If you could only have three lenses...

[Dantana]

So, I had to think of this 2 ways:

From my current kit, and still on crop: 85 1.8 (current favorite lens), 35 2.0 (old version), 20 .28 (not the best lens but the widest prime I have right now.

Planning on upgrading to the 6D in the near future when the piggy bank is full, so the realistic 3 after that would be: 24-105 4.0L, 85 1.8, and a tossup between the 35 and the 20, though if I can swing the 200 2.8L for the long end, I'd love to go with that.

I can't even think of what the 3 would be if there were no restrictions.

 

[Bruce Photography]

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

+1 to your selection. The new Canon 24-70 is really a joy to use. Since I'm mostly a landscape guy, I would probably substitute the Nikon 14-24mm with the lens converter because I often do manual focus anyway. For any one interested, my favorite Nikon lenses are the same three Nikon focal lengths and using the 14-24 as much as I can whenever I limit my selection to just three. If you had said 4 lenses I would add the 300mm lens as the next most used lens.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

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?

Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8 L II ... for landscape
Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC ... for handheld video
Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II ... for sports & portraiture
Luckily I have all 3 of them

 

[crank47]

For my action sport needs:

15mm 2.8 Fisheye
16-35mm 2.8 L II
50mm 1.2 L

Body - 5Dmk3 + grip or 1Dx

 

[markko]

Currently I carry these three with me all the time:
[list type=decimal]
[*]17-40mm 4.0
[*]24-70mm 2.8 II
[*]70-200mm 2.8 II
[/list]

As you can expect I'm very in love with the 24-70 and the 70-200. I had the 16-35 2.8 II, but I didn't like it's fuzzy borders on a full frame, so I replaced it with the 17-40.

Here is hoping for a new super wide-angle @ f/2.8.

Cheers,

Mark.

 

[Cptn Rigo]

Well, I only have 4 lenses... but always carry 3 on my bag all the time

35L, 85L and 135L

the 70-300L stays in home almost all the time

 

[Trovador]

For me it is the Canon 17-40L, Canon 24-70 2.8L and the 70-200 2.8L IS II, but shhhhhh will try to sneak the 100 2.8L when noone's looking. :-X

 

[bholliman]

These three are my most used lenses.

24-105 f/4.0
70-200 f/2.8 II
135 f/2.0

I will purchase a 24-70 f/2.8 II soon and expect that lens to replace the 24-105 on this list.

 

[archiea]

These three are my most used lenses.

24-105 f/4.0
70-200 f/2.8 II
135 f/2.0

I will purchase a 24-70 f/2.8 II soon and expect that lens to replace the 24-105 on this list.

Not so fast, the 24-105 is a great range, albeit at f4. However in studio shoots, one is usually at F5.6, 8 or narrower... and the zoom range of the 24-105 comes in handy to provide the portrait range of 80-100. 24-70 is a great lens but don;t give up so fast on that 24-105.. plus it has IS!!!

My best three?.. well, two that I;m certain of:

16-25mm zoom
70-200mm zoom..

The third.. I'd say the F1.4 50mm... its good to have a prime lens there that stops down to F1.4...

 

[BrettS]

If you could only have three lenses...

...I'd freak out. Totally.

LOL!!! Ditto.

My 3 favorite lens, however, seem to be my 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro, 50mm f/1.2L USM, and 500 f/4L IS USM.

Were there a disaster, they would be the first three I'd re-purchase.

But I also love my 70-200mm f/4L IS USM and 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. My 17-40 f/4L USM I tend to use less.

Gah! I hate these questions...

 

[Area256]

Of the lenses I currently own:

24-105 f/4L IS
100 f/2.8L Macro
50 f/1.4

If I could only have any 3 lenses and could get anything I wanted:

24-70 f/2.8L II
135 f/2L
200-400 f/4L 1.4x IS

Although it's a close call between the 135 and 100 macro....

 

[chas1113]

Prime Trinity:
EF 24mm 1.4 II L
EF 50mm 1.2 L
EF 100mm 2.8 IS L

Zoom Trinity:
EF 24-70 2.8 II L
EF 70-200 2.8 II L
EF 200-400 4.0 L

My real-life, workaday, weather-sealed IS trinity:
EF 24-105 4.0 IS L
EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS L
EF 100 2.8 IS L

(came in handy this past weekend)

 

[swampler]

My main 3 lenses are the 24-105 f/4L, 70-200 f/2.8L, and 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L. Do about everything with those, though I do have the 50 f/1.8 and 85 f/1.8 as well.

 

[spinworkxroy]

Well, i would love to have:
1) 24-70 II
2) 70-200 F2.8 II
3) 85L

That's only because i do mainly portraits and almost never landscapes…but the 24-70 should really be all i need 90% of the time..that's actually the ONLY lens i bring out these days.

 

[RLPhoto]

24LII

50L

135L F/1.8 IS. 8)

 

[bholliman]

These three are my most used lenses.
24-105 f/4.0
70-200 f/2.8 II
135 f/2.0
I will purchase a 24-70 f/2.8 II soon and expect that lens to replace the 24-105 on this list.

Not so fast, the 24-105 is a great range, albeit at f4. However in studio shoots, one is usually at F5.6, 8 or narrower... and the zoom range of the 24-105 comes in handy to provide the portrait range of 80-100. 24-70 is a great lens but don;t give up so fast on that 24-105.. plus it has IS!!!

You might be right. Once I get the 24-70 I'll be able to answer better. I just imagine I'll be using it for most shots between 24-70mm thanks to its superior sharpness and less distortion, but might miss the range and IS. I plan to hang onto the 24-105.

 

[gigabellone]

Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC
Canon 85/1.2L
Canon 200/2.8L

 

[Mr Bean]

24LII

50L

135L F/1.8 IS. 8)

+1

 

[87vr6]

I'd keep my 14L II, 24-70II, 70-200 IS II. Can I have an extender?

 

[Mendolera]

Canon 24-70 L II
Canon 70-200 L II
Canon 200-400 F4 IS

If I had to reduce inventory of what I currently own already

Canon 24-105L
Canon 100-400L
Canon 85 F1.8