Which lenses do you own/need

[UKBob]

I'll get shot down in flames if I ask "which lenses are best" on DPreview so I thought Id post here instead

Ive been doing some reading, and have learnt quite a bit about the need for a selection of lenses, and am just about getting my head around fstops and apperture, and DOF

Can I ask what collection of lenses everyone here has, why you chose them, and under which circumstances do you wish you had something else?

edited to add... If I can decide which one lens is best to start off with I'll specify that when I buy my camera, otherwise just go with whatever lens it comes bundled with and will make a more informed/balanced choice on additional lenses a month or two down the line.

>> Edited by UKBob on Monday 6th February 16:46

[_dobbo_]

I have:

18-70mm f3.5-4.5 which is on the camera most of the time

50mm f1.8 which is as sharp as a tack, cheap as chips, and superb in even very low light thanks to a nice big aperture.

Sigma 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 which I've only used about three times and i HATE HATE HATE.

Ideally I'd bin the 70-300 and get a Sigma 70-200 f.28 to fill in that end of the zoom range - I don't want anything longer than that.

[Nacnud]

5 EOS lenses
- 50mm f1.8 Canon
- 24mm f2.8 Sigma
- 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 Sigma
- 75-300mm f4-5.6 Canon EF II
- Canon EF 'Standard' lens (can't remember the spec)
I used these on my EOS 5
I had suspicions about the poor quality of the Sigma 18-35.

Then I went digital with a Canon S40.
This compact camera gives better critical sharpness at A4 than all of the EOS lenses except the 75-300 used on a tripod with mirror lock-up.

I've now got an EOS 20D.
I knew when I bought it that I would have to review my lenses.
It confirmed just how bad my lenses actually are with only the 75-300mm getting close to matching the quality of the S40.
I borrowed a more recent 'Standard' zoom (two series numbers later) and it was much better; this confirmed I need a new lens.

As a stop gap, I've bought a secondhand 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Canon EFS lens which is finally giving me better results than my S40; but it is still far from perfect.

I'm saving my pennies for the EFS IS f4 28-105 L-series
Thats assuming they fix the contrast problem and finally make the lens available to the public!!!!!!!

[406tm]

I have

AF VR-Nikkor 80-400 1:4.5-5.6D
Nikon 50mm 1:1.8
AF-S Nikon 24-120 VR 1:3.5-5.6G

Plus I have the Kit lens that came with the D70

Other kit includes a Manfrotto mono pod and tri pod, Nikon D100, SB800 flash, SB600 flash, zigview and an Archos - 40 gig

I am now after an Ultra Wide lens, but that can wait till the end of the month when I go to Focus on Imaging at the NEC

[simpo two]

'Best' and 'most suitable for your needs' are not necessarily the same!

My collection has grown as my needs have grown...

Nikkor 18-70: Came with the camera - I was happy with this as I realised my old 24-50 wasn't going to be much use. The 18-70 is my general purpose workhorse and did 98% of the work in NZ. Good zoom range and AF-S but average aperture.

Nikkor 70-300 ED: From my F70 days, this stays in the arsenal for when I need long range under standard conditions. It's not AF-S but I can live with it and I don't need more than 300mm. Average aperture.

Nikkor 50mm f1.8: An affordable 'fast' lens, this now makes a portrait lens and the aperture is handy, but I find prime lenses a bit awkward. Always seems longer than I thought!

Micro Nikkor 60mm: Maybe I didn't strictly need this one, but I'd always hankered after a macro lens and finally got this mint s/h on eBay. Capable of amazing things but needs care for best results due to very shallow DOF. Very much a niche lens, though it also works as a high quality 60mm f2.8 lens.

Sigma 70-200 f2.8: Another eBay find, this is a brilliant lens for low light work and reportage. HSM focusing is perfect and it focuses almost in darkness. Big size also impresses customers, which is important too

Just ordered: Nikkor 17-55 f2.8. This lens is a bonkers price but nothing else fits the bill for a fast wide-angle zoom. Its primary task will be interior shots using available light.

UKBob said:

If I can decide which one lens is best to start off with I'll specify that when I buy my camera, otherwise just go with whatever lens it comes bundled with and will make a more informed/balanced choice on additional lenses a month or two down the line.

If it's Nikon, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the 18-70 for versatility and value. Then find out what you can't do with it that yuo want to, and go from there.

[Ian_H]

I've got the following lenses, the only other lens I may buy in the near futre is the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM as a colleague has one and I'm quite impressed with the results. If anything I probably need to trim some of my lenses because they are never used now.


Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 1.4X II Extender
Canon EF 2.0X II Extender
Sigma 17-35mm f2.8-4 EX ASPHERICAL HSM

[UKBob]

Nacnud said:

5 EOS lenses - 50mm f1.8 Canon - 24mm f2.8 Sigma - 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 Sigma

Im taking my first few steps learning about lenses and not getting very far, so go easy on me
But as I understand it, F2.8 lets in less light than F1.8 right?, but the shorter the focal length the more light will be let in. Why does your 50mm lens have a 'faster' F speed? (I cant remember if 1 is higher than 16 or lower, but I know its faster... think )

Also, the 18-35mm sigma, is the lens slower purely because its a zoom lens?

Whats a prime lens, a low mm lens, or any lens which doesnt zoom and is made to shoot a subject field of a certain size?

Finally, youve got three lenses which are all 50mm or below I thought it would be acceptable to have one lens which was under the 85mm focal length, are you into wide angle photograhpy in a big way?

[monkeyhanger]

Ian_H said:

I've got the following lenses, the only other lens I may buy in the near futre is the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM as a colleague has one

Would that be Mr Harrison's latest toy then ? (GSH)


My collection is small but covers pretty much what i need for now..

Canon 100-400L IS. If i'm at a track in anything but really poor light this will be on the camera.

Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX (DG if ya like that sort of thing) Been using this over the winter for a few rallies where i can get closer than usual to the action..

Canon 28-135IS. General walkabout / travel lens.

Sigma 15-30 EX (la di da DG) I needed something to cover the wide end of the range and although i haven't used it much it looks ok so far, should be handy for car shows where the 28-135 is too long..

Later this year i might add the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 to give me a bit of range when the light is too bad for the 100-400L, but i want a 1DMk2 before then.

>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Monday 6th February 17:37

[Ian_H]

monkeyhanger said:

Ian_H said: I've got the following lenses, the only other lens I may buy in the near futre is the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM as a colleague has one Would that be Mr Harrison's latest toy then ? (GSH)

It certainly would be I was wondering who you were when you said you would be at a lot of Croft meetings this year in another thread, we'll have to have a chat at Croft sometime.


Cheers
Ian

[monkeyhanger]

Ian_H said:

monkeyhanger said: Ian_H said: I've got the following lenses, the only other lens I may buy in the near futre is the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM as a colleague has one Would that be Mr Harrison's latest toy then ? (GSH) It certainly would be I was wondering who you were when you said you would be at a lot of Croft meetings this year in another thread, we'll have to have a chat at Croft sometime. Cheers Ian

<scuse the hijack>

I'm stumping up for a season ticket this year Ian, look forward to finally meeting you and some the other regulars.

<back on topic>

[GetCarter]

105mm Micro (close ups)
28-200 (general kick about - fetes 'n' functions etc)
70-300 (good for motorsport)
80-400 AF-VR (for wildlife)
17-55 AF-s (almost all my landscapes)
50mm (1.4) (pin sharp and fast)

Generally go out with the last three in my bag.

Steve

[CVP]

At any one time it'll be a selection from;

1. Nikon 20mm f2.8 AF - have kept this for a long time, brilliant lens, light fast and wonderfully crisp - very useful in low light
2. Nikon 50mm f1.4 AF - another keeper froma long time ago. A bit battered now but still great for travelling as it'll easily do interiors without flash
3. Nikon 12-24mm f4 AFS - kind of replaces my old 20mm for 95% of duties
4. Nikon 24-85 f4-5.6 AFS - main lens when travelling
5. Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR AFS - good flexible travel / wildlife lens, very fast AF and VR as well
6. Nikon 300mm f2.8 AFS - picked up second hand and built to take a lot of punishment. Not a lens for carrying round all day but so sharp and contrasty. Gives the equivalent field of view as a 480mm lens on the digital which is superb for wildlife as you gte 480mm f2.8 so can really easily isolate animals from their backgrounds. Downside is you don't want to carry all day
7. Nikon 105mm Macro - wonderfully sharp but has t be used with extreme care due to wafer thin depth of field at short ranges
8. Nikon 1.7* AFS converter - very useful in bright light when the small wildlife simply doesn't want to come too close. Downside is a bit of loss of contrast in the image plus AF is a bit slower / less responsive.

For travelling I take the three zooms plus the 50mm and maybe the 105 if I know were' heading to the country. If we're mainly city based then I'll throw in the 20mm for wandering around at night.

Only take the 300mm if I know we're off wildlife / sports photographing. I'd love to swap this one day for the 200-400 f4VR AFS they brought out last year but that could be many years away I feel.

Chris

[simpo two]

UKBob said:

But as I understand it, F2.8 lets in less light than F1.8 right?

Yep, higher number = smaller hole = less light.

UKBob said:

but the shorter the focal length the more light will be let in.

AIUI (new acronym!) f.x is f.x regardless of focal length, but stand to be corrected.

UKBob said:

Why does your 50mm lens have a 'faster' F speed?

Bigger glass. It's also a prime lens, so its design isn't compromised by zooming mechanism. Pound for pound, primes are always faster than zooms. NB If you call it 'aperture' rather than 'F-speed' it will help you remember what it is! Large aperture lenses are called 'fast' because they let you use a faster shutter speed, but that's a different variable.

UKBob said:

Whats a prime lens, a low mm lens, or any lens which doesnt zoom and is made to shoot a subject field of a certain size?

Prime just means fixed focal length, ie not a zoom lens. You can have wide angle, medium and telephoto primes; purists prefer them because they offer more speed and general image quality. However, zooms are more convenient.

I have a certain guide that may help...

>> Edited by simpo two on Monday 6th February 19:12

[Mr Noble]

18-70 kit lens.
70-300 ED
60mm micro

all Nikon.

I want to add, 10-20mm sigma or 12-24mm sigma, not sure which one though.
And a 50mm 1.4 prime.

Then I would have something for all eventualities. (but still be no good at using them! )

Greg

[Mr Noble]

www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3300&navigator=6


Actually scratch the 50mm 1.4 and add this one. It gives a 35mm camera equivalent of 48mm which I think is more usable than a 50mm which ends up at about 80mm equivelent.

F1.4 is nice for everything too.


www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3301&navigator=6
10-20mm
www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3236&navigator=1
12-24mm

Can someone explain to my simple brain how the 12-24 has an angle of view of 122 degrees and the "wider" 10-20mm has only 102 degrees. I know its something to do with the 10-20 being designed only for digi cams but what would the real terms difference be when using them on the D70? Would the 12-24 still appear to be wider?

Thx
Greg

[simpo two]

Mr Noble said:

Can someone explain to my simple brain how the 12-24 has an angle of view of 122 degrees and the "wider" 10-20mm has only 102 degrees. I know its something to do with the 10-20 being designed only for digi cams...

Yep. The 12-24 is designed for both types, so I suspect they're quoting 122 degrees when used with 35mm film. By contrast the 10-20 is DX only so the quoted 102 degrees includes the 1.5/1.6x factor.

Whatever, for any given camera 10 will always be wider than 12

[Mr Noble]

As I thought. Thanks John.

So I want the 10-20mm and the 30mm f1.4 to complete my range!! Too bad my wallets empty!

Greg

[V6GTO]

Greg...you should have had a go with my 12-24 last week

[UKBob]

simpo two said:

Nikkor 70-300 ED: From my F70 days, this stays in the arsenal for when I need long range under standard conditions. It's not AF-S but I can live with it and I don't need more than 300mm. Average aperture. Nikkor 50mm f1.8: An affordable 'fast' lens, this now makes a portrait lens and the aperture is handy, but I find prime lenses a bit awkward. Always seems longer than I thought! Just ordered: Nikkor 17-55 f2.8. This lens is a bonkers price but nothing else fits the bill for a fast wide-angle zoom. Its primary task will be interior shots using available light.

What does AF-S mean?

The nikkor 50mm F1.8 lens - this has no zoom on it then? Whats good about it, the fact that you can have a background which is as sharp or blury as you like? And (sorry if this sounds rather obvious) the fact that you can shoot at dusk without a tripod? (was reading something about low light big apperture photography )

Also, Ive been reading and keep stumbling up comments of 50mm lenses being pin sharp, why is this? And how much less or more "pinsharp" are other lenses?

[GetCarter]

the 50 mm is a 'prime' lens... this means it has no zoom... but also means it has very little glass in it - therefore, not as much to distort the image.

The faster the lens, the more light it will let in, the darker the outside world can be, and the more control over depth of field.

But prime lenses are very limiting if you are half way up a hill - bit rubbish for both landscapes and wildlife.

Hence most of us keep a zoom on whilst we are out and put a prime on if we feel we can get the shot (have the time etc)

oh... edit.. and the AF-S means that it is quieter and faster when auto-focusing

>> Edited by GetCarter on Monday 6th February 21:32