What is your favorite lens and why?

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DCM1024

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Which lens do you love the most, even if it is not the most practical to use? How does it inspire you? If you could choose to own any lens, what would it be? I recently bought the 135 f2 just because I loved photos using this lens that were posted by members of this forum. No regrets, it was refreshing to take a step away from the always useful zooms, and I purchased it for me, just because I wanted it :D
 
RS2021 said:
Depends on the mood...favorites probably are 35L and 135L ...followed by 85L.
But most used is a different question... 35L and 24-105L on that one.

So even though your zoom range covers your 35L, it is still one of your most used lenses....Why?
 
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RS2021 said:
Depends on the mood...favorites probably are 35L and 135L ...followed by 85L.
But most used is a different question... 35L and 24-105L on that one.

Almost the same here.

Favorite lenses: the 135L and the 35L (in this order); then the 70-200/4 IS (no f/2.8 because I travel a lot with my lenses).

Most used: the 24-105 by far; followed by the 35L and the 70-200.

Least used: the 135L, which is my favorite as well. Go figure! :)
 
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DCM1024 said:
RS2021 said:
Depends on the mood...favorites probably are 35L and 135L ...followed by 85L.
But most used is a different question... 35L and 24-105L on that one.

So even though your zoom range covers your 35L, it is still one of your most used lenses....Why?

35L is a unique lens...the focal length, quick AF, sharpness (considering it is from 1998)...the wide aperture (3 stops over the 24-105L) ...but what it really comes down to is the shooting style which is personal....for a birder, it would be a useless lens I am guessing...but for a people centered style, it is a key lens.
 
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gary samples said:
DCM1024 said:
gary samples said:
most used 600mm f/4.0
next 200mm f/2.0
to buy list 85L
Just rented the 24-70L II loved it

What are you shooting for the 600mm to be your most used lens?
wild life heavy on birds in flight in Utah you need all the glass you can get !!

I love quality wildlife & bif photos. Perhaps I'll get to try that someday. My bird photos are 99% captive.
 
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alexanderferdinand said:
35L. On my 5d3 it gives me, mostly used at 1.6 to 2.8 the ability, to shoot people in artificial light like in a coffeehause or a nightclub, with a bit of surrounding. Beautiful color, bokeh; with the mk3 the safety to get sharp picture although it has a thin dof.

Are you able to get a pleasing facial aspect at that focal length? I had always read that one should be out at 85mm or longer....
 
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gary samples said:
have a look in the Topic: Any Thing shot with a 1Dx fill of my shots

I will check it out :) I saw the thread topic, but had not taken a look as a 1Dx, though the Canon flagship body, is not on my wish list. The 5Ds are enough for me. I also chose 70-200 F4L IS vs 2.8L II for size/weight reasons. I'm happy with my choice, it is the right one for me.
 
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DCM1024 said:
Which lens do you love the most, even if it is not the most practical to use? How does it inspire you? If you could choose to own any lens, what would it be? I recently bought the 135 f2 just because I loved photos using this lens that were posted by members of this forum. No regrets, it was refreshing to take a step away from the always useful zooms, and I purchased it for me, just because I wanted it :D

I Agree! only regret I have with the 135 is that i've left it so long to get one!
also the new sigma 35 f1.4 I am really loving this lens alot
and the sigma 85 f1.4 i like alot these are probably my most used 3 lenses at the moment

I do still like the 16-35 but its kind of taken a back seat to the sigma now unless i need to go ultra wide
 
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wickidwombat said:
DCM1024 said:
Which lens do you love the most, even if it is not the most practical to use? How does it inspire you? If you could choose to own any lens, what would it be? I recently bought the 135 f2 just because I loved photos using this lens that were posted by members of this forum. No regrets, it was refreshing to take a step away from the always useful zooms, and I purchased it for me, just because I wanted it :D

I Agree! only regret I have with the 135 is that i've left it so long to get one!
also the new sigma 35 f1.4 I am really loving this lens alot
and the sigma 85 f1.4 i like alot these are probably my most used 3 lenses at the moment

I do still like the 16-35 but its kind of taken a back seat to the sigma now unless i need to go ultra wide

How are you using your 135? I have only had mine briefly and have only had a chance to use it at the zoo & botanical garden thus far. It was too long for the one studio/boudoir shoot I tried it at - lovely, but backed into the wall trying to get a full body shot. Plus she was a former model & quite tall.
 
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I could never choose "one lens to rule them all" unless someone manufactured a complete impossibility such as a 17-200 f/1.2 with IS. An imaginary beast like that would likely weigh 100lbs, would be three feet long, and would cost 50k. =)

Back to reality. It's a close toss up between the 85L f/1.2 II "keg" and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II L. I suppose the 85L probably tops my list. In my experience, the big cocoanut is out of this world sharp and nothing bests it in near-zero light. I adore fast glass, but nothing I've ever used comes close to this lens in sharpness and bokeh wider than f/2. I'll step back as far as I can as an excuse to use this lens, if at all possible. I have lots of glass and several overlapping focal ranges, but I can't live without the 85.

I'm slowly beginning to adore the new Sigma 35 f/1.4, I might add.
 
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e-d0uble said:
I could never choose "one lens to rule them all" unless someone manufactured a complete impossibility such as a 17-200 f/1.2 with IS. An imaginary beast like that would likely weigh 100lbs, would be three feet long, and would cost 50k. =)

Back to reality. It's a close toss up between the 85L f/1.2 II "keg" and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II L. I suppose the 85L probably tops my list. In my experience, the big cocoanut is out of this world sharp and nothing bests it in near-zero light. I adore fast glass, but nothing I've ever used comes close to this lens in sharpness and bokeh wider than f/2. I'll step back as far as I can as an excuse to use this lens, if at all possible. I have lots of glass and several overlapping focal ranges, but I can't live without the 85.

I'm slowly beginning to adore the new Sigma 35 f/1.4, I might add.

The 85L is a lens I am giving strong consideration to. I realized I needed it as soon as I tried the 135L in studio.
 
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DCM1024 said:
wickidwombat said:
DCM1024 said:
Which lens do you love the most, even if it is not the most practical to use? How does it inspire you? If you could choose to own any lens, what would it be? I recently bought the 135 f2 just because I loved photos using this lens that were posted by members of this forum. No regrets, it was refreshing to take a step away from the always useful zooms, and I purchased it for me, just because I wanted it :D

I Agree! only regret I have with the 135 is that i've left it so long to get one!
also the new sigma 35 f1.4 I am really loving this lens alot
and the sigma 85 f1.4 i like alot these are probably my most used 3 lenses at the moment

I do still like the 16-35 but its kind of taken a back seat to the sigma now unless i need to go ultra wide

How are you using your 135? I have only had mine briefly and have only had a chance to use it at the zoo & botanical garden thus far. It was too long for the one studio/boudoir shoot I tried it at - lovely, but backed into the wall trying to get a full body shot. Plus she was a former model & quite tall.

for low light events, wedding receptions, tight candid portraits, this lens is perfect for this
I found the 85 didnt have enough reach and people often saw you coming and "posed" the 135 is more stealthy and has brilliantly fast and accurate AF even in low light
then the 35 siggy on a second body for wider shots groups of people etc
 
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wickidwombat said:
DCM1024 said:
wickidwombat said:
DCM1024 said:
Which lens do you love the most, even if it is not the most practical to use? How does it inspire you? If you could choose to own any lens, what would it be? I recently bought the 135 f2 just because I loved photos using this lens that were posted by members of this forum. No regrets, it was refreshing to take a step away from the always useful zooms, and I purchased it for me, just because I wanted it :D

I Agree! only regret I have with the 135 is that i've left it so long to get one!
also the new sigma 35 f1.4 I am really loving this lens alot
and the sigma 85 f1.4 i like alot these are probably my most used 3 lenses at the moment

I do still like the 16-35 but its kind of taken a back seat to the sigma now unless i need to go ultra wide

How are you using your 135? I have only had mine briefly and have only had a chance to use it at the zoo & botanical garden thus far. It was too long for the one studio/boudoir shoot I tried it at - lovely, but backed into the wall trying to get a full body shot. Plus she was a former model & quite tall.

for low light events, wedding receptions, tight candid portraits, this lens is perfect for this
I found the 85 didnt have enough reach and people often saw you coming and "posed" the 135 is more stealthy and has brilliantly fast and accurate AF even in low light
then the 35 siggy on a second body for wider shots groups of people etc

Ok, that means it will be perfect for me. I will be in Atlanta for a wedding next weekend
 
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