Do lenses affect color fidelity?

Question

It seems to me that my costlier (Tamron 90 f/2.8 macro) lens gives better colors than my cheap Canon 18-55 IS kit lens.

So does lens matter for color quality? What physical processes are involved in that?

Asked by Paolo

Answer

Yes the lens design and construction can and does influence colour reproduction. Different glass formulas and different coatings transmit frequencies of light differently, and lens defects such as flare will likely affect the colour reproduction.

Whilst more vibrant colours are generally seen as "better" it's worth knowing that different manufacturers intentionally produce different renderings, sometimes according to cultural preferences. For example German lenses produced by Leica known for being cooler compared to Japanese designed lenses from Canon and Nikon.

Answered by Matt Grum

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