If you had just ONE lens - which ones would you have?

bigsmiff said:
Ah, but do you have the lens attached to the FF or the crop body?
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Well, 5D for stills and the 7D for movie, does this count! I'm only going to be shooting indoors for the holidays.
 
Probably my brilliant (and very cheap - £160) Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, although I'm tempted by the Nikon version just to have an all-Nikon setup.....
 
At 18MP I would be very worried using 17-85mm. But I would be interested to see a RAW file taken with this combination though (please PM) to make a better judgement.

I would say it depends what subjects are important to you. I need 100mm macro, and most of my other lenses - all for each little task. If I had to start over it'd be between 24-70mm, 24-105mm and 100mm macro regardless of camera.
 
Tamron 17-50, of the 2 lenses I own.
If I was to sell up and get a 7D & 1 lens, probably a 24-70L.
 
500mm f4L. It's by far my most used lens.
 
As a man with only the kit lens (18-55) at present I can tell you that it has to be something with more reach. Today, yet again, I have been unable to get the shot I wanted simply because I couldn't reach it. 4 swans on the ice. Absulutely perfect, no more than about 30 feet away, and at 55mm (on a 400D so crop sensor) I couldn't get there.

Fine I got the image after a crop, but its a big old crop. If I was to have one lens and one lens only I'd like it to go from about 20mm to 120mm, so whatever you can get that's in and around those marks.
 
Really interesting thread as I'm looking at a new lens. I currently use the tamron 17-50 2.8 and find it brilliant, but am looking for a longer range. The tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO is currently looking good if I can get the funds together - anyone got one who can comment.

Now, I know that I've have a few vinos, an sometimes the obvious doesn't jump at me, but the following comment confused me. What difference does the lens make to the size of file the camera stores? Is it a quality issue - i.e. cheap lens doesn't produce a good image at full magnification. But I can't see reference to the 17-85mm being a budget lens.......

daugirdas said:
At 18MP I would be very worried using 17-85mm. But I would be interested to see a RAW file taken with this combination though (please PM) to make a better judgement.
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Only one lens for a 7D, then it would have to be EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS. The 24-70 would be the one on a full frame, but just not wide enough for the 7D.
 
Sensible head says the 17-55mm f/2.8, but the heart says take the 300mm f/2.8 L IS if I only had one. Just an exceptional lens.
 
took these with the 24-70L today !


img00591s.jpg


(check out that new reverse hold grip technique!)

img99891.jpg
 
It's a toughie, as I do a lot of motorsport work I'd have to keep my 70-200 f2.8L, but when I go out with a light weight setup it would be the 50mm f1.4 (on a 1.3x crop).
 
Loopy said:
Really interesting thread as I'm looking at a new lens. I currently use the tamron 17-50 2.8 and find it brilliant, but am looking for a longer range. The tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO is currently looking good if I can get the funds together - anyone got one who can comment.

Now, I know that I've have a few vinos, an sometimes the obvious doesn't jump at me, but the following comment confused me. What difference does the lens make to the size of file the camera stores? Is it a quality issue - i.e. cheap lens doesn't produce a good image at full magnification. But I can't see reference to the 17-85mm being a budget lens.......
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Glad someone asked the question!!
I'm not sure what was meant by that comment either
 
for me it's the canon 17-40mm f4!

i use it constantly and love portraits with it even though most people wouldnt think about it...

that said, i would love a 24-70mm f2.8 canon, just wont happen any time soon :razz:
 
Out of the lenses I own it would have to be my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8


But out of what I don't own, hmmmm let me think.
 
:wave:

Can I bump this to see if anyone has an answer for the question at the top of page 3 please?

Ta
 
On FX the 24-70mm f/2.8
On DX the 17-35mm f/2.8

If it had to be a prime lens: 35mm f/2 and 24mm f/2 respectively.
 
I do love the 24-105 on the 5D....just a great range for general use. Not tried a 24-70 yet though!
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loopy

Now, I know that I've have a few vinos, an sometimes the obvious doesn't jump at me, but the following comment confused me. What difference does the lens make to the size of file the camera stores? Is it a quality issue - i.e. cheap lens doesn't produce a good image at full magnification. But I can't see reference to the 17-85mm being a budget lens.......

bl0at3r said:
Glad someone asked the question!!
I'm not sure what was meant by that comment either
Click to expand...

I guess it was a reference to the fact that high pixel density on a crop sensor can be very unforgiving in showing up any deficiencies in lens quality. I don't think the 17-85 is a budget lens by any means, but it isn't 'L' quality either.

I did own this lens for a while but I was using it back in the days of 8mp sensors and never had any complaints about it. I did eventually swap it for a 17-40L and found the latter to to be a tad sharper with better colour saturation and noticeably less barrel distortion which could be an issue sometimes. How it would perform on an 18mp crop sensor I don't know - you'd just have to try it and find out.
 
its quite easy for me with my current line up as i have;

18-70mm f3.5-5.6 - which ive sold
55-200mm f4-5.6 - beatiful lens
50mm f1.7 - this would be my one lens.

yes my 50mm would be as i like prime lenses but for flexibility and a money no object one lens would have to be the zeiss 24-70mm f2.8. one of the most gorgeous lenses ive ever seen.
 
Interesting ... but crazy :cuckoo: question.. Like asking which one of your senses you'd like to keep...:)
 
we11ingon said:
Interesting ... but crazy :cuckoo: question.. Like asking which one of your senses you'd like to keep...:)
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Not so crazy really - like many people on here, I spend more time worrying/dreaming about the next bit of kit to buy...

....when I should really be out taking pictures :whistling:

Also, can't be bothered humping loads of gear around, or swapping lenses :bonk:

So, my new years resolution is to shoot with just one lens - forget all the hype about kit and concentrate on my photography

So far it has been the 17-85, but I still intend to sell all 3 and buy 1 just lens
 
CT said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loopy

Now, I know that I've have a few vinos, an sometimes the obvious doesn't jump at me, but the following comment confused me. What difference does the lens make to the size of file the camera stores? Is it a quality issue - i.e. cheap lens doesn't produce a good image at full magnification. But I can't see reference to the 17-85mm being a budget lens.......



I guess it was a reference to the fact that high pixel density on a crop sensor can be very unforgiving in showing up any deficiencies in lens quality. I don't think the 17-85 is a budget lens by any means, but it isn't 'L' quality either.

I did own this lens for a while but I was using it back in the days of 8mp sensors and never had any complaints about it. I did eventually swap it for a 17-40L and found the latter to to be a tad sharper with better colour saturation and noticeably less barrel distortion which could be an issue sometimes. How it would perform on an 18mp crop sensor I don't know - you'd just have to try it and find out.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for clarifying - on the 40D I found the 17-85 to be a great lens, but on occasions seemed a little off in the sharpness department - and also not blazingly fast at only f4-5.6

So I see where you're coming from with it mounted on the 7D - it needs good glass to bring out the best (as with any body really but especially with 18MP). In fact I still intend to trade it on for something else.
 
I would get the 6mm -1200mm f1.2 zoom, you know the one, it has 5x macro and Tilt & Shift capability? It only measures six inches and weighs half a kilo.

But that isn't created yet, so I will have to have more than one, :) sorry - not much help! The whole point of an interchangable SLR is the ability to swap lenses for the one that matches your needs.
 
fatphotographer said:
I would get the 6mm -1200mm f1.2 zoom, you know the one, it has 5x macro and Tilt & Shift capability? It only measures six inches and weighs half a kilo.
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:withstupid:

Actually I'll be less greedy, 10-400 f/2.8 IS / VR would do me ;)
 
I would find it impossible to be restricted to one lens :D
But could just manage with 2
Sigma 105 macro Canon 100-400

To the OP I would have a real good think about what sort of things you want to shoot and then decide on the best lens
 
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