What is your favourite lens?

[hangdog]

hands down, nifty fifty. light, sharp and fast.

That has to be my most-used lens since our daughter came along 13 months ago.

The 50mm spends most of its time hooked up to the Fuji S1 Pro that I bought from lukeo in mid-2006, and which has seen the D70 temporarily relegated to non-portrait duties -- love the Fuji colours, although slow shot-to-shot times have resulted in me missing more than a few baby moments and leave me hankering for an S5. No budget to buy one for a while, though.

--Chuan, who really likes the 80-200mm f/2.8 more, but hasn't used it much since baby Valentine arrived.

[aaron1]

While the 24-105 is on the camera most of the time , and it gets the job done, my 10-22 is my favourite especially for landscapes and crazy cloud formations on a clear summers day, closely followed by the 70-200 cos its so damn fast and sharp.

[MHD]

50/1.4

Not particularly useful, not easy to use... but nothing creates ART like it...

closely followed by the 105/2,8 macro

[whitey]

This thread makes me want to buy another lens.

So far my best shots have come from my second hand 18-70mm kit lens.
The lens I like using the most is my 10-20mm sigma, just wish I got around to using it more.

[trotkiller]

Mamiya 80mm f4, its just so sharp and its the only lens I can afford for the 7II atm

My 28-70 f2.8 is almost permanently attached to my S5pro

[blacknstormy]

soo easy - the 105 2.8 mico-nikor
And all of the others close behine

[libertyterran]

My fav list:
+ Tokina 12-24mm
+ Nikkor 18-200mm AFS VR
+ Tamron 90mm

My wishlist:
+ Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 AFS VR

[aim54x]

Favourite lens that I OWN has to be Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, but if i owned the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 or the Tamron 90mm Macro they would have to be strongly considered. The 50mm is such a good walk around lens with the D300, too bad it is a lil too long on the DX bodies, not like on a film body.

[iposiniditos]

85mm f1.4d
nothing else to be said

[Flatpick]

I love ALL my "babies", (four I have)

it really depends on what I'm shooting.
What do I have on the camera most of the times ? The 28-70 / f 2.8
I also use extension rings.
I do not have a favourite, they are ALL sweet

I'm with christiand on this one, my 17-55 2.8 and my 70-200 vr 2.8 are great in there own way, I have recently purchased the 400 2.8 which I am sure will become as much loved as previously mentioned lenses, in saying that the 70-200 seem's to spend the most time on the camera

[psyc0re]

Nikon 105mm f/2D AF DC

Great quality on the optics, lovely bokeh, solid build and sharp as a knife. What more could you want from a lens?

[Nikon boy]

I have three favorites all Nikon, not in order don't ask me to do that !!!

14-24 2.8 amazing sharpness edge to edge at all f stops

24-70 2.8 just a beutiful lens

300 2.8 afs vr for sports, birdlife etc with or without converters

Only just got the first two and it was love at first capture, the chrystal nano coatings weaves it's magic with all three lenses

Will post some images with the new lenses when i get time

[xerubus]

Tamron 90mm for me. An outstanding macro lens, and also a damn fine lens for portrait work.

[Antsl]

Nikon 20-35 f2.8 because it is fast, reliable and moderately compact by comparison to the current generation of fast wide-angle zooms.
Wishing Nikon would update the 24mm f2 into an AF-S lens some-time soon!

[Cre8tivepixels]

Mine is the 85mm 1.8f Nikon (little lens packs a mean punch) Images lack a little contrast - nothing PS batch cant fix...........

[Oz_Beachside]

% usage:
1. 28-70 2.8
2. 70-200
3. 85 1.4

preference for result:

1. 85mm 1.4
2. 70-200VR 2.8
3. 17-35 2.8

[Alex]

My favourite is Nikkor 50 mm f1.4 for the quality, closely followed by Nikkor 20-35 f2.8.

Alex

[photohiker]

Zuiko 21mm F3.5

It's tiny, light and sharp.

It's not my dearest, nor my cheapest, but it is almost always with me, and it does a great job. Not bad for a 20+ year old lens.

I'd like something wider too, but the costs get out of hand below 17mm. One day I'm going to do something extravagant.

Michael

[gstark]

Zuiko 21mm F3.5

It's tiny, light and sharp.

A Zuiko??

I smell an OM of some vintage ... probably a 1 or a 2.

And sharp she would certainly be.

As a favour to me, (and it's really not a favour - it's actually a requirement of membership here, but it helps us to help you) could you please update your location in your profile so that it's in compliance with our rules? Please refer to the message at the top of the front page, and the FAQ, for guidance as to what is acceptable. Thanx in advance for your cooperation.

[photohiker]

Hi Gary,

For people in Australia, this means something like 'Suburb, City' or 'Suburb, State' (Bondi, NSW or Carlton, Melbourne). This is not negotiable: it is a condition of membership.

Oops, sorry about that. I knew location was required, but I just looked at what other users had and did something similar.

Yes, the lens is an OM Zuiko with a Kindai OM-EOS adapter.

Michael

[photohiker]

And yes, there is an early OM-2 here.

Bought it new. Traded my Olympus FTL Kit on it. Kinda sorry to see it gathering dust, but at least I can use the lenses.

Michael

[gstark]

Kinda sorry to see it gathering dust, but at least I can use the lenses.

I know exactly what you mean. it's really good glass.

[yinyang]

i love all my lenses

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Nikkor 35mm f/2D
Tokina 12-24mm f/4

however I think the 35mm gets used the most for what I prefer to shoot.

However with my new D300, I'm seriously considering the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 to supplement the above!

[glamy]

Patrick - a great question and a fascinating thread to read.

My favourite lens is my 10.5 DX fisheye, but it's not my most used nor is it one I couldn't do without. So why the difference (other than my personal semantics )

The 10.5 is my favourite because it allows me to push the boundaries of my photography. It can do cool distorted shots (Killakoala's recent bumble bee shot is a great example) or it can get me landscape shots not possible with even my 12-24 (duh!) with minimal distortion. Of course it's a challenging lens to use (and to not over use), but that's part of why it's a favourite.

As for most used/couldn't live without - in order I'd say the 28-70 f2.8 and the 17-35 f2.8. Both are ultra fast high quality glass. Both are wonderful everyday lenses (the 28-70 is a whisker more versatile with it's longer range) and both produce clear, sharp as a tack images with wonderful bokeh.

My thoughts, exactly, about the same lenses and better expressed than if I tried to put in my own words.
Cheers,
Gerard

[mansunzz]

my fav definitely the sigma 10-20. very versatile, down side definitely not a portrait lens. my lens of choice when i go walk around the city taking architetures.

[devilla101]

Mine has to be the 35mm 1.4. Nice and sharp wide open and so handy indoors.
The 70-200 2.8 IS for most of my portrait work

[Ozclick]

As much as I like my 70-200 vr I absolutely LOVE the 14-24.
The moment I took a shot with it at my local camera store I knew it was mine! lol
I love the distortion you can tailor to your needs and most of all is the peoples faces when they see it.
I`ve tested it during the Superboat GP in Sydney Harbour with direct sunlight and all I got was a little bit of flare.

Chris

[Reschsmooth]

It is interesting reading all the responses. Some of the common favourates include the 85 1.4, 28-70, 50s (1.8 & 1.4) and the 17-35 (oh, and some people use Canon as well. Go figure!) It goes to show the absolute value gained by the 50 1.8, and suggesting that it should be included in every bag (apart from Fozzie )

For those who haven't had a case of black&gold lens lust for a while, this article by Thom Hogan makes for a good wish list.

[kiwi]

favourite ? Sigma 120-300

Most used? Tammy 28-75

Most fun ? Nikon 50 1.8

Most useful ? Sigma 50-150

Most want to use more ? Tokina 12-24

Most lusted ? 400 2.8

Most likely to buy next ? Tamron 90mm


I think that covers my bag of tricks !!

[Matt. K]

Like Antsl I have a soft spot for the 20-35mm simply for its utility....but like MHD..the 50mm F1.4 is the lens that will take your imagery to the next level. It sings...and moreso when the light is low.

[digifrog]

Nikon 17-55 on a D200, Great focal length for everyday and sharp as.

[Cre8tivepixels]

My new 24-70mm Nikon i had some teething issues with it but its the sharpest lens i own

[BBJ]

Well my Nikon 300m F2.8 is on the D2x all the time at the track so i guess that is my most used lens and the Sigma 70-200 most other times.

[Grev]

Late addition but I'd say the 24-70mm f2.8, it's too useful for me but I have only used others, so I need to buy one.

[karenkwan]

I'd have to say the 50mm f/1.8 and the 24-70 f/2.8, the 50mm is really annoying at night though, but during the day time i love the DOF, the 24-70 is too sharp and fast for me not to love

[Suri]

What an excellent thread.
Lots of valuable information to be had within.

The user experience is always the most worthwhile feedback when considering the NEXT acquisition.
Like many who have posted before me - favourite may not be how I would determine lense selection.
Application and position dictate what I will consider my optimal choice.
That said, I am fortunate to have the big (3) being the 17-35f2.8, the 28-70f2.8 and the 70-200f2.8
As this is my 2nd round with photography I applied previous knowledge to focal length selection and purchased f2.8glass one piece at a time as the savings permitted.

They are all excellent. I only committed funds to them after exhaustive research into each acquisition.

But the Nikkor 85f1.4 is in a special class. It was my first prime lense purchase for digital photography.
No other lense I have ever purchased has given the impact punch of pure image quality that this glass possesses.

The 85f1.4 can be cruel in it's accuracy. Not a blemish is missed. Every freckle, line, hair, scar and unpopped zitt are captured on the D200 and I have often enquired of my better half her opinion on photoshop makeup post shoot. It is so much more discreet than the 28-70f2.8, but with a power that belies it's minimal appearance.

As previously noted - the DX sensor does push the photographer back from the action, which may well be considered a fault.
But this lense was never designed for a DX sensor.
I would be extremely interested to know how this lense performs with the D3 (D700) FX sensor - it may well influence a camera purchasing decision.

Go the 85f1.4 - if there is a better NIKKOR out there, I have yet to find it.

[aim54x]

EDIT: Earliar I wrote that the Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 would have to be considered to be my favourite lens if I owned it, well now I do. I have to say that the good old 50mm f/1.8 still gives it a run for its money. I have to say that it is a tie between the two lenses.

[bittenyakka]

my nikor 18-135 does pretty much everything i want until i go to an airport

[StarForge]

I have to say my favourite lens atm is the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S. The bokeh is amazing especially since it has 9 blades to control the aperture. For use on my Nikon D40 where there is no metering I used to get frustrated with having to guess the correct exposure, but now that I'm used to it I really enjoy using this lens, particularly the images it creates!

[Photoaction]

My Minolta 600mm f-4 HS does it for me. when ppl get new lens they practice etc...etc....etc. I had to pay for gym membership so I had the bloody stamina to carry this beast around....cheers

[brianrsmith]

actualy i have two 150-500 f5-6.3 sigma. plus 17-70 f2.8 mac sigma .I use a cannon boddy but have never had a problem with a sigma lens so far.

[Chaase]

50mmf1.4

[team piggy]

300 2.8 AF-S VR is my fav by far, but limited..

70-200 2.8 gets heaps of use and is an awesome workhorse.

28-70 2.8 next workhorse

14-24 New boy on the block and starting to get a workout..

50 1.4 limited use..

18-200 trips only..

50-500, the 300 kicked it into the shed..

[bwhatnall]

Got to be my Nikkor N serries 105mm f/2.8 macro VR. Or maybe the Nikkor 1200-1700 f/2.8, jokes, that last one is just a dream.

[LanceOregon]

The new Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3-5-5.6G ED VR DX that was introduced last summer is one awesome zoom lens for anyone with an APS-C DSLR. It has such an extremely useful zoom range, and the IQ matches many of the more expensive professional gold ring Nikkor zooms.

I read a lot of great user feedback on this lens at many websites. And then I looked for some reviews on the lens, which were also most favorable. Probably the most in-depth one of these is this one on this webpage:

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-a ... 685_3556vr

This is equivalent to a 24mm to 127mm full format zoom. So you have everything from a nice 24mm wide angle, up to a moderate zoom of 127mm. As you can see from the photozone.de review, resolution of this lens is absolutely outstanding. And while the lens is not fast, it has the latest VR II vibration reduction, which allows for very slow shutter speeds in low light.

And the other great thing is that the lens is not that big and heavy. Certainly far lighter and more compact than any of the gold ring pro Nikkor zoom lenses. Yes, it is significantly heavier than any of the "kit" lenses. But to me, it is an excellent compromise: better IQ with only a small trade-off in size and weight. On a Nikon D80 or larger APS-C camera, it is a comfortable fit.

For most image taking, I can get by with this lens. And it delivers truly great results.

[V-man]

Thanks guys thats the best read i've had, very usefull.I was putting off getting a nikon 85mm to buy another first, but not now.

[Yi-P]

85mm f/1.4, no hesitation on choosing this.

[PiroStitch]

in order:

180mm f2.8
50mm 1.4 (love it in combo with iso6400)
20-35 f2.8

[Oneputt]

My favourite lens is not the one I use most often, which is the Nikkor 24 - 70mm 2.8, it is the Nikkor 85mm 1.4. There is nothing that I can say about this lens which has not already been said. It is a ripper.

[kab]

Intresting thread.....

My most used lens is Tamrons 17-50 which I'm looking to replace with a 28-70 or 24-70. Also have the Sigma 10-20, 80-200, 35/f2 and Tamron 90 Macro. Suprisingly, my favorite lens is the Tamron 90, and I have not taken a single macro shot with it. IMHO, it makes a fantastic portrait lens with pleasant bokeh if you have the room.