If I could have any 5 lenses, but ONLY those 5 lenses... they would be...

travelinbri_74

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Obviously this differs for everyone and their system. I am a canon user who is considering a switch, but in the interest of sticking with the system I have now, my 5 would be:

16-35L
24-105L
35L
85L
135L

This would leave me fairly telephoto-less, but I didn't know what to leave out. I suppose I could drop the 24-105 for the 70-200 f4L IS which is better quality-wise, but the 24-105 would be on my camera most of the time.

What choices would you make? (You don't have to own the ones you would choose)
 
i'm happy with a 30/1.4 sigma, a 50/1.4 super-multi-coated takumar, 135/3.5 zeiss jena sonnar. i'd love to get my hands on a 15mm da limited from pentax, but i'm a sony shooter. likewise their 70/2.4 limited.

i should really change systems to pentax at some point. my ideal lens line-up could then be complete.
 
Hi,

Help ! Never in my life have I ever needed 5 lenses ! At worst, I carry 3. In the film days, it was a 28-50-90 prime combo. With my soon-to-be-sold SLR, it's a combo of the following equivalent focal lengths: 22-44, 50 pancake, 80-300.

If I'd have all the money I could spend, I'd go for a Leica M9 with a 50 prime, possibly adding a 24 or 28 and a 90 prime, too.

Peter.

--
gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/peterleyssens
 
I would choose:

16-35L 2.8 II
24-70L 2.8
70-200L IS 2.8
85mm 1.8
50mm 1.4

Have to say.... I've got them all :P

--
I'm from the Netherlands. I understand Dutch, English and a bit German...
 
Hi,

How about a 30mm f/2 and a 85mm f/2 and a macro - if they exist...

Or a couple of decent zooms (say) 30 - 90mm and 70 - 25omm and a macro. Again f/2 all through the range; sounds like the Olympus or Leica range...

Regards, David
 
You don't feel the 50 and 85 are a tad redundent?
 
If I'll get FF camera

28-135mm f/4 will cover all my outdoor needs.

for indoors I'll still need
Sigma 20mm f/1.8
Minolta 50mm f/1.7
Minolta 135mm f/2.8

and Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 for macro.

--

I came back to basics to make photos that will be interesting to check after many years.
http://stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com
 
Then why not look for more interesting choices.

What about the TS-E 17mm f/4? Tilt & shift movements let you correct perspective, shift focus planes and combine two frames into an even wider image without moving the camera.

How about a Zeiss Distagon 21mm f/2.8? One of the best wide angles available

For telephoto work what about the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8? Very fast and sharp, and you can put teleconverters on it for longer effective length.

You'll need a standard 50mm, what about either a Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 or a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (the Zeiss is sharper across the frame when sopped down, the Sigma is sharp in the centre when wide open).

You've got no macro lens in there. What about the new EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS?

But when all is said and done 5 is a very artificial limit. Buy as many as you have reasonable use for and be happy.
 
Redundant...no more than your 35 & 85 along with your 24-105. The 50 & 85 are great for low-light, and the 70-200/2.8 in Canon's line-up is one of their all-time best. I would have to agree with the above poster with his group.
 
Obviously this differs for everyone and their system. I am a canon user who is considering a switch, but in the interest of sticking with the system I have now, my 5 would be:

16-35L
24-105L
35L
85L
135L

This would leave me fairly telephoto-less, but I didn't know what to leave out. I suppose I could drop the 24-105 for the 70-200 f4L IS which is better quality-wise, but the 24-105 would be on my camera most of the time.

What choices would you make? (You don't have to own the ones you would choose)
Oh my aching back!!! Dang I hope you don't carry all these around with you all the time. Sigh I used to have an om1 out fit with a couple bodies and I think I might have even had five lenses but most I never used. Oh well maybe its me but I hate changing lenses I hate it. I have not had enough practice to be proficient so I have to fumble around or ask my sister to hold one lens while I attache the other of find a clean rock to sit on sigh. I hate changing lenses oops I already said that. So I usually carry two or perhaps three lenses with me. I also hate zooms er well not really I rather liked my 24-105L but that lens and the camera were so heavy and awkward that I sorta hated it. I would rather use two m bodies one with a 35mm on it and the other usually with say a 21 but carry a ninety in the bag.
--
bosjohn aka John Shick [email protected]
 
I'd pick 4 Zuiko Digital lenses from Olympus:

7-14mm f/4
14-35mm f/2.0
35-100mm f/2.0
90-250mm f/2.8

And the PL 25mm f/1.4

That'd be my dream team... If there was a single other lens I'd want to add... it would be the 50mm f/2.0
--
TANK
'Why is it everytime I need to get somewhere, we get
waylaid by jackassery?' - Dr. Venture
http://www.myspace.com/servantoflove

 
Hi David,
How about a 30mm f/2 and a 85mm f/2 and a macro - if they exist...
I have been dreaming about a Leica M body with a 35/f1.4 and 75/f1.4, both pre-asph. Those would be lovely. But in the last few years, I've really come to love the 50mm perspective. It's the best indoors portrait lens in the world (because indoors, using a wide angle would be normal). When there's more space, around 90 is great. And who can live without a wide angle ?
Or a couple of decent zooms (say) 30 - 90mm and 70 - 25omm and a macro. Again f/2 all through the range; sounds like the Olympus or Leica range...
Well, no. Zooms are big-slow-expensive (pick 2). I have used zooms, I like the results and how practical they are. But for any interchangeable lens system, primes are the only lenses that I can carry 3 of and still need nothing but my coat pockets.

Peter.

--
gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/peterleyssens
 
How about a 30mm f/2 and a 85mm f/2 and a macro - if they exist...
I have been dreaming about a Leica M body with a 35/f1.4 and 75/f1.4, both pre-asph. Those would be lovely. But in the last few years, I've really come to love the 50mm perspective. It's the best indoors portrait lens in the world (because indoors, using a wide angle would be normal). When there's more space, around 90 is great. And who can live without a wide angle ?
Or a couple of decent zooms (say) 30 - 90mm and 70 - 25omm and a macro. Again f/2 all through the range; sounds like the Olympus or Leica range...
Well, no. Zooms are big-slow-expensive (pick 2). I have used zooms, I like the results and how practical they are. But for any interchangeable lens system, primes are the only lenses that I can carry 3 of and still need nothing but my coat pockets.
Hi,

I've two SLR's that have good small and light zooms (one by Nikon and one by Minolta) trouble is, both take film... It's not a problem for me but I can hear them choking on their food as I type this.

Regards, David
 
I just sold an entire system with multiple lenses and 6 lenses from my current system and got it down to these 5.

Lensbaby Composer w/various optics.
Sony/Carl Zeiss 135mm f1.8 T* Sonnar
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Di II
Tamron 60mm f2 Di II
Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di

I will probably get rid of the 17-50 soon enough and replace it with the Sony 30mm Macro...

That said, I also carry mutiple P&S cameras for specific purposes as well...one camera can not do it all, DSLR or otherwise.

--
Neil
http://thewarmland.com
 
you seem to like your macro lenses.

if it were my ideal 5, i'd certainly replace that tammy 90 with sony's 85/1.4. three macros in your ideal line-up?

also, 1.8 at 135mm would be a bit long for a wide-aperture lens for me. i'd need a f2/1.8/1.4 at 50mm or less for indoor use.

but you must love using that 135mm of yours. seems like one of the finest lenses available. it's not on my list because it's too big.
 
I'd pick 4 Zuiko Digital lenses from Olympus:

7-14mm f/4
14-35mm f/2.0
35-100mm f/2.0
90-250mm f/2.8
And the PL 25mm f/1.4
Mine would be similar:
9-18 (I want a filter thread)
14-35mm f/2
35-100 f/2
PL 25mm f/1.4
150mm f/2 (or a 300 f/4 if Oly ever made one :) )
--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Olympus e-510 L1
http://www.joesiv.com
 

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