If You Could Have One 1 Lens...

[bholliman]

Obviously, this is all hypothetical, since having interchangeable lenses is one of the main advantages of a DSLR, but if I had to choose:

1) EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
2) EF 70-200 f/2.8 II IS

When I get my EF 24-70 f/2.8 II in a month or so, I imagine it will make this list.

I mostly shoot family/kids and landscapes.

 

[Dick]

Well, for crop it is indeed quite a no-brainer to choose the

1. EF-S 17-55 IS USM, because it's decent enough for crop photos.

For FF all this becomes harder, since the basic 24-70mm zooms and the 24-105L are quite bad in one way or the other.

2. Sigma 35mm would be my current choice, because it is amazingly sharp & 35mm is great for general purpose shots. I use this lens the most these days, unless of course I'm out shooting macro stuff.

 

[bholliman]

I guess I'd also go 24-70 mkii as well, but I've never used it... so I'm relying on other people's opinion.

You are kidding, right?

 

[drolo61]

For FF 24-70 2,8 II on 5DIII

As I have to choose one system only - no crop for me

 

[eddiemrg]

1. 15-85 IS USM
2. 50 1.4 canon

 

[Click]

FF 24-70 f2.8 L II

 

[aprotosimaki]

For my 5D MKii, if we are talking about lenses we own, then the Sigma 105mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro ...

Great post!

Thanks

 

[pj1974]

For my 5D MKii, if we are talking about lenses we own, then the Sigma 105mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro.

You can use it for landscape

You can use it for portraits

You can use it as a telephoto

You can use it in low light

You can use it for macro (duh)

You can use it for product photography

You can use it for movies

Nature


I've thought about it a lot and a good 100-105mm macro lens is on of the most versatile lenses you can have in your kit even though it is only designed to do one job. The are very sharp, a great focal length, cheap, I got mine for $300, light weight, and have great focusing rings.

Edit
All of the photos above were taken with my Sigma 105mm, also here is an album of some of my favorite shots I've taken with the lens, http://www.flickr.com/photos/66627224@N02/sets/72157633893629528/

Well done Andy, your set of photos (also your flickr page) are an example of someone who knows how to use a lens well, good improvisation on the 'macro' lens.

The other day I was using my Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM macro lens, and I also really love the photos that I can achieve with this lens.

 

[ecka]

I don't really see the point of having a DSLR if you could only have one lens... so this thread is very much hypothetical for me, as I use different lenses for different purposes.

+1

I see this kind of questions mostly coming from zoom fans. If the rule allowed 1 zoom or 2 primes, then it would be a different story (at least for me). Otherwise, why not RX1, X100s or EOS-M+22/2 ?

 

[Rienzphotoz]

For my Canon 5DMK III: 24-70 f/2.8
For my Nikon D7100: 18-300 VR

 

[AmbientLight]

This is a strange topic indeed. Based on my own lens usage statistics I have to say +100 for Crasher 8's first recommendation:

FF

ef 50 1.2

Then again I never pack just one lens, but sets of primes and sometimes I take zooms as well. I must admit I consider it rather weird to utilize just one lens. What's the point in using an interchangeable lens system?

 

[Markus D]

Canon 100 2.8 L IS Macro
Canon 50 1.4

Bodies I have are 40D and 5D II. Lenses will suit both and with the multi factor on the 40D 100 can get away with a 160 FOV.

Both top lenses.

 

[maiajanus]

Maybe the recent Canon 35mm f2 IS -- for FF and standard sensors.

I use the older 35 f/2 on both cropped and FF and it is very versatile. light, small, sharp-enough, close focusing distance, and very affordable. I'm on my second 35 f2. I'd like a better build, but can't justify it's replacement.

I do not make money from photography, so size/weight are important to me. I want to have fun when I'm out.
on APS-C: my goto travel/one-lens solution was the tamron 17-50 f2.8.
on FF: have not found it yet(maybe the older brother 28-75, every other zoom is heavy)

 

[jdramirez]

I guess I'd also go 24-70 mkii as well, but I've never used it... so I'm relying on other people's opinion.

You are kidding, right?

I was kidding about the 8mm fisheye. I haven't the 24-70 so I don't know if it really is the god lens like everyone makes it out to be.

 

[RLPhoto]

50L

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Probably the 24-70 f/2.8 although I don't own it today. Of the ones I do own probably the 35L.

 

[captainkanji]

For my 6D, I'd choose the 16-50 f/4L IS USM once it comes into existence. Most of my events are shot between 24 and 34mm. It would give me a little more range than the 16-35 and I like IS since my technique isn't the best yet. For now I'd choose the 24-105. It has a decent range and I am satisfied with IQ, but I've never used the 16-35. Man, picking one lens is hard. I'm dying to rent the new Sigma 35 Art and a 70-200 2.8 II.

 

[RMC33]

Don't shoot crop anymore, but if the 7DII is what canon is planning, 300 f/2.8 II

FF, I would have to take the Canon 17mm TS-E~ Nothing in my kit beats if for landscape or arch

 

[marcel]

Last year I took photos of a wedding with only one lens.
Was a very interesting experience, because the photos are being built with the frame and using a single lens can tell a whole story with only one point of view or angle of vision, changing the lens also changes the way you tell the story.
No doubt the lens is the 35 mm, in my case was the old EF 35 f 2.0 with the EOS 5D classic.

 

[AvTvM]

easy!

APS-C: EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS
"FF": EF 24-70/2.8 L II