Golden Prime Set: F-mount

The LenScore™ Golden Prime Set is a set of 14 lenses covering all aspects of photography selected purely based on optical performance. Price is not a factor. Only lenses currently in production and readily available brand-new at regular photography stores are considered. Last updated: June 20th, 2016

Ultra Tele

600 - 800 mm

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4.0E FL ED VR

The best 600mm f/4.0 prime currently available.

Alternative:
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Super Tele

400 - 500 mm

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

The #1 super tele prime and the best Nikkor lens in the database.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Long Tele

200 - 300 mm

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2.0G ED VR II

Great for indoor sports and concert photography, but also an extraordinary portrait lens.

Alternative:
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tele

135 - 180 mm

Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2.0/135

Easily the best 135mm full frame lens to date, independent of lens mount. Great for portraits, live music and street photography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Tele

85 - 105 mm

Zeiss Apo Planar T* 1.4/85 Otus

 The best lens in the database. 

Alternative:
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

45 - 55 mm

Zeiss Apo Distagon T* 1.4/55 Otus

One of the best lenses in the database. Great for product photography and landscapes, but thanks to superb bokeh also a very good choice for portraits.

Alternative:
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM

 

 

 

 

 

 
Wide

26 - 35 mm

Zeiss Apo Distagon T* 1.4/28 Otus

The best full frame wide lens currently available.

Alternative:
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Super Wide

18 - 25 mm

Zeiss Distagon T* 2.0/25

The best full frame super wide lens currently available.

Alternative:
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM

 

 

 

 

 

 
Ultra Wide

14 - 17 mm

Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/15

The best full frame ultra wide lens currently available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Fisheye

< 14 mm, curvilinear

TBD

     
Macro

50 - 200 mm, 1:1

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro

Neither new nor flawless, but still overall the best choice for Nikon macro photography.

Alternative:
Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2.0/100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Tele Tilt/Shift

85 - 105 mm, tilt/shift

Schneider PC-TS Makro-Symmar 4.5/90 HM

Superb optical performance in an extraordinarily well-made body. Great for product photography.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Normal Tilt/Shift

45 - 55 mm, tilt/shift

Schneider PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.8/50

Like its longer focal length sister, this lens combines great optical performance with super high quality mechanical engineering. Great for architecture, product photography and landscapes.

 

 

 

 

  

Wide Tilt/Shift

17 - 28 mm, tilt/shift

Nikon Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED PC-E

Tried and tested wide angle tilt/shift lens with solid optical performance for architecture and landscape photography.