if you could only have 3 lenses.

burleyviking

burleyviking

Messages
121
Name
lee
Edit My Images
Yes
I know every one photography needs are different, but if you could only have 3 lenses, what would they be?
for now I'm pretty happy with what iv got for what I do,
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8

thanks.

lee
 
Sigma 150-600mm C
Nikon 24-40mm f2.8
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8

Love all these big time.

Dougie.
 
Panasonic 8-18, 12-35/2.8 and 35-100/2.8

These three are my mainstay, weather resistant and cover a comprehensive range
 
Last edited:
That is all I have in my bag at the moment. :(

Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art
Sigma 150-600 C
Nikon 24-120 f4 VR

But they cover all my needs :banana:
 
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 300mm f/2.8

GC
 
Sony's 24 f/1.4, 85 f/1.4 and 135 f/1.8 for me.
Covers 95% + of all my shots.

Sold most everything else - just 100-400 and 35 to go :) It's freedom from 'lens choice anxiety!'
 
tijuana taxi said:
Panasonic 8-18, 12-35/2.8 and 35-100/2.8

These three are my mainstay, weather resistant and cover a comprehensive range
Click to expand...

Yep, that would pretty much do me too. I'd maybe change to Olympus 40-150 2.8 and have a either a 25mm 1.4 or 30mm 1.4 in the middle instead of the standard zoom. That 8-18 is a beauty!
 
nandbytes said:
no system can currently satisfy this though. Canon gets the closest.
Click to expand...

How about m4/3, that has 17, 25 and 42.5 all f/1.2 and give an equivalent in FF terms of 35/50/85
 
nandbytes said:
I am pretty sure Ray is referring to FF and he'd want f1.2 in terms of DoF too.
Click to expand...

Could do it with manual focus lenses, Voigtlander do a 50mm f1.2 in e mount and that'll shortly be joined by a 35mm f1.2 and I think there's a 85mm f1.2 in e mount?

I'd guess MF wont suite Ray though.

I'll play the game, my three.
20mm f1.8.
35mm f1.8.
85mm f1.8.
 
35mm f1.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f1.8

Can't cope with zooms, too many decisions to make. I just move my feet instead.
 
All Panasonic: 12-32; 35-100; 100-400
... or: Olympus 9-18; Panasonic 12-32; Panasonic 45-300
... or: Tamron 17mm; Tamron 90mm; Tamron 16-300 (APS)

Well: you didn't say we could only have one set of 3 lens... :naughty:
 
Nikkor 16-35mmf/4 VRll
Nikkor 105mm f/1.4
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR ll
 
With Nikon it was:
70-200 f/2.8
24-70 f/2.8
400 f/2.8

With Sony it is:
70-200 f/2.8
16-35 Z f/4 *OR* 16-35 f/2.8 (starting with former, will exchange for latter if needed)
200-400 f/4
 
On the systems I shoot I do usually have just 3 lenses

Canon EF for the 5Dii and 1N
16-35mm f2.8II
24-70mm f2.8
70-200mm f2.8

Mamiya 645:
45mm
80mm
150mm

4x5:
65mm f4.5
150mm f5.6
240mm f5.6
 
Depends on the system you are using and whether you're a prime shooter or not.

If it had to be prime's, it would be Fuji's 16 & 35 f1.4's and the 90 f2.

However, I also have the 10-24 f4, 50-140 f2.8 and the 100-400 f5.6, and that's a great range, and the added bonus is that the first two have the same filter size....

My "grab & go" bag consists of an X-T3, 10-24, 35 f1.4 & the 50-140, plus a set of close focus tubes and a couple of Lee filters. There's not much this won't cover unless we're talking wildlife/sports.
 
Well my 3 would be the obvious Trinity
14-24 f/2.8
24-70 f/2.8
70-200 f2.8

Could do pretty much everything i need to with those..
 
From my exiting lenses I would have to say:

Tamron 90mm Macro
Sigma 150-600mm C

And then it would be a really difficult decision between my Nikon 35mm Prime and my Nikon 70-300mm. I'd probably go with the zoom if I had to pick.
 
New to photography and on a budget, into motorcycles & wildlife, however I will play:-

Nikon 18-55 f3.5 kit lens
Nikon 55-300 f4.5
Sigma 150-600 C

Looking to add Nikon 85 micro
 
I guess it depends on the genre to do as portraits, landscapes, sport and wildlife will need different kit.

I’d now have to add a lens to get to three. I cut down last year to just 24-105 and 100-400. I sold a 70-200 f4 as I’d worked it wasn’t a necessity as the other two lenses covered the range. I’ve thought about adding a macro or UWA lens but it probably wouldn’t get much use.
 
18-135, 70-300, 150-600.
The first is for churches, the second for insects and the third for larger wild-life.
 
I use a 17-40, 24-70 and 70-200 but in an ideal world I'd like to run 35, 85 and 135 primes. I borrowed and shot a headshot with the Canon 135 f2 and its stunning. I use 35 and 85 primes in filmmaking as well when I get the chance.
 
Despite having Canon since 1978, I’m getting increasingly tempted to go Oly M1 iii with Panasonic 8-18, Oly 12-100 & Panasonic 100-400!
 
Up until two weeks ago I only ever had 3 lenses as my usual kit.....

CV40/1.2, CV21/3.5 & FE85

I've just added a Contax CZ 80-200/4 so recently I've been going out with the 40mm & 80-200mm only.

Edit - I also have a Samyang 24/1.4 for astro! :ROFLMAO:

In an ideal world of just 3 lenses......

20G (or 24GM)
CV40/1.2
70-200GM (y)
 
10-24, 18-135, 100-400. Lob in a 1.4x telecon and that'll do me just fine! Don't use ultra shallow DoF and am happy going up the ISO ladder as high as necessary.
 
I only have 3 lenses. Exclusive old film lenses)
Sony 85mm 1.8
Sony 24-120mm
Sony 200-600mm

The 85mm is used the least.
200-600mm will be used the most when lockdown ends.
 
f/2.8 said:
I never understand these types of threads why can I only have 3 lenses?
Click to expand...
its not law, I was just interested in what 3 lenses people prefer or use the most, seemed a bit easier than, tell me every lens you have and what there for.
 
burleyviking said:
its not law, I was just interested in what 3 lenses people prefer or use the most, seemed a bit easier than, tell me every lens you have and what there for.
Click to expand...
I think they can also help anyone new to photography understand you don’t really need lots of lenses. Just listing the lenses without saying why those lenses probably isn’t as helpful.

Since I’ve gone for a 2 Lens setup I don’t really miss having numerous lenses just in case of what if. It’s much nicer to go out with a camera and 2 lenses than wondering if you have left something at home. It’s much lighter too, carrying heavy kit around isnt something I enjoy. I remember taking a full bag of 5 lenses and 2 cameras to Skomer one year. I mainly used only two lenses on that trip so the rest was mainly extra baggage. I didn’t enjoy carrying 12kg ish around skomer that year. I see some photographers out with every bit of camera kit they own, it just looks heavy and miserable to carry around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top