Lenses you keep because they are too good to give away....

I've got two that I hardly use any more, in fact they live in my LowPro toploader with the Gx8/PL100-400 birding combination, just because when I'm out in the field birding if I see a good landscape type shot I have a 22/28/60 f2.5/.8 setup I could use.

My two are the Panasonic 14 & GWC1 and the Sigma 30mm f2.8 1st version. I've lots of stock images accepted from these two lenses yet I doubt I'd get $75 for the sigma and before they quite making it the 14mm were going anywhere from $125 to $150. I've seen  the GWC1 sit for quite a while at $100 on MU-43.

What lens do you have that are inexpensive yet really good performers or fit a specific space in your lens lineup that you don't use.

Not inexpensive, but I bought the 12-100 when it came out and now it's my primary lens, but the 12-40 is too good to give up and I use it for night shooting at mostly iso 3200.

Cheers.  JL

14/2.5 + Fujifilm 0.76x WC

Sigma 60/2.8

9mmBCL

I only use the Zuiko 50/2 occasionally and the 12-40 has replaced the Zuiko 12-60SWD as my standard lens.  When I need them, they are there.

I also have an old Sigma 30/1.4 APSC lens in FT mount which is there in case I need it.  It once did an important job that would not have been possible any other way.

Andrew

Though not the best or fastest lens in the system I love the Panasonic 20mm I currently have version 2 only because it came as part of deal with my GX8 , it is optically identical to the mk1.

Between it and the mk1 { my first m43 lens back in 2009} it is by a fair margin  the most used lens I own of any format. Over the years it has been on the GF1,GH2,GH3,GH4, GX7,GX8 and will continue to be used on future m43 cameras { probably the G9 }

samtheman2014 wrote:

Though not the best or fastest lens in the system I love the Panasonic 20mm I currently have version 2 only because it came as part of deal with my GX8 , it is optically identical to the mk1
Jim Stirling

Also my choice.  My version 1always comes along no matter what else is in my bag. The Pan 20 is the reason I entered the micro 4/3 format.  The size, focal length and  IQ all make me happy.

Ivan

Prairie Pal wrote:

samtheman2014 wrote:

Though not the best or fastest lens in the system I love the Panasonic 20mm I currently have version 2 only because it came as part of deal with my GX8 , it is optically identical to the mk1
Jim Stirling

Also my choice. My version 1always comes along no matter what else is in my bag. The Pan 20 is the reason I entered the micro 4/3 format. The size, focal length and IQ all make me happy.

Ivan

I agree Ivan I was shooting with a D3X when I saw the GF1 and 20mm and thought that is for me

-Tamron 90mm f/2.8 (72B) adaptall macro lens . This 1:1 macro lens, with aperture ring, has no camera mount so it can be adapted with a inexpensive AdaptAll adapter for any system. I purchased this in 2013 when I shoot Fuji. Wonderful, large, buttery smooth manual focus ring. Same optical formula as their AF version thatwas discontinued in 2013. I use the Olympus 60mm macro more due to size and AF options

-Nikon 28mm f/3.5. This lens was the gold standard for IR photogrpahy and had no hot spots. I do not shoot these days but who knows what the future will bring so along with the above, will never sell

As for modern lenses I use and plan on keeping....

-Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 Pro. My go to lens with extended warranty until late 2021

-Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro. Small, light, sharp, with smooth bokeh and limit switches.

All other lenses I own are subject to upgrade but no plans to do so at present

Tamron 72B 90mm f/2.8 adaptall lens on EM1. IBIS makes this combo sing!

Tamron 72B 90mm f/2.8 adaptall lens on Fuji XE1

JohnLock wrote:

Not inexpensive, but I bought the 12-100 when it came out and now it's my primary lens, but the 12-40 is too good to give up and I use it for night shooting at mostly iso 3200.

Cheers. JL

Basically, same here — just could not get enough $ selling it to justify giving up some still viable uses for it, making it an “affordable luxury” backup zoom in a more compact package with one stop more light and in-camera focus stacking (12-100 does not have).

Panasonic 14-45mm. I keep it with my IR converted G1 because it's the only zoom I found which didn't produce hotspots, and it's a really good lens as well.

M

In addition to my “old” 12-40mm f/2.8 which I already mentioned above, 2 more lenses which are relatively “cheap” (considering what I could sell them for used now) and I will hardly use but keep include:

1.  Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R.  I haven’t used this since I got my 14-150mm f/4-5.6 Mark II, which is weathersealed, goes wider, and is not far off IQ-wise from the best of the 40-150 in its range.

2.  Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 Mark II.  Now that I have the Olympus 12-100mm f/4, I have not used this lens once.  However, I expected that there will be times when that’s all I need and it is smaller and lighter, though not quite as wide.  The 100-150mm range does not exist on the 12-100mm, but on the other hand form what I’ve seen so far I can crop (or use the in-camera 2x DTC function) with at least similar of not better IQ.

UNDECIDED:  my Olympus 12-50mm.  I have mainly held on to it for the macro mode with my little Nikon slide duplicator accessory, and also its electric zoom Is handy for some video work.  However, I got the Olympus 30mm macro lens during the Black Friday sale and expect it to perform even better for copying slides, so the 12-50mm becomes even less relevant.  Still, it has the power zoom and it’s weather sealed...

MShot wrote:

I rarely use the 50/2, and the OM 135 f/28 and 200 f/4 but can't give them up for when they are the perfect lens for the image. They made some of the best images I have.

The 4/3 50mm f/2 Macro is the one lens I sometimes regret having sold, mainly because it is a true “reference lens” for the system (and I am a true geek).  I use my 60mm f/2.8 Macro far more and with greater satisfaction than I ever did my 50mm.

These are still in my bag and used frequently.  There simply are no micro 4/3 equivalent zooms to replace them (the f2.8 zooms don't attract me at all).  That said, I do have the PL 12-60.  It's a toss-up for me as to whether I use it more than I do my 14-35 f2.  I seem to go from one to another quite frequently.

MShot wrote:

I rarely use the 50/2, and the OM 135 f/28 and 200 f/4 but can't give them up for when they are the perfect lens for the image. They made some of the best images I have.

That's an interesting way of looking at it.  My rarely used lenses tend to be used with greater satisfaction because they fit the task.  My 12-40 gives greater satisfaction overall because it gets used most but not always when it would be the absolute best lens for the job.  Mind you it's pretty good.

The 12-32 and 35-100 kit lenses get used quite a bit too and are never the best lens apart from being there and being unobtrusive.

Andrew

Olympus 75mm F1.8 that I got in a batch buy of used m43 gear. Tried to negotiate the release of it from that sale but the owner said take it all or nothing. Turns out it has been very sharp and after some warming up, a longish portrait lens and good for picking people off at events in lower light like speaking at a podium. Had some okay results tracking some indoor sports too.

20mm F1.7 that I got with my GF-1 as a combo. Didn't like the GF-1 and eventually sold it off. Really like the compact lens and sharpness. Unfortunately, it seems to have gone missing on a business trip. The slow AF was annoying however so I haven't jumped at a replacement.