Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Nope, never owned one,but got some experience with a borrowed piece. Played is more likely, not practice so i don't have an image worthy of sharing. I'll set up some for you if i got hold of it again

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

As a micro four thirds user, my most useless lens was an adapted FF f/2.8 28mm. I quickly learned that adapted FF telephotos were the way to go, and FF wides would always underperform.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

As aforementioned, "useless" was a pretty harsh word to use when the thought should be "use less" or better yet "less used" lens.

The 50mm was mentioned several times as a less used lens. Why?
A lot of photographer would recommend buying the 50mm to a beginner.
Is it a choice of avoiding the mainstream/standard/average? Is it due to zooms capable of covering the 50mm or a setting near it?

It is very understandable that special purpose/art lenses do tend to be used less, but not useless as also mentioned because there are needs that only those kind can provide.

Extremes have been mentioned and makes sense. At extremes, usually lenses do not perform well.

The last kind of used less lens seems to be those that had become obsolete because it was supplanted by a another model or system or lost some parts that it needs to work with.

A good question that one poster brought up is what do we do with these less used lenses. I believe if it was supplanted then it might be good to sell it off. On the other hand, if it is a special lens, we might just have to wait until we need it again.

To round it up, it seems a usefulness of lenses or maybe all equipments fall into these categories;

1. Outgrown
2. Specialized purpose
3. Supplanted (by another tool or workflow)
4. Limits of capability/unacceptable performance
5. Missing parts

Add if you see something missing.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Not sure who you are directing the question to, (use quote reply in your post so we know who), but even though I only use my 14-24 a couple of times a year for very specific applications, I need the lens. This is why I made the distinction between useless, like the 43-86 zoom I briefly owned in the early 70s(?) and got rid of because it was absolutely terrible - aka, useless, and a lens that is not often used - aka, less used - yet is fully capable of producing excellent images - which I will keep just for those special occaisons.

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

My least used lens is a Nikkor 18-105. I often use my 40+ year old 50,, f/1.8 when I want both sharpness and bokeh. Great protrait lens on my crop sensor bodies.

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Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

My Tamron 28-300 It is with me all the time and not changed often. I travel to Europe, Asia and event shot the Rodeo with it. It' on a 5D IV.

ELNikkor

My least used used to be my most used. My late-model 43-86 lived on my FM2 for most of the 80's & 90's. Took many sharp portraits and landscapes with it, including a 30x40 blow-up on K64 that still adorns my dining room wall. Stopped using it when things got digital, and the lens got stiff and mildewed inside. Wish it was back to new-ish, but my 24-120 would blow it away these days...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I do not use the Sigma 150-600C. A very popular lens. However, it (1) is larger than I like when traveling (2) duplicates other lenses capabilities (I always have my 70-200 and a 2x in my kit so carrying that weight for the 400-600 range is seldom worth it and I have trouble keeping moving subjects in frame in that range anyway)

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So thaz both you most used and least used lens all in one ?

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Exactly. I don’t use my 200-500 often, but when I need it, there is no substitute in my bag.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

My Nikon 28-300 is so useless that I forgot completely about it, and failed to mention it.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Probably a fisheye would be the least used, but it can do some interesting things...

Arubalou

I would have to say the 55-300 nikkor that came with my D7200. Its a nice lens i just never use it.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I never use my EF70-300 now that I have the Sigma 18-300. I should probably sell it.