Looking for Mojo -- What are your favorite lenses and why?
Background: A few shooting buddies and I were discussing our preferred lenses and realized that our tastes have migrated from always wanting to use lenses that deliver ultra-crisp resolution to finding some that render the image in a bit more singular fashion. The problem is how to describe a specific lens' signature look -- or its "Mojo" -- without seeing it first-hand.
What I mean by Mojo is some distinct look that belongs to a lens or series of lenses -- in other words, a lens that can deliver a sharp image but also maintains a unique look or signature. Maybe it has great Bokeh or smoother color or delivers better shadow detail than others in its class. One example would be the Cooke 945 "portrait" or soft-focus lens. It is definitely soft-focus wide open, but becomes quite sharp stopped down -- and yet maintains a smoothness throughout that range that is unique. Obviously there are other lenses with their own unique qualities out there too, so hopefully you get the idea.
By contrast, Kerry Thalmann has his excellent list of "classics" and most of these lenses will deliver stunningly detailed images but don't necessarily have any unique character trait. A prime example of one of these ultra-crisp lenses is my Rodenstock 150 APO Sironar S -- it delivers images so sharp you feel like your eyeballs are getting cuts on them when you view a transparency made with it, yet IMO it lacks any specific character trait other than that extreme resolution. Not that ultra-sharp and accurate color is a bad thing, just that it isn't necessarily distinctive...
So whether it is old, new, classic or not, if you have a favorite lens or lenses you feel are distinctive, can you please share what they are and include a brief description of what each unique look is? Also, please be sure to state whether you primarily use it with color, B&W or both.
Thanks in advance!
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