DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

This is sorta like asking “How much money is enouff.”

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

There is no such implication in my post at all. If that's what you get from my post, it comes from inside you. Not from me.

ialvarez50

Do you know that the great Henri Cartier-Bresson only use a 50mm lens on his Leica for everything he did in photography? So, no we don't need many lenses but most of us either collect them or think that other lens will make us better photographer.

skywolf

I have a Nikon D7100, and my lenses span from 18mm to 600mm. My 18-55 kit lens is good enough for everything I'm doing. My 35mm 1.8 lens is my standard carry lens. I have a 60mm Tamron macro that works well as a portrait lens. I have a 150-600 Tamron I use for astro and wildlife. My weakest link is the 55-200mm kit lens. I want to replace that with a 70-200mm f2.8. I don't know what else I would need. I do meetings/events, astro, macro, pet, and wildlife/landscape. An occasional party and a rare wedding thrown in, I'm still covered.

Bipod

What you need on a four-week commerical bus tour is an airline ticket.

User ID

`



Users have different needs, but here's
a good example cuz it's not about the
money, it's about need ... "need", as
in your thread title question.

As both an enthusiast and a working
photographer, my enthusiast self had
full access to all the gear used by my
professional self. IOW whatever I was
comfortable carrying on my shoulder
was available whenever I needed it.

Since my habitual format was 6x6, it
was weight that limited what I chose
for a personal outing. Good weather,
I'd carry a 500C with 50, 80 and 150
and that usually covered everything.

If I thought I'd need the SW-38, then
the 50 got left out. Or if I thought I'd
need the 250, the 150 got left out.

So, lenses to own: 5 primes. Lenses
needed out-the-door: 3 primes. The
range of those lenses in FF terms for
those who need that: 21, 28, 45, 85,
and 135. Thaz all I ever needed, and
no zooms were available. Due to the
size and weight, I'd carry any 3, not
all 5 of them. Acoarst, for work, I'd
carry all 5 and a lotta film backs :-(

Today for digital FF or smaller format
you can own 2 zooms, 1 fast normal,
and 1 extra-wide to cover that same
range [or more] with less weight :-)

And which of those 4 you carry "aint
nobody's bidnez but you own" !

.

User ID

`



When BP is dead on, I will never hesitate
to acknowledge it: "Airline ticket", AMEN !

.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

More, I want more! 17 is not enough!

Keen

NO lenses are actually NEEDED. You CAN create interesting images with a lensless Pinhole camera. If you use a 'bridge' camera, you can get by nicely with the ONE, non removable, superzoom lens it comes with. If you opt for a removable lens system-mirrorless, DSLR, etc-how many lenses you CHOOSE is up to you. I have known several photographers, who have never used anything but a single 50mm lens. Others have only a single super telephoto lens for wildlife images, and they never shoot portraits, landscapes, etc, so they never need anything else. Most photographers shoot a variety of subjects, and so perform better with a variety of lenses. Those who like zoom lenses often opt for The Holy Trinity type arsenal....14-24mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. Other people opt for a superzoom 18-400mm, or such. Prime lens lovers usually go for a wider variety....a 20mm, plus a 50mm, plus an 80mm, plus a 135mm, or such. I know many people who went with a 24mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 105mm. It is all a matter of personal preference. I know some photographers who have dozens of lenses. They rarely use any of them, but do collect them, and use them occasionally. One such collector has eight 50mm lenses. Such people are driven by something other than photo concerns. What YOU choose to have in your camera bag is up to you.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

That’s rather short sighted and presumes that because he was a great photographer and that’s all he used that it’s all any of us need. We could say we don’t NEED any lenses because we don’t NEED a camera. Cartier-Bresson only needed a 50mm because of the type of photography he was known for. If I’m out shooting street scenes I often only go out with one prime. But if I’m shooting birds I want a long zoom, if I’m shooting macro stuff I want a macro lens. If Ansel Adams only used a 35mm camera with a 50mm lens would his work have had the same impact? I kind of doubt it.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

It’s not about how many lenses you have, it’s whether those lenses speak to your heart.
You should take each lens in hand and ask yourself, “does this lens spark joy?”
If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.

toxdoc42

Does anyone NEED a Porsche, BMW, etc., when a Chevy or Ford takes young I the same place? If someone wants a certain lens, for whatever reason, why not? Therefore it isn't a NEED as much as a desire. I have lenses for specific reasons. I may use my fish eye only a hand full of times a year, but when I want that effect, I can get it.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

From 8mm to 800mm 😀

SENSORLOUPE

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Presently I am using 2 crop sensor Nikons. One is fitted with a constant aperture 17-50 f2.8 DX along with a 70-300 f4-5.6 DX. The other is fitted with a constant aperture 28-75 f2.8 FX along with a 70-300 f4.5-6.3 DX. With the crop factor I have anything from 25.5 to 450mm covered using just these 4 lenses. Works for me.