Are Zeiss and Leica Lenses better than Nikon

Simply look at the color red on the Leica and compare it with the Nikon and you'll have your answer.

 

One of my early cameras was a Contax with Zeiss lenses. I then went to Nikon and accumulated an extensive shelf of lenses, with many primes. Back to Zeiss in a diversion to 2-1/4 format with H'blad. I've recently added Leica and accumulated a number of lenses for that. Never had a Canon, other than a fixed lens rangefinder. I do find I use the Leica much more these days.

Nikon is very good at specialty and zoom lenses and they perform very well. However, at any given focal length or lens speed, Leica (or Zeiss) probably does better - but you pay a lot for the difference and, sometimes, that difference is small. That said, I've come to prefer the Leica digital M's, but as much because they're more portable as they're better optically. But you do need to take the time to focus accurately, it's all manual and no lens will do well if poorly focused. If you're doing a sporting or track event, the Nikon will be more effective as a tool because it has a long focal length option, focal length changes are much faster with a zoom than switching primes, and autofocus is easier with rapidly changing subject distances.

Here are a couple of tests that have some explicit comparisons. Neither test is really "fair", assuming all the technical parameters were properly controlled. The one uses an old Leica 50mm, just because that's what he had; but the Leica wins anyway. The other compares two zooms against a prime; but maybe that's OK as those may be the way the cameras actually get configured/outfitted in the real world. I think Ken Rockwell is a bit of a schlock because of these issues (like my opinion of Mythbusters, fun but don't take too seriously), but look at the raw data and draw your own conclusions.

http://kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/sharpness.htm

http://kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/sharpness-28mm.htm

 

I have a bunch of Nikkor and Zeiss lenses and a couple large format Schneiders. I've never done any heads-up tests but have always been pleased with the results.