From Zeiss to Nikon, we want to help you find the perfect lenses for you...
When it comes to eyewear, choosing the right frame is only half the battle. Lenses are the unsung heroes of your glasses, providing clarity, comfort, and style. Imagine your glasses as a car – while the frame is the exterior design, the lenses are the engine that makes everything work. Without high-quality lenses, even the best frames will fall short of delivering an optimal vision experience.
In this follow-up to our guide on the best designer glasses frames, we’re focusing on the lenses because if you've chosen your perfect frames, all you need are the perfect lenses and you've got your perfect glasses! In this post, we’ll dive into the world of spectacle lens brands, exploring what makes each brand unique, along with the pros and cons to help you choose the perfect lenses for your needs.
We will be categorising each lens brand into 4 tiers: 4k (being the best), HD, SD, and VHS (being not so great). So whether you're after cutting-edge technology, budget-friendly options, or something in between, we've got you covered.
Now, let's dive in!
VHS Lens Tier:
Pentax: Affordable Quality with Limited Innovation
Starting at No.9, we have Pentax lenses, now owned by Hoya. They are often seen as an affordable option. While they don’t offer groundbreaking technology, they provide good quality lenses at a reasonable price. If you're after a basic, no-frills lens, Pentax may be right for you.
Pentax is a historic camera lens manufacturer world-famous and one of the most recognisable lens names in the world. However, they lost their way over the years because they were just a licensed brand that was used by some of the much cheaper opticians in the market. Hoya has brought them back just as their cheap, affordable lens line. For the price, they're probably the best on the market. If you're getting a Pentax lens, it should be inexpensive but it will be a good lens. There's nothing innovative in the Pentax range; they don't even make their own lenses, they're made by Hoya. It's considered the cheaper division of Hoya. They are old technology but they are affordable, and if you're looking for a cheap pair of glasses, we would suggest going with Pentax lenses. They're the best affordable lens brand in the world, but they're not going to give you great vision; they're going to give you acceptable vision.
Pros:
Inexpensive compared to other high-end brands.
Good for customers on a budget looking for functional lenses.
Cons:
Lacks innovation and premium features that some other brands offer.
Not as “premium” in terms of feel or quality as brands like Zeiss or Hoya.
You won't receive the best vision, like Zeiss, etc.
If affordability is your top priority, Pentax lenses offer the best value for money. However, for those seeking more advanced features, we recommend exploring other options.
Kodak: Brand Recognition, Limited Innovation
Next on the list we have Kodak. Kodak lenses have fallen from grace since their hayday. Now owned by a variety of companies, Kodak lenses are mostly a way to leverage the famous brand name without offering much in terms of innovation or quality. While Kodak lenses are fine for basic needs, they don’t stand out in the crowded lens market.
Basically, everything that we've said about Pentax applies to Kodak. If you go back approximately 10-20 years, Kodak was one of the best lens manufacturers. Since then, the Kodak name has just been passed around by different companies; it's now just a licensed name. If you're buying Kodak lenses, you are simply paying for the name because they are not made by them.
Pros:
Well-known brand, trusted by many.
Affordable for those on a tight budget.
Cons:
Manufactured by third parties, so quality control is inconsistent.
Lack of innovation compared to other brands on this list.
Kodak lenses may be suitable for those seeking simple, inexpensive eyewear. However, if you care about cutting-edge technology or high-end performance, Kodak likely won’t be the right fit for you.
SD Lens Tier:
Seiko: Strength and Durability
Seiko may be more famous for its watches, but their lenses are highly respected in the eyewear world. They are not as great as the previous two we mentioned as they've been purchased by Hoya, resulting in a severe lack of innovation in their designs. If we go back roughly 5-10 years ago, Seiko was one of the best lens brands out there. They are particularly known for their use of Tribrid material – a hybrid that combines three properties: ultra-clear, ultra-strong, and ultra-lightweight. No other lens material in the world has all 3 properties to the same extent as Tribrid, and Seiko is the only brand on this list other than IoT.
Pros:
Tribrid lenses are strong, lightweight, and clear.
Historically one of the top-tier lens brands.
Good for those who need durable lenses that can withstand everyday use.
Cons:
Since their acquisition by Hoya, they've seen a drop in innovation.
Pricing may not always justify the value compared to other competitors.
Seiko’s lenses are a solid option for those who need durable and functional lenses, but they may not offer the same level of cutting-edge technology that some of the other brands do.
Nikon:
Nikon is probably the most expensive lens brand in the world, but they are going straight into the SD category. The reason for that is similar to Seiko; we have not seen much innovation from them in recent years, and they are not independent lens manufacturers. Nikon Spectacle lenses are completely owned by Essilor. Nikon lenses do not offer anything special. They are of very good quality, providing a good level of vision. Just like with Seiko, we wouldn't say not to buy a Nikon lens; it is definitely better than an unbranded lens in terms of quality. However, there is no real reason to seek out Nikon lenses as they are definitely overpriced for what they offer.
Pros:
Well-known brand.
They are a good quality lens that offers a good level of vision.
Cons:
Lack of innovation compared to other brands on this list.
Owned by Essilor.
HD Lens Tier:
Rodenstock: German Precision and Comfort
Rodenstock, a renowned German lens manufacturer and generational competitor of Zeiss, is well-regarded for offering top-tier lenses. While they may not quite have the extensive history of Zeiss, they certainly hold their own in terms of quality and innovation. They do have some interesting technologies; their Big Vision, as they call it, stands for 'biometric intelligent glasses', it incorporates biometric data from your eyes to create lenses that provide the most natural and comfortable vision. When Rodenstock is constructing your spectacle lenses, they're feeding in a lot of information about the anatomy of your eyes. The prescription that you have for your eyes does tell us a little bit about the shape of your eyes, and the shape of your eyes determines how you focus through the lenses separately from the prescription itself. So, Big Vision is designed to give you the most natural vision by incorporating data about the biometrics of your eyes. It's not the most exciting technology we've seen, but it is a very interesting technology.
Pros:
Biometric intelligent glasses offer a personalised vision experience.
Great for people who want highly accurate and comfortable lenses based on their unique eye anatomy.
Strong reputation for quality in the optician community.
Cons:
Not as widely recognised as Zeiss, meaning the brand might not be as "luxury" in perception.
Technology can feel a bit clinical and might not appeal to those seeking cutting-edge “wow factor”.
If you want a more personalised, comfort-driven lens experience, Rodenstock’s offerings are an excellent choice. Their biometric tech ensures that your lenses are custom-designed for how your eyes naturally focus.
IoT: Independent Customisation at Its Best
Independent lens designer IoT (Independents Optical Technology) is a hidden gem in the eyewear industry. While not as widely known as the likes of Zeiss or Hoya, IoT specialises in custom lens designs, offering more flexibility than almost any other brand. Their designs are licensed to independent labs, meaning the quality can vary, but when done right, the results are excellent. IOT creates hundreds of different lens designs, whether it's single focus, vari-focus, or progressive lenses. You can do a lot of customisation, maybe more customisation with an IOT lens than any other lens in the world.
What we mean by the design of a lens is that all of the mathematical data goes into the computer that then manufactures those lenses. The manufacturing is the easy part. It's the science behind the manufacturing that tells the machine how to cut your lens and how to design it from point to point. That is the crucial bit about your lenses, and IOT is one of the few companies in the world designing lens designs from scratch.
Pros:
Highly customisable lens designs with a focus on precision.
Independent, non-corporate approach that appeals to eyewear purists.
Great for clients seeking unique, one-of-a-kind lenses tailored to their specific vision needs.
Cons:
Because their designs are licensed to labs, quality can vary depending on where they’re made.
Less mainstream recognition can make some clients hesitant.
If you’re looking for something a little more bespoke and are willing to work with a custom lens maker, IoT could be the brand for you. Book a consultation, and we can help determine if these lenses are the right fit for your needs.
4k Lens Tier:
Hoya: A Balanced, Affordable Option
Now let's dive in to the 4k tier, starting off with Hoya, a Japanese lens manufacturer, strikes the perfect balance between performance and cost. Known for producing high-quality lenses with exceptional coatings, the lens coatings on your glasses make a huge difference in terms of durability and the convenience of not having to clean them so often. All of these things make your glasses a lot easier to live with. Hoya offers some of the best value-for-money lenses on the market. If you want the premium features of brands like Zeiss but at a more accessible price, Hoya is a fantastic choice.
Pros:
High-quality coatings that improve durability and reduce the frequency of cleaning.
Excellent value for money, offering high performance without the steep price tag.
Wide range of lens options suitable for every prescription.
Cons:
While innovative, they don't always push boundaries as aggressively as brands like Zeiss.
The range can be overwhelming due to the variety of products on offer.
Hoya’s lenses are perfect if you're after a premium product without breaking the bank.
Essilor:
Essilor has teamed up with Luxottica for their lens brand, now rebranded as Essilor Luxottica. Despite how we feel about Essilor and Luxottica, they do make excellent quality lenses. They were the inventors of Varifocals and Varilux lenses, which are their line of Varifocals or progressive lenses. They are of very good quality. However, their portfolio is a bit bloated because there are so many different options within the lineup as they target all wearers at all price points, which does get very confusing when choosing your lenses.
Although Essilor conducts extensive research in optical clarity, their marketing budget surpasses that effort. They're definitely the kings of marketing, but there are definitely better products out there you probably haven't heard of. Despite our reservations about their attempts to dominate the eyewear market, we decided to put them in the 4K tier because they do make great lenses.
Pros:
Well-known brand, trusted by many.
Quality lenses.
They are the inventors of Varifocal and Varilux lenses.
Cons:
They are great lenses but they are not the best.
Too many options to choose from making it confusing.
Zeiss: The Pinnacle of Lens Innovation
We've saved the best till last! When you think of high-end optics, Zeiss is often the first name that comes to mind. With a rich history of pioneering advancements in the lens industry, Zeiss has consistently been at the forefront of lens innovation. They were the first to create toric lenses (for astigmatism), introduce anti-reflective lens coatings, and even develop lens technologies specifically for driving. Their DriveSafe lenses, for example, are the first lenses in the world designed to reduce glare from headlights, making night driving safer and more comfortable.
One of their most popular options is SmartLife technology, which gives you the most natural vision possible. Technologies like PhotoFusion X, which is one of their most recent designs, are 80% faster to react and change from clear to dark, much faster than any other lenses that have come before. You just can't argue with Zeiss being at the very top of the tree when it comes to lens manufacturing; that's why we partner with them. And now with the introduction of Clearview, we have really affordable Zeiss lenses that are still excellent quality.
Pros:
Unmatched history of innovation, including groundbreaking technologies like anti-reflective coatings and toric lenses.
Industry leaders in lens materials, including their PhotoFusion X lenses, which transition 80% faster from clear to dark.
Excellent for progressive lenses, offering smooth transitions and natural vision.
Affordable Clearview range.
Cons:
Premium price point, making Zeiss lenses a significant investment for many customers.
Some models can feel a bit overwhelming due to the range of options available.
Zeiss lenses are our go-to recommendation if you're looking for the absolute best. Their consistent commitment to innovation and quality means that they offer a fantastic visual experience for any wearer. If you're unsure where to start, schedule a consultation with us in-store, via email, or even through a video call, and we'll walk you through your options.
In Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Lenses
Choosing the right lens brand depends on what you prioritise most – whether that’s advanced technology, affordability, durability, or comfort. Here at The Spectacle Factory, we’re here to help guide you through the process and find the perfect lenses tailored to your lifestyle and vision needs.
Book a free consultation with us today, either in-store, via email, or through a video call and we’ll help you find the ideal lenses for your perfect pair of glasses.
