dick ranez

Depends on your style. I recently purchased a "travel pak" - a Canon 2000 (SL2) with a trio of zoom lenses, a 10-18, the kit 18-55, and a 55-250. I'm pleasantly surprised by the image quality and appreciate the weight reduction from my other kits, and the whole package cost less that some of the lenses I have for my full frame camera. I do occasionally add the nifty fifty, but with today's high iso performance, it's not as critical as during film days. I was very happy with a small Leica setup (35 and 75) until my grandchildren started sports and I wanted a longer reach. I don't do macro, but the Canon 100L macro is a delightful portrait lens. I've never needed tilt/shift lenses, but if you do landscapes or architectural work they could be critical. Meanwhile, the best camera/lens is the one you're using right now. Good luck.

davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

The road not taken!

Bullfrog Bill Loc: CT

As many as you can afford.

rcarol

At least 150.

tesseagles Loc: NW ARKANSAS OZARKS

Can you tell me the best zoom for Nikon if I want to take shots of birds

davesit Loc: Media, PA

Usually n+1.

Charlie C Loc: North Liberty, IA

Some of us, like myself, know what we are doing, will never be famous, but enjoy photographing in many areas we enjoy. Different lenses for different choices. You imply many of us that are not a 'pro' are not successful. This retired pro is now enjoying life more than ever.

Bill_de Loc: US

There is no best for everybody. The Nikon 200 - 500mm F/5.6 is very popular and pretty affordable . I do own one and like that is hand holdable with good VR.

Tamron and Sigma also have good lenses in that range, and longer. I have no direct knowledge on those.

--

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

It's a specious question. Why a DSLR? Use your phone. Why a full frame, use a crop sensor. Finally, I could well do without a telephoto BEFORE I'd do away with my wide angle, in fact most often, it's left home. SO is my 50... But my 105 prime and 21 Zeiss are with me always. I don't care for zooms... but i don;t hate 'em either.


So the question may well be back to you Why does anyone need a telephoto? unless of course you have a need for one. And we come full circle.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Bipod

Primes are much cheaper to design and build then zooms. But Nikon and Canon are
pricing primes very high so as to avoid under-cutting the price of their zooms. (Since
they don't directly compete on lenses, the price isn't determined by supply and demand.)

Primes always have fewer elements and groups--and many fewer moving groups--than
comparable zooms. Mechanically they are much simpler and easier to manufacture
and assemble. They used to be cheaper--and "normal" lenses still are--although even
that appears to be changing.

It's the old "what the market will bear" pricing. Except for one competitor, sigma,
each lens mount is a monopoly. It's the old "what the market will bear" pricing.

High tech allows companies to create monopolies simply by making their products
incompatible, so it's extremely costly to switch brands. Apple and Microsoft
don't really compete, because both hardware and software are utterly incompatible.

Both F-mount and EF-mount do exactly the same thing--even more so than PCs
and Macs. But they are just as incompatible.

And now we're blessed Z-mount and EF-M mount --- let's hear it for incompatibility!
Let's all pay more for less because we are loyal brand-bots.

And the consumer is so stupid about economics, he doesn't realize that there is a giant
transfer of wealth from consumers to Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and even the relatively
smaller and far less gradiose camera companies.

Doncha wish you needed a different TV for each cable network? Or a different cell
phone (and phone number!) for each cell service provider? The reason you don't is
that Congress stepped in. (That was back when corruption wasn't total )

Beenthere

Hi Mac. I tend to go a little overboard when it comes to things audio, coffee or photography, and then realize that I'm only using a fraction of what I own. As one astute commenter suggested, "you only need one lens", without which zero photos may be taken.

I bought lenses based on the recommendations of "so-called" experts and the pile began to grow and, secondly, out of curiosity. You must be you own judge no matter which path you take to get where you think you want to be. Bottom line have fun and learn.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Only you can answer that question. You know what you use and what you don't and what you might use if you bought something else.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

When you acquire a new tool

You will find many new uses for it

That it was never designed for.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Well, just shot the best part of the afternoon reading this thread. But I've had several chuckles, so.....

On a four week cross country bus tour in '78, I found that one 50mm lens did not fair well in the time constraints of a commercial tour. What I NEED is air, water, food, and clothing. What I consider necessary in my traveling camera bag is a wide, standard, and long zoom. What I have is a 10-18, an 18-55 (came with the camera), and a 70-300. Just recently, looking to the future, I added an EF 24-105 f/4 L IS I USM. I have now covered all focal lengths from 10mm to 420mm if you calculate crop factors (I don't care). The 24-105 will probably get the most use as did the 18-55. But on occasion, the others will come in handy. It makes for a small, light, versatile, easy to carry kit.
That's my two cents worth.