Here is my list of "good and bad":
- lenses that work correctly, irrespective of performance are
Sony 18-55. Nothing wrong with the kit zoom. Does everything at least as well as can be expected for this sort of lens. Recommended
Sony 16mm f:2.8. I tried two copies, both of them so bad I chose the zoom even though I am a prime shooter. When I found them very soft even in the centre at f:8, I gave up. Though I know there are better copies out there, I am not the only to have be let down. Not recommended.
Sony 18-200. Very good lens for this sort of spec. I could live with this sort of performance, except that the bulk/weight are not my cup of tea for my use of the nEX. If I want something big, I pull my 5D II. But, if you can live with the format, recommended.
Zeiss ZM 35 f:2.8. Remarkable performance, especially for the money/size. Just needs slight PP to brig out all the detail, otherwise SOOC can look just a bit bland. Highly recommended.
Zeiss ZM 50mm f:2.0. Remakable performance. A really excellent lens. Can't be too highly recommended on the NEX
Contax C/Y 25mm f:2.8. Not so large as to dwarf the camera. No colourshift issues despite it being wide, as it is a DSLR lens. Very sharp SOOC. Colours a bit less rich and vibrant than I'd like. Recommended despite the caveats, because it is inexpensive, and there isn't much choice at that FL
Contax 35-70 f:3.4. A bit strange to mount that large zoom on this small cam, but works very well indeed, indeed in close-up (macro) mode. Very good sharpness, colours and contrast. It is now no longer as cheap as it was, but is still very good value. Recommended
- lenses that don't work correctly SOOC, irrespective of performance
Contax G21. A heartbreaker. A prodigious lens, by the looks of what I am getting, but heavy colourshift that I was unable to Cornerfix my way out of. So good that I can't bring myself to selling it despite the fact that I can't use it.
Contax G28. About as wide as can be in "workeable" rangefinder lenses for NEX. Mild colourshift that I can get rid of in Cornerfix. Performance is strong, but not as ttrong as the 21.
ZM 25. Another fabulous lens, but marred y colourshift that I couldn't fix. Cindy, how do you do it?
ZM 18. Another top Zeiss performer. And -you guessed it- colourshift
Leica 24 Elmarit f:3.8. Briliant lens, with fantastic colours. Except where it colourshifts, of course