If you could only have three lenses...

[bleephotography]

If you could only have three lenses to shoot video AND general photography on FF cameras, (including sports, portraiture with or without flash, macro, etc.), which would you choose?

Base on my limited experience, I would probably go with the Tamron 24-70 VC, Canon 70-200 IS II and Canon 50 f/1.2. Why the Tamron instead of the Canon 24-70 II? I've used both briefly and although the Canon produces sharper images, the Tamron comes pretty close, especially in the center, and also has VC; throw on some extension tubing and you've got yourself a decent macro lens. The Canon 70-200 is an obvious choice for most of the above purposes, and is the sharpest zoom in the range; combined with a TC, you've got yourself a highly versatile, but heavy piece of glass. Lastly, the 50 f/1.2 is the fastest in the current L lineup and is an alright general walk-around lens, but is really meant to be shot wide open; I would use this mostly for low light photography when I just don't want to carry around a big, heavy zoom and/or flash.

What about you?

 

[bleephotography]

If you could only have three lenses to shoot video AND general photography on FF cameras, (including sports, portraiture with or without flash, macro, etc.), which would you choose?

Base on my limited experience, I would probably go with the Tamron 24-70 VC, Canon 70-200 IS II and Canon 50 f/1.2. Why the Tamron instead of the Canon 24-70 II? I've used both briefly and although the Canon produces sharper images, the Tamron comes pretty close, especially in the center, and also has VC; throw on some extension tubing and you've got yourself a decent macro lens. The Canon 70-200 is an obvious choice for most of the above purposes, and is the sharpest zoom in the range; combined with a TC, you've got yourself a highly versatile, but heavy piece of glass. Lastly, the 50 f/1.2 is the fastest in the current L lineup and is an alright general walk-around lens, but is really meant to be shot wide open; I would use this mostly for low light photography when I just don't want to carry around a big, heavy zoom and/or flash.

What about you?

I also have the Sigma 35 f/1.4 and it would be a tossup between it or the Canon 50 f/1.2.

 

[Loswr]

If you could only have three lenses...

...I'd freak out. Totally.

 

[jVillaPhoto]

I currently own the 35L, 50L, and 135L. Absolutely Love the three, but might sell off the 35L for the 24L eventually. I really love the 35L though, and it definitely feels wide enough so I have to really think it through

 

[bchernicoff]

Of everything I own, the Tamron 24-70 VC, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II, and Sigma 35 would be the ones to keep I had to give the rest away.

 

[distant.star]

.
Normally I view these hypothetical questions as silly, but this one seems to have a purpose. It made me look at what I'm using.

At this point, I rarely use more than three lenses. Canon 17-40, Sigma 35 f/1.4 and Canon 135 F/2.0. Once in a while I'll mount the 70-200, but I don't seem to have much interest in focal lengths beyond that. Once in a while, I'll mount the 60mm macro on the T2i, but that's about it.

For most of what I do, the Sigma 35 is so perfect it has replaced the Canon 24-105 and the pancake Canon 40.

I keep meaning to sell off the 100-400. I've begun toying with the idea of selling that and the 24-105 and maybe getting the Canon 24-70 f/2.8, but then I think if I do that I've got nothing with IS.

Anyway, thanks for asking. Makes me think.

 

[docholliday]

Three lenses? Yeah, I'd freak out, and quit shooting...otherwise, for video and stills, 17 TS-E, Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar, Zeiss 135/2 APO Sonnar...and a 1Dx Body.

 

[Pi]

I often take only three lenses with me, so this is a meaningful question. Those are: the 24-105, the 35L and the 15 fisheye. The 100L, the 135L and the 70-200/4 IS are not used so often. Even if When I buy more lenses, I will still keep using those three the most, I guess.

 

[dirtcastle]

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L
Canon 50mm f/1.2 L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L II

This is a tough question because I shoot mostly in the 16mm to 70mm range. A 24-70mm lens would seem like the obvious choice for me, but it has so much crossover with other worthy lenses (and so many great fast primes). If I pick the 24-70mm, then I'm sorta forced to go with a 14mm and a 135mm. But then the 135mm is redundant with a 70-200mm, and the 14mm is not very versatile, but a 16-35mm is redundant with the 24-70mm and not the best performer in this cadre.

Ah, the classic lens choice dilemma. I deal with this all the time.

 

[TexasBadger]

Easy:
Canon 24-70 L II
Canon 70-200 L II
Canon 135 L

 

[Click]

My choice:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L
Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

 

[nWmR12]

At this moment in time it would be: 21ZE, 35L, and 135L.

 

[that1guyy]

24-70
70-200
and either 100-400 or maybe a nice fast prime. 50 1.4

 

[bleephotography]

I currently own the 35L, 50L, and 135L. Absolutely Love the three, but might sell off the 35L for the 24L eventually. I really love the 35L though, and it definitely feels wide enough so I have to really think it through

Are you considering the 24L because the 35L is so close to the perspective of your 50L?

Of everything I own, the Tamron 24-70 VC, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II, and Sigma 35 would be the ones to keep I had to give the rest away.

+1

.
I keep meaning to sell off the 100-400. I've begun toying with the idea of selling that and the 24-105 and maybe getting the Canon 24-70 f/2.8, but then I think if I do that I've got nothing with IS.

Have you considered the Tamron 24-70 instead? Although it's not quite as sharp, it does have VC!

Three lenses? Yeah, I'd freak out, and quit shooting...otherwise, for video and stills, 17 TS-E, Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar, Zeiss 135/2 APO Sonnar...and a 1Dx Body.

My choice:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L
Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

Interesting variation here: one would choose entirely manual focus lenses whilst the other would choose zooms...

 

[DJL329]

I have often gone out with just 3 lenses: the 50mm f/1.4, plus the 28mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8. They're small, light and fast, cover most of what I like to shoot and easily fit into my old Lowepro Off Road waist bag without needing the 2 side lens cases.

 

[Bob Howland]

24-70 f/2.8 II
70-200 f/2.8 IS II
200-400 f/4 IS 1.4X

 

[verysimplejason]

Tamron 24-70, 100mm macro usm L, 135mm L. I can't live without macro.

 

[gary samples]

I don't shoot video
600mm f/4.0
200mm f/2.0
24/70mm L II 2.8

 

[curtisnull]

Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II
Canon 300 f/2.8 L IS II

 

[docholliday]

Three lenses? Yeah, I'd freak out, and quit shooting...otherwise, for video and stills, 17 TS-E, Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar, Zeiss 135/2 APO Sonnar...and a 1Dx Body.

My choice:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L
Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

Interesting variation here: one would choose entirely manual focus lenses whilst the other would choose zooms...

Coming from Hasselblads and Wisners, there ain't much that I need autofocus for...and, it would be a toss up between my 17 TS-E and 21ZE Distagon