But How Sharp Is it Really!?
One of the most common questions that I'm asked is,

Is the ... lens sharper than the ... lens?
A variation on this theme is...
 

What do you think of the ... lens? Is it sharp?
Or there's the more generic...
 

Is a zoom lens as sharp as a prime lens?

That's enough! I'm about to answer your questions, (as well as a few that you didn't ask), and from here on, until the end of time, you need ask them no more. And, if anyone asksyouthese questions, you'll now know where to refer them. Right here.

Sandbanks Provincial Park, 2001

Photographed with a Hasselblad ArcBody and 35mm Rodenstock lens on Provia 100F.
What's All This About Sharpness Anyhow?
There are photographers who love to test and compare things. When they make prints or examine their slides under a loupe, they are not looking to see if they have properly captured a special location, light or subject. They are first and foremost concerned with technica...