.4 when I owned it. I took not only some great astro shots with it, but it was also great for walk-around, shots of kids running around, indoor close-quarters gatherings, etc. Thing was so sharp, you didn't have to worry about it being "too wide". Just take the picture anyway, and you can crop the hell out of it. You'll run out of pixels before it gets soft. I sold it back when I was planning on getting rid of my Sony, but I ended up keeping the Sony so I could have a small camera that also adapted easily to vintage glass. Might have to buy it again...
Lovely video's as always. But before some people think that expensive, super sharp lenses are the key to good photography they need to know that its all about location and composition. You need to have a vision :) Some of the best photo's I know are shot with lenses that are not crossing the €1000 line.
Some of my lenses barely cross the 100 GBP line. I just don’t have that sort of money. In fact my complete M4/3 equipment only just crosses the 1000 GBP line. So what about doing the same sort of film about the lenses that most of us can afford.
Good day, I have been a Fuji / Lumix shooter for some years. After few years experimenting and looking for my favorite lenses combo, here are my gems along the years : Fuji : 16mm f1,4 and 23mm f2. I got the fuji 16mm f1,4 only recently because I thought I could not justify the price tag. My only regret is that I waited so long to acquire it ! haha the 23mm f2 is my favorite every day/do everything lens for quite some years now :) Lumix : 42,5mm f1,2 and 10-25mm f1,7. the 42,5mm f1,2 (my first pro level lens ever) made me want to shoot every day and helped me realise you can use a "portrait lens" for many other applications if you are patient enough to work for your composition. The 10-25mm f1,7 is an ultimate lens in my opinion. Amazing for indoor video and event photo. It is big, pricy for a Micro 4/3 lens but it is not as heavy as you would think and the results are fantastic ! What are your favorite lenses, guys ???
Also surprised you didn't include the Canon RF 28-70mm F2L. It's freakin' bananas! That one replaces a whole bag of primes and is better image quality than many of them.
I began with Canon EOS 600D, and after few years I changed to EOS 70D for faster AF only to find myself no longer want to carry all those lenses and camera anymore. Eventually, I bought a FUJIFILM X-Pro1, which looks nice and lightweight, but has barely usable AF(compare to my other cameras), ironically made me love photography again and became my favorite camera.
I'm still in love with my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 I look for almost any excuse to use! I've even used it inside history and art museums, as well as nature.
My Tamron 70-200 f 2.8 Do VC USD G2 is a superb piece of kit which when I pick up I simply can not out down. It produces stunning images and quite frankly I'm surprised it didn't make this list.
My most favourite lenses during this year is 55mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 from Sony , it made me fall in love with photography once again , i do really enjoy shooting with these lenses . and like you said , i never had doubts about the sharpness or inaccuracy in focus at all.. 😘
The only lens i've had a hard time putting down was, ironically, one of the heaviest. The Fujinon 80mm f2.8 Macro and its brother the 100-400 from the same manufacturer. Both are stellar lenses with outstanding autofocus and buildquality. I even went so far as to buy a Fuji Xh-1 to be able to handle both lenses in a comfortable way!
Yes I did and still do. I'm not an indoor photographer, a difficult skill to master in my eyes. So, unable to name any lens appropriate for that genre of photography. I am an enthusiast nature and wildlife photographer. The one lens I fell in love with and do not find any comparison to is Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM. I bought it 2.5 years ago and never found any telephoto lens that can challenge this amazing glass. I use it regularly with 1.4x and 2x extenders as well without any noticeable quality drop. My bodies are 5DII, 1DIV and 7D. It shines on all of those. I wish to retain it so long as I enjoy and practice the hobby of wildlife photography. Would like to add a good Canon MILC body to my arsenal a couple of years later. I'm sure this lens will shine on that body too via a native adaptor. Thank you for the video, thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Tokina 100mm macro. Though only manual focusing on my camera, it does have autofocus on camera bodies with a screwdrivemotor. Incredible sharpness and contrast, doubles a amazing portrait lens, and the kicker: it’s only $400 !
Actually my favorite lenses have been vintage ones, some of which I got for just a couple dollars. A yashica 50mm that I got when I bought a camera from a thrift shop and it came with it. Pentax 135mm, it's the first lens I fell in love with. I am loving my canon 70-300mm nano (got it because of your review). I know that isn't vintage, but still. Sorry I don't remember the apertures off hand!
Thank you for your thoughts. And congrats to all lenses made your list. They all deserve the list imo. I have been shooting Fujifilm and been pretty happy with their lens offering from 16 f1.4 to 90 f2 but envying only one piece of glass from other line up which is 35mm f1.8 macro from Canon. I wish 23 f2 has that kind of close up capability. Oh I regret so much of selling my 18-55 after purchase of 16-55 f2.8. I think I have to buy that lens again even I have 16-55 f2.8.
We all know you fell for your wife the most, Chris. She's in this whole video
My favourite comment of 2019 right there :-)
She's the Lens he sees the Future with. (just my holiday dose of sappiness.)
My current favorite lense is the Sigma 35 f1.2 Art. Just got it for shooting artwork. And anything else I can.
@@christopherfrost Holy cow! What an honour for me! Thank you, Chris! xD
@@randolphcroft4212 That lens is a beast, I heard. Sigma's Art seris is just so top-tier.
I don't have any big lens to show since I'm an hobbyist. But I'm pretty proud to own a Tokina AT-X 10-20mm f/2.8. It really broadens my photography world.
This backpack is on Cyber monday deal now, Very well made and durable,stylish,fashionable,www.amazon.com/dp/B07STN5CYH
Sir, your documentaryproof voice and your tecnical non-thedious reviews just got me. Very well done!
A lot of photography reviews of kit on UA-cam I am not blown away by the quality of the photos they present as examples, but your photos are always just simply beautiful and do blow me away!
Christopher, you are a truly wholesome guy and a blessing to the UA-cam and photography community, as well as our society as a whole. Your content has always been top notch, to the point and overall enjoyable. Keep up the good work!
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Wow! 277 reviews of camera lenses from various brands you are the most consistent and simply unbeatable! Keep it up Chris!
You are the best reviewer which I ever saw on youtube. I'm very happy that I found your channel 4 years ago. Thank you for the great job.
A very appropriate ending to the video, a very heart felt thank you for that.
My lenses that I seem to love to use the most:
Voigtlander 10mm E-mount
Fuji XF 8-16
Fuji XF 14 (for infrared)
Lensbaby 56 Velvet (which also happens to be one of the few close-up/macro lenses that can be used for infrared)
Voigtlander Nokton 58 SL II (F-mount so I get to enjoy using it on my Fuji and Sony cameras)
Fuji XF 80 macro
Fuji XF 90
Christopher, never commented to you before, but wanted to let you know I've watched your lens reviews hundreds of times and you are my go-to lens reviewer, par excellance. Thank you so much for all you do. I appreciate your standard regimen, that allows comparisons between lenses and across time. I too am fascinated with lenses, but I think you exceed me in that regard! With appreciation, Bill Hahn Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Thank you Chris! What a great milestone reviewing 277 lenses! You have always sent a subtle but solid message in your reviews. Let those that have ears hear and let those that have eyes see.
Great Summary of good lenses. You not only provide good reviews but also know how to tell an excellent story. I have been watching your reviews for the last few years. Before I buy a lens I search your videos for a review.
I always watch your videos twice, usually the first time at night when I find your voice so calm and soothing it sends me off to sleep. I then watch them again for the content. Keep up the good work, thank you.
it took me 10 months to get around to watching this video. I really appreciate your videos, my wife even says I don't mind when you watch his videos his voice is so relaxing :). Even ended up buying both the 85mm RF samyang and sigma 150-600 c based on your review.
The Canon 35mm f1.4 L II is the single lense that makes me melt every time I see a picture captured with it.
You are my go to guy for dependable lens critiques. Thanks for your precise videos. I like seeing your very lovely wife in the videos too! God bless you you both!
Christopher Frost is the best lens reviewer on the planet. I wish he would make generalizations like this every three months. If I am going to buy a lens, I look to Christopher Frost and Ken Rockwell. Then you get an honest, fair, correct review. It is of inestimable value. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for all your work. I follow you for about 5 years. You are my guide on the lenses market. Thank you and God Bless :)
Lovely photos Chris, it's easy to tell how these lenses made your favorites list.
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R is my dream lens. Used it for about 4 years and it still makes me smile,
The one lens I love the most and probably never sell is an old beat up Super-Takumar 105/2.8 from late 60s. It has just the loveliest rendering i've ever seen - creamy buttery bokeh with plenty of sharpness while not being too long to completely detach me from my subject. Combined with my Pentax Spotmatic it's my favorite setup for portraits.
Hi Christopher. Thanks for this and all of your reviews. I am shocked that the Sigma 40mm F1.4 Art is not included here. In your review of it, you seemed a little more than blown away by it... Merry Christmas guy and please keep up the good work in the new year!
I've lived in Cardiff most of my life and had a static caravan down Aberporth. I'd be amazed if I hadn't bumped into you. Great vids. I love the Samsung 50mm and 12mm on my Fujifilm xt10.
A while ago I bought the Canon 50mm 1.4 and little bit later I got the 10-18mm. Both of the times I went to your UA-cam to watch your test.
You are a person I trust ☺️
Here's an unusual one: the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. It came as a kit lens for the OG EOS M, and it was ridiculously sharp, fast f2 aperture, super compact pancake lens. It was the lens (and camera) where I started my photography journey, and the relatively unusual fixed focal length helped me to understand the value of simply using your feet as the best zoom "lens."
I still think it looks like a beady little whale eye, but the charm comes from its characterful output and its tininess.
First of all congratulations to you and your stunning wife. Another wonderful video. My current combination is an EM5 ii with a Minolta Rokkor 58mm 1.4. The combination has really prodded my creativity and enjoyment of photography.
I'm so happy you enjoyed the Sigma 105mm f1.4 Art...It's my go to lens for model photography and it's just simply magic in so many situations. I shot a model at a simple bus stop no less, and yet it made the images truly special. The buses in the background became these lovely abstractions and mixes of color and shapes. Other reviewers have said it's as close to a Nikon 200mm f2 as one could get and at a fraction of the price. I'll have to check out your review of it because surprisingly it doesn't appear on DXO Mark, which I fail to see why since it's performance is amazing. I hope you'll be able to get one someday, whether by selling other lenses or by some good fortune because it truly is special.
Dear Chris,
I own 2 of your favorite lenses: The Samyang XP 85mm 1.2 (I use it with an adapter), and the Samyang 18mm 2.8. I think I would have added the Sony 90 2.8 macro lens to your list.
Finally may I suggest a lens for your review: Samyang XP 35mm 1.2. Thank you for all your outstanding work and ... Merry Christmas.
Thank you for the video, Chris. I have been following all your videos every since I found you last year. After watching your review of the Sigma 14-24 DG DN and now this video, this lens will be my birthday gift next week. Keep up the great work! 😃
Bought the Sigma 18-35 a year ago after watching your review. Totally worth it.
the lens I really Fell in Love with ist the Sigma 17-50 2.8. I payed around 300€ for it and it serves me great for some years now. A real bang for your buck! The other one I would recommend if you are working with Canon is the 55-250 IS STM. It is a real joy to work with both those lenses and they are real budget friendly and good for getting into fotography.
I bought a Canon RP so that I could buy the 35 f1.8 IS macro (I’m a Sony shooter).
Coupled with the RP it’s such a versatile and lightweight do-everything combination - especially for travel. Really fun to use!
Im planning to do the same...
Wow...what a list.. i must say.. ur review on laowa 9mm for apsc blew me away.. and i got it.. but now looking to upgrade to a a7iii.. the sigma 14-24 just seems a must. Will be the most expensive lens i ever have purchased. Keep up the great work! God bless
My favourite lense is for sure the Canon EF 100mm 2.8 macro, that thing is amazing. And I also love, as everyone else does, the nifty fifty. Thanks for the great vid.
Since I bought a Canon AE-1 in 1980 , I have owned in excess of 200 lenses and the one I most fell in love with was the Canon FD 24-35mm f3.5L , just the right size and incredibly sharp and contrasty , knocked the spots off of the Canon FD 24mm f2 , 24mm f2.8 and even the 24mm f1.4L ( Impressive for hand held night shots at f1.4 though ) , yes , give me my 24-35 and another fav , the Canon FD 85mm f1.8 ( preferred this to the 1.2L version by the way ) and I would have a very happy days shooting .
Nothing more beautiful than a pregnant wife who loves and is loved in return except maybe a little baby joining in! ❤️ All my best wishes to the three of you!
I'm really surprised you are not a pro photographer Chris. Absolutely superb work and you even have the perfect built in model (though I'm sure she is far more than that to you!) :-)
I love seeing all my local spots in your videos, thanks for your hard work Chris.
I think we need another list with affordable lenses 😉
Here's my list of affordable lenses that I enjoy:
Canon 100mm f/2 USM
Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM II
Samyang 45mm f/1.8
Sigma 16/30/56mm f/1.4 (I've only tested them without owning these three)
Sony 35mm f/1.8 (I've only tested this without owning it)
Sony 55mm f/1.8
Sony 85mm f/1.8 (I've only tested this without owning it)
Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 (I've only tested this without owning it)
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 VC (if you don't mind its short focal length)
If it's any consolation, most of these lenses are unaffordable to me, too ;-)
@@christopherfrost let's make a list of 1. Affordable primes 2. Affordable zooms 3. Unaffordable primes and zooms.
First thing you need to do is define "affordable". I should note I got my Sigma 18-35mm for $400. That seemed "affordable for such a great/useful lens.
@@laurencebernstein1233 £500? £1000?
Loved this, some of your recommendations are now on my list to buy. To answer your question at the end, one lens that I absolutely fell in love with is the Mitakon EF-M 35mm f/0.95. Obviously I bought it for the aperture but after taking thousands of photos with it I just love the overall feel and quality of the image. It's not perfect but it's what's usually on my Canon Mirrorless.
hi thank you so much for the reviews .i like your honesty . you helped me a lot picking lenses
The samyang 12mm f2 is a wonderful lens at a great price. I use it on the Fuji for a wide range of photography. Astro, landscapes, indoor. It has very good close focus too. It’s sharp, versatile, and affordable.
I agree with the comments about your wife Chris and it's always great to see her in your reviews. Back on topic, you continue to produce the best lens reviews on UA-cam. For me the format is logical, unbiased and backed up by real world examples of god's greatest country! Long may you continue...
Fujifilm XF-90mm F2 is my current favorite! It's one of the sharpest, fastest, and most colorful lenses I've seen that isn't a cinema lens or a pro zoom! And i'm really keen on trying out the XF16mm F1.4!
Over the years I've purchased several new or used lenses and before making the purchase I always watch your reviews and after I get the lens I watch your review again to make sure my recent acquisition gets the same results as the lens you've tested. Keep bringing us reviews, I'm thinking about getting a mirrorless Z camera sometime this year and I'm hoping you'll review Nikon's Z lenses.
When I first started out in photography, my favorite lens was a little Tokina 35mm F2.8 macro. It could do everything I ever wanted.....and helped me to learn more about photography. These days, I there is one lens I love above all my others: Canon 50mm TS-E L Tilt Shift Lens. A bit heavy, a bit slow, manual focus....but I just love it.
"Photography isn't the most important thing in life"
AMEN
2nd most important? 😃
@@sexysilversurfer nah, eating, sleeping, spending time with family, friends. Photography is not even in the top 10 I guess 😁
Whut
That last sentence saved me $1400
What do you mean?
Samyang XP 85mm 1.2 Canon Mount combined with the Techart-Pro Autofocus Adapter for Sony Mirrorless cameras is a beautiful combo. You can pre-focus a little and then let the AF adapted nail it in.
Don't know if its the format or the calm voice, but this is easily one of the best photography orientated channels out there. :)
I'm starting to make the move to mirrorless by swapping my 6D with an EOS R, I like that I can fit FD lenses on it, but do you have a video in the works that tackles third party full manual lenses for RF mount? Info on it is a bit all over the place at the moment from other channels.
You mean, lenses that can be adapted on? I've done a couple of FD lenses but I need to prioritise all the newer lenses that are coming out
@@christopherfrost I mean as in native RF manual focus lenses - I'm aware there are some out there. No worries though! :)
Nice Collection!
I have the fuji 18-55mm and sigma 18-35mm, and they are really good!
( I never thought I could love an 18-55 lens)
Agree, the little RF 35 1.8 Macro is utterly brilliant (small, macro, control ring, IS) it's quite good value to be honest. Thanks for giving it a red ring
Watched almost all your videos, after 6 months I discovered your channel, I decided to go for the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 alongside my already bought Canon 80D, marvellous lens
I fell in love with photography after I saw your review of the Rokinin 35mm manual lens. Since then my life has changed :-) Though it is not showing in your most favorite list (and its not the sharpest lense). But it works the best for me!
A great comparative view & selection.....thanks a lot, Christopher
For me the fuji 18-55 was and still is a big surprise. Wonderful lens!
Like this video especially the last seconds. The Truth! 🙏
Canon 135mm f2.0 L is my favorite by far. Rather unique focal range but it always surprised me with great images and loved the build quality and handling. Would love to try the Sigma 105mm f1,4 sometime.
Been watching you for a bit now Chris. I am so thankful for your clear and realistic reviews. The detail and usability facts are very useful to me. I also love that you do reviews for ordinary people who cannot afford some of the stuff out there. Most of all I appreciate your love for Jesus, your family and photography.
Perfect review, short and crisp! I owned a Sigma 18 - 35 f/1.8 which I had in my Canon 700D for year. Though it is quite heavy, it is build like a tank and the image Quality is indeed perfect! If you've ever wanted a lense that can all you need from an 18-35mm lense, the this is the Ultimate lense to pick!!!
I liked the video, I haven't used the ones you described, but the one I've used that made me fall in love with photography again was the voigtlander 58mm f1.4. There's something about how it renders the image which I cant really explain.Images are simply beautiful.
Thanks for making a video of a reasonable length rather than the 35mins some people drone on for.
Urgh, I hate those long videos - I don't even bother with them. TL;DR etc.
My favorite lens that made me want to photograph and video forever was the Asahi Pentax 50mm f/1.4 M42 mount lens. I adapted it on a Canon 5D Mark II with Magic Lantern installed and enjoyed every minute of using that lens. It was not the sharpest wide open, and it had the limitation of manual focus, but it was such a joy to use with focus peaking.
Fun fact, some versions of that lens have throrium glass and are actually radioactive; that's why the glass turns yellow or orange over time. You need not to worry about it as the radioactivity is way too weak to do any harm unless you decide to eat your lens.
The yongnuo 50mm f1.8, its an astonoshing lens for reverse macro, and its bokeh is amzing, the nifty fifty by yognuo is my absolute favorite lens ive owned.
That's just amazing 210........WOW
Thanks for all you have done and all you're about to do
Best regards, Rick
On your review from a previous video, I recently acquired the Sigma 14-24mm 2.8 Art lens for Sony E mount. I’m new to wide angle shooting and enjoying the my new experience with a lens that delivers without concern for settings. Thanks for the review.
I used that canon 35mm for some wedding photography two weeks ago. It is on my list to add to my bag! I think I would be a great addition for both photos and video!
Your wife is stunning Chris, very photogenic 👍🏻
Loving the dog photo on the beach, nice reviews also. My personal favs lens of all time would be Nikon 17~55 2.8 IFED G, Canons 24mm pancake stm, 18~55 2.8 R LM FujiFilm on an XT1/XT2 best married combo ever, and Takumar f4 or Tokunon 3.2 135mm vintage manual lense for bokeh and artistic works.
My favourite lens has got to be the H. Zuiko 24mm F2.8. Smallest 24mm of its time, it renders colours like Leica lenses (at 1/10 of the cost) and using it on aps-c and m43 I've produced some of my best shots on the streets or in nature. Even the out of focus shots look great!
Hi Chris, thanks again! The Canon EF 2.0/35mm USM IS and the Canon EF 2,0/100mm USM are two very affordable options on my Canon RP with the control ring adapter. I use them for travel and when taking pictures of my five year old daughter in Austria. Best wishes, Ralf
My favorite lenses of all time: Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2x Macro, Canon 135mm f/2, Samyang 135mm f/2, Samyang 35mm f/1.4.
Good list just before the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas Season!!!
Great list!My favorite lenses are Canon 35 1.4 II and Canon 85 1.4 IS.I own and love Sigma 14-24 2.8 as well but mine is EF version and is much more heavy and bulky than FE and I tend to leave it home more often.
Great round-up. Thank you. I have used most of your selection at some stage for the very reasons they made your list. We are blessed with some great manufacturers in current times.
You do really great review videos and you take some lovely photos.
Chris, it would be great to have you do an update to this video. So much has happened with lens releases over the last couple of years and I am interested in your latest favourites!
I saw immediately that a change had taken place, :-) for she now had such a wonderful Monalisa expression, and then I got the explanation from you, and then I can only congratulate you both. :-) :-) :-) And, by the way, a pretty good and useful summary of your reviews.
Awesome Sir,.... this video is really a Christmas gift for all of us. Thank You for all the efforts
Thanks for your brilliant work here on UA-cam!
Really interesting list. I highly appreciate you are sharing your experiences with us in a neutral and thoughtful way.
I have not found a lens for my wishes yet, but maybe there is coming one out in the future. Until then, I use my Sony SEL35F18 on my Sony A6000 with another Nikon50mmF1.8 (manual, from 1996) adopted. Have a nice sunday!
Totally amazing you killed it you put up fantastic content an invaluable information to all us thank you for all these years of contributing this good information a big fan of Steve Costello
I knew the Fuji 18-55 would make this list :) One of my favorite lenses, too. Another one for me would be the Canon 85mm f1.8
My dad has a 70-200mm f2.8 L and damn, it's so good that at times I doubt photography is a skill. Obviously I'm not 100% serious but that lens just seems to make every single picture gorgeous, it's magic. I have a 100D and it really proves that the lens is so much more important than the body.
My favorite lens that I have ever owned would have to be the Voigtländer 40mm f1.2 for sony E. It's hard to find a situation when I don't want to use it or at least have it close. Amazing build quality, optics, low light capability and is only made better by the ibis in the a7iii + the manual focus features that make it even more of a pleasure to use. De-clickable aperture ring for video, metal construction and lens hood, what more can you ask for?
I really loved my Sigma 16mm f/1.4 when I owned it. I took not only some great astro shots with it, but it was also great for walk-around, shots of kids running around, indoor close-quarters gatherings, etc. Thing was so sharp, you didn't have to worry about it being "too wide". Just take the picture anyway, and you can crop the hell out of it. You'll run out of pixels before it gets soft. I sold it back when I was planning on getting rid of my Sony, but I ended up keeping the Sony so I could have a small camera that also adapted easily to vintage glass. Might have to buy it again...
Lovely video's as always. But before some people think that expensive, super sharp lenses are the key to good photography they need to know that its all about location and composition. You need to have a vision :) Some of the best photo's I know are shot with lenses that are not crossing the €1000 line.
Some of my lenses barely cross the 100 GBP line. I just don’t have that sort of money. In fact my complete M4/3 equipment only just crosses the 1000 GBP line. So what about doing the same sort of film about the lenses that most of us can afford.
I’m a nikon user but I used to have a sony with the sigma art 18-35mm. I can vouch for Chris. That lens was really nice 👍
Good day,
I have been a Fuji / Lumix shooter for some years. After few years experimenting and looking for my favorite lenses combo, here are my gems along the years :
Fuji : 16mm f1,4 and 23mm f2.
I got the fuji 16mm f1,4 only recently because I thought I could not justify the price tag. My only regret is that I waited so long to acquire it ! haha the 23mm f2 is my favorite every day/do everything lens for quite some years now :)
Lumix : 42,5mm f1,2 and 10-25mm f1,7.
the 42,5mm f1,2 (my first pro level lens ever) made me want to shoot every day and helped me realise you can use a "portrait lens" for many other applications if you are patient enough to work for your composition. The 10-25mm f1,7 is an ultimate lens in my opinion. Amazing for indoor video and event photo. It is big, pricy for a Micro 4/3 lens but it is not as heavy as you would think and the results are fantastic !
What are your favorite lenses, guys ???
Also surprised you didn't include the Canon RF 28-70mm F2L. It's freakin' bananas! That one replaces a whole bag of primes and is better image quality than many of them.
It is incredible but the aches and pains involved in carrying that beast around with me all day made me think again hehe
I began with Canon EOS 600D, and after few years I changed to EOS 70D for faster AF only to find myself no longer want to carry all those lenses and camera anymore. Eventually, I bought a FUJIFILM X-Pro1, which looks nice and lightweight, but has barely usable AF(compare to my other cameras), ironically made me love photography again and became my favorite camera.
I'm still in love with my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 I look for almost any excuse to use! I've even used it inside history and art museums, as well as nature.
My Tamron 70-200 f 2.8 Do VC USD G2 is a superb piece of kit which when I pick up I simply can not out down. It produces stunning images and quite frankly I'm surprised it didn't make this list.
My most favourite lenses during this year is 55mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 from Sony , it made me fall in love with photography once again , i do really enjoy shooting with these lenses . and like you said , i never had doubts about the sharpness or inaccuracy in focus at all.. 😘
The only lens i've had a hard time putting down was, ironically, one of the heaviest. The Fujinon 80mm f2.8 Macro and its brother the 100-400 from the same manufacturer. Both are stellar lenses with outstanding autofocus and buildquality. I even went so far as to buy a Fuji Xh-1 to be able to handle both lenses in a comfortable way!
Yes I did and still do. I'm not an indoor photographer, a difficult skill to master in my eyes. So, unable to name any lens appropriate for that genre of photography.
I am an enthusiast nature and wildlife photographer. The one lens I fell in love with and do not find any comparison to is Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM. I bought it 2.5 years ago and never found any telephoto lens that can challenge this amazing glass. I use it regularly with 1.4x and 2x extenders as well without any noticeable quality drop. My bodies are 5DII, 1DIV and 7D. It shines on all of those. I wish to retain it so long as I enjoy and practice the hobby of wildlife photography. Would like to add a good Canon MILC body to my arsenal a couple of years later. I'm sure this lens will shine on that body too via a native adaptor.
Thank you for the video, thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Tokina 100mm macro. Though only manual focusing on my camera, it does have autofocus on camera bodies with a screwdrivemotor. Incredible sharpness and contrast, doubles a amazing portrait lens, and the kicker: it’s only $400 !
If you updated this list, would the Tamron 17-70 F2.8 be on it now? ;)
Actually my favorite lenses have been vintage ones, some of which I got for just a couple dollars. A yashica 50mm that I got when I bought a camera from a thrift shop and it came with it. Pentax 135mm, it's the first lens I fell in love with. I am loving my canon 70-300mm nano (got it because of your review). I know that isn't vintage, but still. Sorry I don't remember the apertures off hand!
I love the Canon 100mm L Macro lens, it’s incredibly sharp and breath taking when doing portraits 😍
You are right! I've used this lens too! It's awesome such a great gocal length.
I have 2 from this list, both of Canon RF lenses ❤️
@Quincy Wesley no, no one cares
That 35mm is a joy for me, but the L models are, appart from the 24-105 f4, out of price for me.
Excellent video. Added 3 to cart. May take me over a yr to get them ;).
Thank you for your thoughts. And congrats to all lenses made your list. They all deserve the list imo. I have been shooting Fujifilm and been pretty happy with their lens offering from 16 f1.4 to 90 f2 but envying only one piece of glass from other line up which is 35mm f1.8 macro from Canon. I wish 23 f2 has that kind of close up capability. Oh I regret so much of selling my 18-55 after purchase of 16-55 f2.8. I think I have to buy that lens again even I have 16-55 f2.8.
Still on the lookout for one of the Sigma 18-35mm. Only copies that come up locally are damaged somehow.