About LenScore
 
LenScore™ is a rating system for full frame digital camera lenses. It is based on the optical performance of a lens at 8 different apertures from f/1.4 to f/16 at 5 different focusing distances. Zoom lenses are measured at 3 different focal lengths. The score does not take into account a lens' price, weight, size, build quality, AF speed and image stabilization system. It is purely a rating of optical performance.
The score is calibrated based on the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G measurements, i.e. the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G is the reference with a score of 1000 in each category.

The overall score ( = LenScore™ ) is a weighted average of the following 10 scores:

Resolving Power
Amount of detail a lens is able to project onto the 24x36mm square within the image circle used by full frame cameras. weight = 7

Contrast
Microcontrast performance. weight = 5

Color
Color fastness. weight = 3

Bokeh
Rendering of out-of-focus areas in front of and behind the focal plane. weight = 5
How to rate bokeh?

Star
Rendering of direct light sources at small apertures. 
weight = 1

Distortion
Geometrical distortions.
weight = 5

Falloff
Light falloff from center to the edges (vignetting). weight = 3
How to rate falloff?

Flare
Amount of contrast reduction and ghosting caused by direct light sources within and ouside the field of view.
weight = 5

LaCA
Lateral chromatic aberrations.
weight = 3

LoCA
Longitudinal chromatic aberrations.
weight = 5

Declaration
We have never received any equipment from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Sigma, Zeiss, Leica or any other digital camera lens manufacturer. We only test production lenses purchased and paid for in full from regular camera stores.

Our sister site SenScore™ started out as a small engineering project associated with a PhD, then more people became interested, ideas for testing lenses started to fly and here we are. Both SenScore™ and LenScore™ are strictly non-commercial. We have never received any form of payment from anybody. There is no advertising and no tracking or profiling of any kind on the websites. We are completely independent and can and will say so when a sensor's or lens' performance is disappointing without worrying about hurting affiliate sales, and when we praise a sensor's or lens' performance, then we do it because we are genuinely impressed, not because we will profit from doing so. All of us are passionate about both photography and engineering, and we believe that, for any task, chosing the right tools is important, knowing fully well that photography is so much more than numbers. Good light!