Lenses that inspire you?

[tron]

The other lens I always liked on my camera was the 28mm f2.8.  Cheap (notice a theme here, I am Scottish after all) light, sharp and a great standard lens on my 400 then 7D.

I know I have it although I haven't used it for 15 years...

You see I was using the 28-70 2.8L but when printing B&W A4 to A3 I didn't really like it (although I didn't know what was bothering me). Anyway I switched to 24mm f/2.8 28mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4 and suddenly I was happy with the enlargements...

[paul13walnut5]

If you aren't using it then I know somebody who might be interested in buying it...

[devman]

Love my Canon 14mm 2.8 ...very creative uses!

[distant.star]

.
As Popeye said: "I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam."

No lens ever inspired me.

But one lens, above any other, consistently delivers on my vision.

EF135 f/2L

[pwp]

The two lenses in my bag which consistently knock my socks off are the 70-200 f/2.8isII and the 300 f/2.8is.

PW

[bkorcel]

I concur with both of those.  The 300 2.8 is light enough to use all around.  I'll add the 100mm f2.8L macro.  When i get bored with the other two macro usually re-inspires me.

The two lenses in my bag which consistently knock my socks off are the 70-200 f/2.8isII and the 300 f/2.8is.

PW

[kennephoto]

My Canon 80-200 2.8L I seriously love this lens! And at 22 years old it works and looks amazing! I really love portraits with it, bokeh looks lovely. Oh and like many others macro lens it's just too fun(60mm efs)!

[mb66energy]

Each new lens inspired me - except perhaps the 10-22 & 400mm - because each tools gives me some new field of creativity.

But there are some lenses which are more inspiring:
 - 2.0/100: great focal length (equiv 160mm @ EOS 40D), great bokeh, great contrast and really compact/unobstrusive.
 - 2.8/24: highly universal (equiv near 40mm EOS 40D), great overall IQ straight from f/2.8, compact.
both lenses are - for me - a good set to go for landscape, street, etc. and future proof for a FF camera.

The poor man's available light compatible lens duo with great overall IQ!

[Fleetie]

I've been a firm believer that upgrading one's gear usually doesn't improve one's photography. However, I recently picked up the Canon 85 f/1.8, and I must say, this lens has definitely improved my work. Why? Interestingly, it's due to more than the image quality. Yes, it's a great, sharp lens, but it's really not head-and-shoulders above some of my other lenses.

So if the image quality of the lens isn't leading to noticeably better images - what's changed? Inspiration. For a number of reasons, when I shoot with the 85 I feel inspired.

First, the focal length. I spent most of last year shooting with a 50mm, so the focal length is a little longer, and it inspires me to shoot from different perspectives.

Second, the feel. The size and weight of the 85 on a 5D feels just right to me. It's light enough to not wear me out after a full day of shooting, but it's also solid enough that it doesn't look or feel like a toy.

Third, the image quality. There's no denying, this is a sharp, impressive lens. It may not produce quite the background blur of the 85 f/1.2, but the image quality is still pretty awesome. If I nail the exposure, focus, and composition, I can be quite sure that the lens will do the rest.

The 85/1.8 is a pleasure to use; great value, too. Nicely-built, and it gives great bokeh. I enjoyed it on my 7D, and I still enjoy it on my 5D3. It just feels nice!

Next on my list are the 2X TC and then the 85/1.2. That second one might take a few months though.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Going merely by stastics, my 135mm L is far ahead of my 35mmL as the most used lenses.  My 24-105mmL is third.  A lot of this has to do with my style of shooting, low light and theater use.

[bdunbar79]

It's interesting to note this.  My 85 f/1.2L II lens inspires me the most.  The only reaosn is that I page back through photos I have taken, for some reason, the photos where I used this lens are to me, my best photos ever.  I don't know what it is about the 24-105L, it's just not as good, even though it's more convenient.  My second favorite lens is my 50 f/1.4.  I love that lens for photos where I stop down.  My favorites:

1. 85L
2. 50 f/1.4
3. 70-200 f/2.8L II IS

[Razor2012]

70-200 f2.8 mk.ii

Amazing lens. This is one of the main reasons I am with Canon.

This.

[arcanej]

I just love the 50L and the pictures it takes.

[1255]

35L
85L
100L macro
135L
and i'm beginning to love my 70-300L

but, 85L is the one for me

though i definitely appreciate everyone that's into the tilt shifts, and i think i'm headed there next

and then there's the days that i shoot only with my phone, or with a polaroid 100, or something else like that. spent this morning playing with emulsion lifts shot with an sx70.

i appreciate what the OP expressed for sure, but just shoot. whatever inspires you, just shoot

[ronderick]

TS-E 17mm.

Using TS-E lens force me to slow down and set up my tripod before I take pictures. That sort of cooled down my trigger-happy use of DSLR and forced me to survey scenes before making decisions. Of course, it also introduced me to the world of tilt and shift...