What's Your 'Go To' Lens?

Squidgy Black

I'm curious to see what kind of focal length and f-stop lens you guys are using most of the time. It'd be handy if you posted what it's mainly used for too, sports, portraits etc.

My Nikkor 50mm 1.8 rarely ever leaves my D200, it's mainly used for gigs, portraits and the odd landscape and just general use

kjt

My main lens is the canon 70-200mm 2.8. Mainly portraits/landscape. If that's not wide enough it's the 24/70, 90% of my shots are using those two.

JayEnnis

My sigma 17-70 f/2.8 rarely leaves my D80, I use a lot of M42 mount glass as well. Mainly a helios 44m 50mm f/2 and a pentax 35mm f/3.5

Thecageyone

I only have 3 lenses at present. One of them is an old manual 70-210 f/3.5 that I only ever use for it's 1:2.2 macro capabilities. The other two, a Tamron 17-50 2.8 and an 85mm f/1.8 get used about equally, but I don't have the 85mm very long.

The 85mm mostly for portraiture and the 17-50 for everything else [though in tighter psots I have used it for portraits too, it is good enough]. I want a proper macro lens though for the summer, I love getting into dirt and shooting bugs. trying to swing it so I can hold onto the 85mm, but if not, I'll sell/trade it for a macro lens.

The Tamron is the only definite stayer for me right now.

Zillah

JayEnnis wrote: »

My sigma 17-70 f/2.8

Hell yes, me too. Lovely lens. Auto-focus seems very loud compared to my newer 35mm 1.8, but for general flexibility the sigma is amazing. It has macro too.

Decoda

Sports = Canon 70-200mmL f2.8 non IS:D
Walkaround lens = Canon 24-105mmL f4 IS

DC

Kbeg3

Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 for landscapes and portraits mainly
Nikon 16-35 f/4 when I need to go wider

JayEnnis

Zillah wrote: »

Hell yes, me too. Lovely lens. Auto-focus seems very loud compared to my newer 35mm 1.8, but for general flexibility the sigma is amazing. It has macro too.

Yeah its a great lens and will focus right up to the front element

FoxT

I use my 70-200f/2.8L mostly these days - but mainly b/c I dont have it that long.

for social/indoor/flash/macro I have a Sigma 17-70 f/2.8 - 4.5. If I was reduced to having just one lens, this would be it. It isnt a true macro lens but will go to 1:2.3 or so, and gives quite good results.

I also have a 50mm f/1.4 which is great for indoor & low-light work - I'd really like a 30mm one of these - but I reckon it'd be cheaper to get a used 5D instead.

Finally, I have the sigma 10-20, quite a good lens, I don't use it that much tho - My brain isn't wired for UWA I think!

I used to have an 85 f/1.8 but I found that on my 40D it was often a bit too long , so sold it to help fund the 70-200.

My gear wishlist includes
- FF camera
-extension rings for use with the 70-200
- Couple of light stands & flashes, umbrellas etc
- perhaps a 1.4x extender for the 70-200 ( Going to a moto GP later in the year)

- FoxT

condra

50mm 1.8 most of the time.

kelly1

Canon 50mm 1.4 mostly.

kensutz

500mm f4
70-200 f/2.8
17-40 f4

Top 3 in that order.

Thecageyone

JayEnnis wrote: »

My sigma 17-70 f/2.8 rarely leaves my D80, I use a lot of M42 mount glass as well. Mainly a helios 44m 50mm f/2 and a pentax 35mm f/3.5

Isn't that sigma 2.8 - 4 variable? Pretty sure as i looked at one when buying the tamron. opted for the constant aperture. But it probably only dips to f/4 closer to 70?

OT: both my phone, and google Chrome would prefer Tamron to be a ladies monthly aid ...

sNarah

50 mm 2.8 on my Praktica. All the time.
It's beeeeeitifull!

AnimalRights

kelly1 wrote: »

Canon 50mm 1.4 mostly.

Yep!

and back up is 135L 2.0 for Pub candid shots.

Borderfox

85mm f1.2L for indoor shots/sports/portraits/weddings/social etc anything that needs low light coverage with a superb bokeh

JayEnnis

Thecageyone wrote: »

Isn't that sigma 2.8 - 4 variable? Pretty sure as i looked at one when buying the tamron. opted for the constant aperture. But it probably only dips to f/4 closer to 70?

OT: both my phone, and google Chrome would prefer Tamron to be a ladies monthly aid ...

Yeah it goes up to f/4.5 towards 70mm but I don't find that too much of a problem. I use it outdoors most of the time.

Hugh_C

For beauty/portraiture I use the Nikkor 50mm af-s f/1.4g on a D300. Several advantages here, it's effectively about a 75mm on the crop frame, just short of the perfect length for portraits, autofocus is quick and silent, and the whole package is a manageable weight so I can shoot for hours without needing to be a weightlifter.

The same can't be said for the D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm combo I use for weddings and fashion. Weighs a ton, frequently find myself reaching for the lighter D300 for a rest.

For landscape I use the very sharp Nikkor 24-85mm again on mostly the D300 but sometimes on a D70 for rough country/altitude where you're trying to keep the weight of your kit down. The crop frame makes it effectively 36-120 ish. Pain in the neck for pincushion etc at the wide end but mostly correctable with Ptlens.

magicbastarder

35mm f1.8 on the D300.

newbridgemom

sold most of my lenses to invest in the 50mm 1.2 which i use on my 5D mostly. i use it at home, out and about, and 90% at weddings. i love it!!!! i have a 100mm 2.8 macro and 28mm 1.8 which i use too, but the 50mm suits my style and gets used the most.

Fajitas!

Standard lens, whether it's on a 35mm, 120 or 4x5.

forza_milo

24-70L on 30D; 17-40L if looking for something wider or with less weight.

Freddie59

Canon 17-55 f/2.8 99% of the time (on an Eos 40D).
Tokina 12-24 f/4

Did have a 50mm 1.4 but found it too tight on a crop body.

Heebie

On my Canon 35mm f1.4 .. almost always use the 50mm and almost never use the 135mm f2.8

On my Pentax, my 17-70 Sigma f3-4.5.. or my 70-200 Tamron f2.8. I might use my 30mm f1.4 prime more now that I have one, though.

swingking

50mm f1.4
17-85 Canon efs
12-24 tokina f4

ThOnda

27-70/2.8L, built like a tank, paints like a fairy and at f/2.8 creates magic.