If you could only use one lens, which one would it be?
If you could only use one lens on your camera, which one would it be?
We all tend to have our favorite lenses. Anyone that has read the exif data on my images can easily spot that my "go-to" lens is the Canon 24-105 f/4L IS. For my style of shooting, the range of focal length on this lens is ideal (especially on my full-frame 5D). I have wondered if a 24-70 f/2.8 would be equally as good for me though.
I'm curious which lens other photographers would choose. Would it be one with some reach like a 75-300? Or maybe something that can get really wide like a 17-40? Or are you a 'Prime' shooter like Thomas Hawk and want to stick with a 135mm?
Is the focal length more important to you or the speed? Do you stick with your camera manufacturers models or go third party?
Let's hear what you have to say...
Canon 5D, Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens - 1/50 second, f/1.8, ISO 800
18 Comments:
Hard choice but I'll go with my 24-70mm f/2.8. Fast glass and shorter focal length doesn't really need IS. Superb IQ and sharp. There are times when I wish for another 65mm on the long end though, but my feet zoom just as well most of the time.
As you said, it really depends upon the camera and the style of shooting you do. Depending on the type of shoot, I may bring 4 lenses with me, but the 24-105 is a wonderfully flexible lens. If there was a 24-105 f/2.8, that would be almost the perfect lens.
Mmmm, though one! :-) I'd choose my Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 HSM for my Nikon D300. It's a couple of stops faster than the average kit lens, so it can give me a wide angle view, a nice bokey for portraits AND is fairly good for low light situations (especially with the D300's high ISO performance).
that's such a tough call.
speed and low light are important for my work. 16-35 has been my friend for a while but I certainly haven't given my 24-105 enough justice at all lately... partly because the night and client architectural work I've been doing is more landscape and wide - all demanding f/2.8 and below. The 50mm f/1.4 and 85 f/1.2 are great but sloooooooow.. the 85 especially.
Hmm... The 70-200 IS USM, great fast lens... heavy as hell during prolonged periods... ie. in the backpack for extended photohikes.
I'm considering both the 24-70 for the f/2.8 and the 135 for the bonus reach as the next purchases.... but if I grab the 24-70, the 24-105 will probably never get used again - which is probably the wrong decision.
in the end, it's probably the 16-35 f/2.8 II that will be my chosen.
I really like my 24-105mm f/4.0 with my 40D. It matches my style and performs very well. I agree with @BWJones about the f/2.8, that would make for an awesome lens.
I just got it recently but it's already become my favorite. I'd go with 70-200 2.8/vr
It can do my portraits and do some animal/nature stuff.
It's low light and the results are different and more unique than my mid-range 2.8 zoom.
Ask me a couple months ago I'd probably had said 50mm prime low light.
For most of the time my Nikon D200 sports the Sigma 30mm f1.4 - it's sharp, fast and suits almost all of my needs for my shooting style.
I've found this lens to be a great performer for my street photography as well as for environmental and even 1/4 portraits. It's also an excellent lens for low-light candids (e.g. dinner parties) and as a general go-to lens for fun snapshots.
If I ever do remove this lens from the body it's to use the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 for sweeping landscapes and wide-angle portraits but otherwise the Sigma beats the pants off my cache of Nikkor lenses (teles and primes).
You can see examples from this lens here on my Flickr account (most recent first).
- mike
My trifecta of lenses is: Canon 24-70mm F2.8, Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS, and Canon 16-35mm F2.8 all L-series lenses. I use all three of them quite extensively and probably in that order. Then on occasion I rent a 400mm or 600mm lens or a macro lens, but that is fairly rare. I'm really glad I don't have to choose only one lens, but if I HAD to, I'd go with the 24-70 because it is the most versatile and general purpose.
And as to the manufacturer vs. third party lenses question, I have to say that there was a time when I was convinced that Sigma lenses were 98% as good as Canon lenses but a good half the price. So I invested in several lenses (because I couldn't afford Canon glass) and have since sold them and bought Canon lenses. I wish I could have just done that in the first place. In my humble opinion (and with no technical facts to base that opinion on), I think the Canon lenses are sharper, focus faster and are of a substantially better build quality. I definitely wouldn't go back to Sigma glass now.
I'd get a noctilux
I was a prime guy - and still am when I use my Leica gear. However, on the 5D my go to lens is also the 24-105. If I want prime, I'll pick up the M8. If I want a great zoom, I grab the 5D. Both are great tools.
I have the 24-70 2.8 too, but I like the 24-105 a bit more.
I am very much a prime shooter. I love using the 24mm, 50mm and 85mm. Picking only one of those is impossible, since they all have very different purposes. It's not that I have an issue with zoom lenses, though.
I loved to work with my 100-400mm.
I'm not a real prof. and like to shoot people by suppries.
I really only have the 24-105 f/4L. i could definitely use some other lenses but do I *need* more lenses currently? probably not, but yeah the 24-105 would be nice if it came in f/2.8 which may happen when canon releases the new lenses this fall/winter. :)
(from Flickr)
Either my 17-40L f/4 or 17-85 IS EF-S (with lighting on my 30D and 40D). I have noticed that you like the 24-105 and it's next on my list. It will be great paired with my 5D - when I finally convince myself to get it.
(from Flickr)
I've got the 24-70 and I wouldn't be without it. As it's a bit faster than the 24-105, it's great for weddings and low-light stuff. Go on - treat yourself :)
(from Flickr)
I would like to replace my Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG with the 24-70 f/2.8 L. I love the idea of IS and extra FL to 105mm but ....f/4
My 16-35 f/2.8 L Mrk II is a favorite at the moment, although the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS comes a close second ;-)
Probably the 50mm f1.8 you can pretty much do anything with that lens, except sports perhaps.
I think I'll have to go with a 50mm f/1.4. My second choice would be a 100mm or 135mm f/2.8. Both speed and focal length are important to me. I find that the 50mm length offers more opportunity for use, while the f/1.4 allows me a wide range of DOF and lighting condition options.
And, yeah, I'm all about the prime lenses. The only zoom I actually use anymore is my sigma 10-20mm for my digital.
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