$13 Million question for all the photographers in here.... [Archive]

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trapin

03-31-2010, 10:38 AM

Real simple....

If you could only own 3 lenses...what would they absolutely HAVE to be?

I have an idea but I'm interested in hearing others.

Thanks. :)

55ChevDelray

03-31-2010, 10:53 AM

28mm, 55mm, 105mm

wmhjr

04-01-2010, 05:56 AM

Real simple....

If you could only own 3 lenses...what would they absolutely HAVE to be?

I have an idea but I'm interested in hearing others.

Thanks. :)

For what camera? Important to know. Film 35mm, Digital such as DX based D300 Nikon or FX based D3? The first and last have pretty much native 35mm focal lengths. The DX sensor (like lots of other Canons with the 1.6, etc) have a smaller sensor that essentially increases focal length by 50%. So, a 50mm lens on a Nikon F1 is 50mm. On a D3 it's about 50mm. On a D300 it's effectively 75mm.

For my D300, favorite lenses are in no particular order:

Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 - Relatively fast, wide, sharp. Great for car shows or getting real wide angles and you're constrained by the focal issues of a digital SLR that isn't full frame.

Nikon 50mm f1.8. Gotta have a fast lens in your bag. Low light? No problem.

Lastly, the Nikon 70-200 mm F/2.8 ED-IF AF-S VR. Excellent on digital for fast, not too distant shots. F2.8 and VR give you options when lighting isn't perfect.

BA.

04-01-2010, 08:08 AM

:lurk:

monza

04-01-2010, 09:39 AM

My second lens purchase was a EF 50mm f/1.4

http://canon.ca/english/index-products.asp?lng=en&prodid=964&sgid=7&gid=2&ovr=1

So I could take these... fun lens!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/04/IMG_6604-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/04/SourceFFWD2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/04/IMG_6630-1.jpg

monza

04-01-2010, 09:54 AM

Tony what camera are you sporting?

AintQik

04-01-2010, 12:59 PM

Larry Callahan

04-01-2010, 01:22 PM

I love my Canon 18-200 for my day to day lens but it's freaking heavy and is a compromise. Jack of all trades master of none I guess. I do like my 50mm prime lens but I don't get to use it often enough.

I also use a 75-300 for the LONG reach but it's hard to keep steady and the quality is poor.

wmhjr

04-02-2010, 08:14 AM

My 18-200 in front of my D300 makes all the other about useless. However, I have noticed a bit of quality compromise. Any other Nikon users see this?

11-16 would be nice with a 300+ to take pictures of bigfeets in the mountains.

I use the 18-200 VR quite a bit. The quality is "pretty good" - not nearly what the 50 1.8 prime is, but with a little care it's more than acceptable. Mine is getting a little "loose" but it's still a good lens. I do find I still need to touch up shots a little more than I'd like with the 18-200. My favorite lenses are unfortunately not all in my bag. Hard to justify the cost for me. I've borrowed the 11-16 and it's incredible. Way better than the Nikon 12-14. It's just real hard to find often, and it's still around $600 for the lens.

trapin

04-06-2010, 12:12 PM

Tony what camera are you sporting?
Right now just a dinky D40. I have 3 lenses for it; 18-55, 55-200, 35mm f1.8.

I am saving my pennies for a D300 and will probably sell the camera I have now (plus the lenses, minus the 35mm f1.8) to help pay for it. I will just have to get by with the 35mm lens until I can afford the other two.

And the other two I plan to go with.....

1.) Nikkor 16-85 VR f3.5/5.6

2.) Nikkor 70-300 VR f4/5.6

Samckitt

04-06-2010, 12:41 PM

I have a 28-70 2.8L, a 70-200 2.8L & a 28-135 that I use. I use the 28-70 the most. The 70-200 & the 28-135 have image stabilization built into the lens. These are Canon lenses.

Jarcaines

04-06-2010, 01:21 PM

I just got a 50mm | 1.8 (cheaper version of what Monza posted) for my Rebel and I love it. Not really made for full car shots, but a great low light lens.

wmhjr

04-07-2010, 08:12 AM

Right now just a dinky D40. I have 3 lenses for it; 18-55, 55-200, 35mm f1.8.

I am saving my pennies for a D300 and will probably sell the camera I have now (plus the lenses, minus the 35mm f1.8) to help pay for it. I will just have to get by with the 35mm lens until I can afford the other two.

And the other two I plan to go with.....

1.) Nikkor 16-85 VR f3.5/5.6

2.) Nikkor 70-300 VR f4/5.6

I had (and got rid of) the 70-300. I was not at all happy with it. I used it both on my D70 and the D300. Not that sharp, too slow, just didn't care for it. Maybe you'll do better.

cmraman

04-07-2010, 09:36 AM

It really depends on your needs. I use Canon, I'm not sure what you are using. I have 16-35mm, 24-105mm, and 100-400mm. I will be getting a 70-200. Like I said it all depends on what your needs are.

maxharvard

04-08-2010, 05:51 PM

Pretty much got the 3 I can't live without.

14-24 2.8
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8 VR

~Eric

GregWeld

04-09-2010, 06:39 AM

dipren443

04-09-2010, 07:38 AM

Real simple....

If you could only own 3 lenses...what would they absolutely HAVE to be?

I have an idea but I'm interested in hearing others.

Thanks. :)

Cost being no object??? Hmm.

I would buy these with my current body (D80). If I had a full frame body, the answer might be slightly different.

Nikon 12-24. (I have the Tokina 12-24, which I am very happy with, but would buy the Nikon if I had the cash)

Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Nikon 70-200 VR

dipren443

04-09-2010, 12:51 PM

Pretty much got the 3 I can't live without.

14-24 2.8
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8 VR

~Eric

Almost identical to my choices... I like the 12-24 since its just a bit wider. Never played with the 14-24, but I am guessing its a damn nice lens.

thedodgeboys

04-09-2010, 04:48 PM

My 18-200 in front of my D300 makes all the other about useless. However, I have noticed a bit of quality compromise. Any other Nikon users see this?

I have; its an ok peace I would like it to be just a little sharper.

maxharvard

04-09-2010, 04:57 PM

Almost identical to my choices... I like the 12-24 since its just a bit wider. Never played with the 14-24, but I am guessing its a damn nice lens.

It is... sharp edge to edge all the way through with zero distortion.

The only other lenses I need are in the $6-10,000 range :yum:

wmhjr

04-10-2010, 07:37 AM

I always love the statement Rupp made once on a camera question -- What's the best camera? His response - "the one you have with you". SO TRUE

I have a Nikon D70 - have other lenses but haven't taken off the 18-200 F3.5 VR since I bought it. A jack of all trades lens that I'm happy with 99% of the time.

Question: I have the D70 and the D300. LOVE the D300. I don't use my D70 much anymore, as I find I have to spend more time than I like messing with the products. It's a REAL dark camera. Do you find your D70 also has issues with white balance and light metering in general? If I take a pic with the D70, swap lens onto the D300 and take the exact same pic, the differences in brightness and contrast are amazing. Lately I've wondered if it's just mine and something is wrong with it or if it's common to the D70?

GregWeld

04-10-2010, 07:53 PM

I haven't found it to be "dark" but also don't or haven't made the side by side comparison you've been able to make. But it sounds to me - that maybe it should be looked at.

wmhjr

04-12-2010, 07:24 AM

I haven't found it to be "dark" but also don't or haven't made the side by side comparison you've been able to make. But it sounds to me - that maybe it should be looked at.

Yeah, problem is that the cost to have it checked is probably more than the cost of replacing a D70 body at this point. :(

trapin

05-10-2010, 10:38 AM

Just to give you guys an update, I have graduated from my D40 to a D300. LOVE this camera. Sold the D40 on eBay.

wmhjr

05-10-2010, 12:47 PM

Just to give you guys an update, I have graduated from my D40 to a D300. LOVE this camera. Sold the D40 on eBay.

It's amazing how much nicer the D300 is, isn't it? I planned to keep my D70 after I got my D300, but ended up never using it again. I just sold it last weekend.