How Many Lenses Are Really Needed?
Mar 14, 2019 08:55:56 #
Mar 14, 2019 09:00:00 #
I find myself carrying my 28-120 and my 100-400 and leaving everything else at home. Sometimes I'll pack my 100mm macro, but the 100-400 does a fair job in that category.
Mar 14, 2019 09:02:28 #
FiddleMaker wrote:
Well...……..I see you have a Leica M10. Nice !! But for nearly $7200 does it take much better images than a Fuji X-T3 for example ?? I guess if I won the lottery or inherited a whole lot of $$ AND was much younger, I could talk myself into getting one.
My wife's grandmother had a Leica 35mm film camera and one of the nieces threw it out not knowing what it was. This is long after the grandmother passed away. The camera was in excellent condition.
My wife's grandmother had a Leica 35mm film camera and one of the nieces threw it out not knowing what it was. This is long after the grandmother passed away. The camera was in excellent condition.
You are correct, I have more cameras than I need. My Df can do every thing my other camera can do. As for the M10, I have wanted to own a Leica for a long time and since I am now in a position that I can afford one I bought it.
Mar 14, 2019 09:10:06 #
I started with film shooting a Nikkor 50 1.4 and loved what I could do. But I couldn’t capture the Tetons as a range well so I bought a 24 2.8. I then wanted to get better wildlife shots and bought a 70-300. When my kids were in sports I bought a faster 80-200 f2.8. But it was too heavy and I wanted one lens for travel, so I bought a 18-200 then a 28-300.
I have either given away or sold all of those lenses as my photography and my cameras changed and as my ability to buy higher quality lenses increased. Could I just use a 50 1.4 as a fixed lens like I did in my teens and twenties? Sure, but I would miss out on a lot of great shots and fun.
I have either given away or sold all of those lenses as my photography and my cameras changed and as my ability to buy higher quality lenses increased. Could I just use a 50 1.4 as a fixed lens like I did in my teens and twenties? Sure, but I would miss out on a lot of great shots and fun.
Mar 14, 2019 09:11:17 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
Better to have and not need than to need and not have.
Unless the cost of having means you can't afford to be where you would need it.
Mar 14, 2019 09:13:06 #
Mar 14, 2019 09:14:09 #
John Maher
Loc: Northern Virginia
Good question.
Rephrased: What lens do you use most and why (purpose)?
This can assist new users in "prioritizing" their purchases. Some may never get into a specialty (e.g., macro), and others may expand to include it later. Some uses may overlap, leading to a common "best choice".
It keeps going back to that basic question: What are you going to photograph?
Rephrased: What lens do you use most and why (purpose)?
This can assist new users in "prioritizing" their purchases. Some may never get into a specialty (e.g., macro), and others may expand to include it later. Some uses may overlap, leading to a common "best choice".
It keeps going back to that basic question: What are you going to photograph?
Mar 14, 2019 09:16:50 #
jerryc41 wrote:
One consideration is focal length. I'm covered from 12mm - 300mm. I have a 1.4 Kenko TC, so make that 600mm. Aside from focal length, some people like certain lenses because of the quality or features. If you prefer to shoot with prime lenses, you may find yourself with a lot of them.
Looking at my list, I see I have ten lenses, covering Nikon and Sony.
Looking at my list, I see I have ten lenses, covering Nikon and Sony.
I do prefer to use primes, that's a personal choice. I own zooms, but I felt they were making me lazy in composing. That's just me. I also own a number of primes but find that a 50mm and 300mm with a 1.4 TC are what I use most and are really all I need.
Mar 14, 2019 09:17:15 #
Mar 14, 2019 09:23:09 #
fetzler
Loc: North West PA
BebuLamar wrote:
One lens. Without a lens you can't take picture.
Well, you could make a pinhole camera.
Mar 14, 2019 09:23:39 #
khorinek wrote:
I think the question that should be asked is, how many lens does one need to satisfy your photography needs. If you enjoy shooting wildlife from a long distance then a long zoom lens is required and if you enjoy photographing people, family, street photography, then a wide angle lens would be needed. That's two lenses right there. My photography is my passion and my living. So my comments may not apply, but i'm also an enthusiast and I want/need the equipment that meets my needs.
I'm not challenging you, just asking. You say a long zoom for wildlife, who not a long prime?
Mar 14, 2019 09:25:14 #
Mac wrote:
I do prefer to use primes, that's a personal choice. I own zooms, but I felt they were making me lazy in composing. That's just me. I also own a number of primes but find that a 50mm and 300mm with a 1.4 TC are what I use most and are really all I need.
Interesting, I like the zoom as it lets me do various compositions in camera, as opposed to a fixed lens.
Mar 14, 2019 09:31:32 #
Mac wrote:
Other than for professional photographers (those who earn their living through photography) how many lenses are really needed? On full frame camera is anything more than a 35mm or 50mm and a specialty lens, ie a telephoto, or macro, or something else depending on the focus of interest really needed? I know that lens manufacturers want us to think we do, but do we really?
My lenses:
4 lenses needed frequently, 4 lenses used occasionally.
Nikon FX
50mm f/1.4 (just a nice lens for occasional use)
14-24 f/2.8 (specialty ultrawide for occasional use)
24-70 f/2.8 VR
70-200 f/2.8 VR
200-500 f/5.6 VR
105 f/2.8 Micro
28-300 f/3.5-5.6 (general purpose vacation and walkaround lens)
85 f/1.8 (just a nice lens for occasional use)
Plus a few lenses left over from older cameras that I haven't gotten around to disposing of
Mar 14, 2019 09:33:09 #
davidrb wrote:
Why do you ask a question such as this?
I also that this is very valid question.
Mar 14, 2019 09:33:09 #
Jeffcs wrote:
I’m seriously curious as to the real reason you ask “how many lenses” ?
Maybe your not all that familiar with why the lenses are manufactured.
For most photographers other than general use lenses most other lenses have specific uses that would otherwise be impossible with a “general” lens. PC lens or macro or a 105f1.4 zoom lenses just can’t capture the same effect.
Maybe your not all that familiar with why the lenses are manufactured.
For most photographers other than general use lenses most other lenses have specific uses that would otherwise be impossible with a “general” lens. PC lens or macro or a 105f1.4 zoom lenses just can’t capture the same effect.
What do you mean, "The real reason"?
I have no hidden agenda. I own many lenses, but mostly use a 50mm and a 300mm with a 1.4 TC. It got me thinking and I brought it to UHH.
If you're looking for anything more than that you're not going to find it.
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