The TIPA Awards 2020, again, made some interesting choices when it comes to the best lenses of the last year.
Following on from our roundup, which focused on the TIPA Awards 2020 for best cameras, we bring you the best lenses according to TIPA as well. TIPA, the Technical Image Press Association rounded up their members and banged their heads together to come up with the list of best lenses which covers everything from the best DSLR lenses for pros to best the best portrait lens for Mirrorless shooters. There are some great choices and some eyebrow-raising ones too. Check out all of the winners of the TIPA Awards 2020, and decide if you need to add these lenses to your collection.
As you scroll through the list below, you’ll see that the TIPA World Awards 2020 has been broken up into various categories, such as the best prime lens for DSLR cameras, and best standard prime for Mirrorless cameras. The choices are all pretty solid, though there are a couple that made us roll our eyes, but overall the choices made by their panel of experts are decent. Grab a chair and take a look at the award winners in the category of best cameras.
Best DSLR Prime Lens – The Tamron 35mm f1.4 Di USD
The Tamron 35mm f1.4 Di USD is a worthy winner of the TIPA award for the best DSLR prime lens. In our review, we said anyone who uses this lens would fall in love with the colors and quality of the bokeh. Not only that, but this lens is also super sharp. We just wish there was a Mirrorless version too. A well-deserved win!
Buy now Canon EF: $699
Buy now Nikon F: $699
Best DSLR Macro Lens – The Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
Venus Optics has been producing some solid lenses over the last few years, and they just continue to get better and better. Their 100mm f2.8 2x Ultra Macro is just another example of that. At just $449, its a bargain-priced lens that will do well for those just breaking into macro photography. Another lens that didn’t get the nod but is equally as impressive is the IRIX 150mm f2.8 Dragonfly. Both of these lenses are worthy of such an award.
Buy now Canon EF: $449
Buy now Nikon F: $449
The Best Wide Angle DSLR Zoom Lens – The Tokina ATX-I 11-16mm F2.8 CF
The lenses that have received the nod from the TIPA Awards 2020 have so far been very affordable, and that is always great to see. The Tokina ATX-I 11-16mm f2.8 CF is another example of that. Tokina is known for making solid wide-angle lenses, and for those of you who have stuck with your DSLR cameras, make a note of this one. It’s a bargain-priced gem.
Buy now Canon EF: $449
Buy now Nikon F: $449
Best Professional DSLR Lens – The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR
And just like that, we go from ultra-affordable lenses into ultra-expensive lenses. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f2.8 is a lens that was designed to be used by professional sports photographers at an event like the Olympics. This lens hit the market in time for the games due to be held in Japan, but with them being canceled, sports photogs will have to wait to see what this beast can do. With so few lenses being released in this category for DSLR cameras, this lens was a shoo-in from the get-go. If you want one, you had better start looking for the pennies in your couch.
Buy now Nikon F: $9496.95
Best M4/3 Lens – The Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH
There hasn’t been a whole lot of movement on the Micro Four Thirds lens front over the last year, so this award was always going to come down to this beast from Panasonic or the Olympus 12-45mm F4 Pro. The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f1.7 is a lens that has been designed with the videographer in mind. The lenses fast aperture, clickless aperture ring, and versatile focal range will make it a must-have for filmmakers who shoot with M4/3 cameras. This is a huge lens, though, and it comes with an equally huge price tag, but it is well worthy of the award.
Buy now: $1,797.99
Best Mirrorless Prime Standard Lens – The Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
*Rolls Eyes* At just under $8,000, the 0.95 Noct is out of reach for 99% of photographers out there, but there is no denying that this humongous lens is quite special. Very few photographers out there will get their hands on one, but those who do will be able to create images with the smoothest bokeh imaginable. Is it worthy of the best Mirrorless standard prime? I think its a stretch, no doubt its a technically impressive lens, but the best standard prime? I’m not sold. What do you think?
Buy now Nikon Z: $7,996.95
Best Mirrorless Wide Angle Lens – The Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF
Samyang is perhaps best known for its fantastic manual focus primes, but did you know that they have been producing incredible autofocus lenses for most platforms for a while now? We have reviewed the Canon EF mount version of this lens and several Sony E mount variants as well, and we have been very impressed with their performance. It is no shock to us to see this new RF mount version of their ever-popular 14mm f2.8 lens get the nod from the TIPA awards 2020.
Buy now: $699
Best Mirrorless Wide Angle Zoom Lens – The Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art
Sigma has been knocking it out of the park when it comes to Mirrorless lenses, so it is no shocker to see the 14-24 f2.8 DG DN Art grab an award. We lauded this lens during our review for its fast focusing capabilities, its sharp optics, the beautiful colors that it renders, and its great weather sealing. Cityscape, landscape, event, and travel photographers will appreciate this lens to no end.
Buy now L Mount: $1,399
Buy now Sony E: $1,399
Best Mirrorless Standard Zoom Lens – The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art
Again, no surprises here that the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 has scooped up this award. This standard zoom lens features great weather sealing, the great optics we have come to expect from Sigma lenses, it’s a fast focuser, its lightweight, and it’s also incredibly affordable. The whole package is what makes this lens so spectacular. We really had a great time with the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 when we reviewed it. We said you’re getting a whole lot with the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art in terms of build quality, image quality, and overall performance. It’s a certified winner!
Buy now L Mount: $1,099
Buy now Sony E: $1,099
Best Mirrorless Telephoto Zoom Lens – The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
Canon has always set the standard when it comes to 70-200mm f2.8 telephoto zooms, and they are continuing that tradition with their new RF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM. The new lens sports the iconic white shell that has become synonymous with these lenses and, of course if features optics worth of the L series designation. Does it produce great colors? Check! Sharp images? Check? Is the image stabilization great? Check! Is the bokeh nice? It’s gorgeous. Look, if you’re a portrait photographer who owns an RF mount camera, pick one up and never look back. This lens more than deserves the recognition received.
Buy now: $2,699
Best Professional Portrait Lens – The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L US DSM
When the first version of the RF mount 85mm f1.2 was released, we were blown away with the images that we could produce with it, so when we learned about the new DS (Defocus Smoothing) version, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. We have to say that it has not disappointed! In our review, we called it a worthwhile investment for bokeh hungry portrait photographers, and we praised its overall image and build qualities. If you’re a portrait photographer who uses Canon cameras, you’re spoiled for choice, but this one rightly deserves the praise being given.
Buy now: $2,999