Lenses that inspire you?

[kev8d]

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.

So, my question is: Is there a particular lens that inspires you and, as a result, makes you a better photographer? If so, what lens, and why?

 

[tron]

TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

I use this lens to correct converging verticals. However, I keep using it as much as possible. So I have to use my feet and pay more attention to composition. It is interesting that although I carry a lot of my lenses in my bag when I put a fixed lens (especially this one) I try to make the most of it instead of putting back my standard zoom (a 24-105).

 

[K-amps]

70-200 f2.8 mk.ii

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

 

[1nsanity]

Canon 24L MK II

Not my most used lens, but definitely one that allows endless possibilities and gets me thinking about my composition almost every time.

 

[Menace]

I mainly shoot portraits and recently tried 85 1.2L - WOW. I was simply blown away by it

 

[canon816]

My kit consists of 5 lenses that cover 17mm to 600mm. Not one single lens in there inspires me to shoot. I seek out scenes that inspire me and as that scene develops I reach for the lens that will best compliment my vision.

 

[ontarian]

For me it changes quite often but the most consistently awe inspiring lenses I seem to keep going back to are

EF 300mm 2.8 L IS

Canon EF 300mm 2.8L IS USM with lenscoat by Ontarian, on Flickr

EF 135mm 2L (and the new EOS mount prototype FD 135/2)

Magic Pipe Sr. - The Canon FDn 135mm f/2 remastered EOS style by EdMika by Ontarian, on Flickr

FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical made EF by EdMika EOS kit

EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical EOS adapter kit by Ontarian, on Flickr

 

[bchernicoff]

Without being a 'smart ass', a lens does not inspire me one bit. It is the subject that does. Only then I pick a lens to represent the best aspect of the subject.
Thx.

It's true that most of the time the subject should be what inspires us, but it's also true that a lens can too. Sometimes it's very fun to grab only a "creative" lens when I'm walking out the door to challenge myself to see what I can come up with...something like a tilt-shift or an extreme wide angle lens (Sigma 12-24 on full-frame). I n this way the lens inspires the photographer to try something they ordinarily wouldn't.

 

[julescar]

Whatever inspires you to take great photos, the subject (then the gear) or the gear then the subject it doesn't really matter. I sometimes decide to use a particular lens and other times I select the lens depending on the subject (not to mention the camera too). I love the 135mm F2 a beautiful candid street photography lens. The big/white lenses draw too much attention.

 

[gary samples]

600mm f/4
200mm f/2.0

 

[stephan]

Canon 50mm f1.4

This lens got me started in photography (not counting taking pictures with the kit 18-55), and I used it exclusively for almost a year. Since I used it on a crop body, it feels like an 85 on a 5D.

 

[keithcooper]

TS-E 24 (mk 1)

Got one second hand and learnt (and understood) camera movements on a 1Ds. Changed my appreciation of the representation of 3D space on a flat plane.

Lots of lenses have had an effect on my work (50/1.2 and 24/2.8 years ago on my OM-2) but the tse24 is something that has left a real perceptual effect

 

[crasher8]

Lensbaby Composer. EF-S 10-22.

 

[Tcapp]

Sigma 85 1.4. Love the field of view, bokeh, quality, everything. Challenges me to make a photo worthy of this lens.

 

[paul13walnut5]

I had two lenses which inspired me up to a point, in as far as that I could pick them up and feel entirely confident that if I did my bit right they wouldn't dissapoint.

I had the 200mm f2.8 L II which even on the 400D I was using, could, set up properly give me very very decent sports shots (speedway motorcycling, jetskis, rally cars) felt nice in the hand and was very fast and silent in AiServo mode, especially restricted to the 400D's central point.

I now use a 7D and a 70-200 f2.8 L for this kind of stuff, and whilst it IS better, it damned well should be as it cost about 5x as much!... I always felt the 200mm f2.8L was a sneaky little secret that nobody else knew about and that by shooting on a relatively cheap body and getting good shots that I was bucking the system a little.
Silly I know, but it was just such a nice lens to use.

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 sold up for money for f2.8 zooms (more useful for my video) but actually wish I had kept this one. Just one of those lenses you could forget about. A theme with primes in general. I find with zooms that I often spend more time tinkering with the shot than taking. With a prime I spend more time finding my shot before hand and more time shooting when the moment occurs.

My new faavourite might be my 100mm f2.0. But I've been too busy with work of late to really use it in anything approaching even moderate anger.

 

[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