Time for a playful topic! What's in your two lens bag?

ken

Engineer, snapper of photos, player of banjos
CR Pro
Aug 8, 2016
86
94
Huntsville, AL
It "depends"...

If I have no idea what I might be shooting, these are the two really versatile lenses for me:

- Canon EF 24-105mm IS
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

If I'll be shooting people, I'll lean on the 70-200 for most of the work:

- Canon EF 24-105mm IS
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

If I'll be shooting landscapes. it's hard to leave the 70-200 behind, but the 100-400 simply covers more bases, and is just as sharp. This leaves a big gap, but such is life with a 2-lens limit:

- Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

These are tough choices! And that's why I almost always have at least 3 lenses with me. ::)

Nice topic! :thumbsup:
 
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ken

Engineer, snapper of photos, player of banjos
CR Pro
Aug 8, 2016
86
94
Huntsville, AL
ken said:
It "depends"...

If I have no idea what I might be shooting, these are the two really versatile lenses for me:

- Canon EF 24-105mm IS
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

If I'll be shooting people, I'll lean on the 70-200 for most of the work:

- Canon EF 24-105mm IS
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

If I'll be shooting landscapes. it's hard to leave the 70-200 behind, but the 100-400 simply covers more bases, and is just as sharp. This leaves a big gap, but such is life with a 2-lens limit:

- Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

These are tough choices! And that's why I almost always have at least 3 lenses with me. ::)

Nice topic! :thumbsup:

And this is going totally based on what gear I own. I regularly rent lenses, so if I knew (for example) I was shooting people at an event, I'm likely to replace the 24-105 that I own with a rented 24-70 ii, or a fast prime if I'm shooting formal portraits.
 
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FTb-n

Canonet QL17 GIII
Sep 22, 2012
532
8
St. Paul, MN
It depends:

Indoor events (most often): Two FF bodies with 24-70 f2.8 II, 70-200 f2.8 IS II
Indoor "Travel Light" kit: 1Dx II with 70-200 f2.8 IS II, 40 f2.8 pancake

Outdoor Sports/Travel: Two FF bodies with 24-105 f4 IS, 100-400 f4.5-5.6 IS II
Outdoor "Travel Light" kit: 1Dx II with 100-400 f4.5-5.6 IS II, 40 f2.8 pancake

Travel Very Light Kit: SL2 with 18-135 f3.5-5.6 USM IS
Travel Tiny kit: SL2 with 24 f2.8 pancake
 
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helpful

Ecclesiastes 3:11
Mar 6, 2012
247
2
slclick said:
Without adding how you can't use two lenses and all the other straying from the topic crappola....


Mine is 135L and 35 IS.

I'll be shooting the Park City 4th Parade and ongoing activities with that tomorrow.


Some will stray, we know who you are.

Thanks, this is an awesome topic. Too many photographers limit themselves with too many lenses and zooms. Two classic primes, chosen to be right for the job, are very freeing.

It really depends on the job completely, but for many, many jobs, I find these to be the best:

35mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4

or

35mm 1.4 and 135 1.8
 
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pwp said:
I'm so conventional!

The two-lens bag doesn't require any thought at all. It's the 24-70 f/2.8II & 70-200 f/2.8isII.
In my world, L zooms rule. If the question expanded to a three lens bag, add the 16-35 f/4is.

It's not called the Holy Trinity for nothing.

-pw

SOOOO heavy. Im selling 70-200 II because it is not pratical carrying around.

My Holy Trinity is:

5D mkIV, 35L II, spare batery...

Add other lens? 85L 1.2 II, easy...
 
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pwp

Oct 25, 2010
2,530
24
filipe.ngra said:
pwp said:
I'm so conventional!

The two-lens bag doesn't require any thought at all. It's the 24-70 f/2.8II & 70-200 f/2.8isII.
In my world, L zooms rule. If the question expanded to a three lens bag, add the 16-35 f/4is.

It's not called the Holy Trinity for nothing.

-pw
SOOOO heavy....
...and SOOOO flexible, practical and optically as good as a bag full of primes. In fast moving, dynamic shooting situations, you're never stuck with the wrong focal length (with two bodies).

For the most part, it's the professionals choice. 1-Series bodies are heavy too, but once used, you wouldn't be without them.

-pw
 
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Having never posted here before???

awair said:
My 'I'm not taking a camera bag or a camera' 2-lens setup:

100D (SL1) with EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS
EF-S 24/2.8 (if I need something more discrete: also never used!)

awair said:
My (travel) 2-lens bag:

5D4 with 85/1.4L (fitted)
40/2.8 pancake (never used!)

My two-lens/two-body/two-bag (sports) travel bag (can I also include the 1.4X...)

5D4 with 400/2.8L
1DX with 135/2L (please make an IS like the 85...)

That's a really effective combo, especially when considering the body switch as well.
 
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