Three manual lenses for walkaround- what's your choices?

[StillSanj]

Hey Gang. So after recently aquiring a few new lenses, I've been having a harder time to pick out which ones to take with me in any given situation. That got me to thinking and presenting this scenario- What is your guy's three lens combination you would take for a walkaround? and why? Do you try to cover focal lenghts, take three 50's(lol), try to go for versatility?
I'll start it out with an example: After the dust has settled with my new lenses, I find myself grabbing this combo;

Auto Chinon 55mm 1.7 Macro,
Super-Takumar 50mm 1.4,
Takumar 135 3.5 preset.

The preset works really great as a telephoto on my 70D and is very sharp when not washed out by the sun (I believe I need a hood for it.) The Chinon Macro 55mm 1.7 might be my favorite lens. It is not a true macro lens, but it gets 1:3 magnification, and with the fast aperture you can really get some nice bokeh that has some swirly tendencies. It's my go to bokeh lens when I find a nice background. And lastly, the Super-Takumar 1.4 is just a great lens that I got recently. That's the lens that I start my walkarounds with until the situation requires my Preset Takumar or my Macro Chinon. It's also simply great for video work as it has a great focus ring, as does the preset.

What's your guy's combination, and why? And try to keep yourself to 3 lenses, I know you guys have a plethora of them

[Oldhand]

I am not sure that I have a plethora of pinatas Elguapo, but here are my thoughts on walkaround lenses.
I often only take one lens when I go walking as a simple discipline in forcing myself to address images more creatively when I encounter them, but three lenses are nice to have access to so here goes.
I shoot only APS-C.
Vivitar S1 28-90 by Komine is my preference.
For a faster all purpose prime I like the Hexanon AR 1.8/40
and that's about it
You are going to get lots of different replies based on where people walk about.
If I am out in the bush it will be the Sigma 10-20 - but that's not an MF lens so not for this discussion
OH

[cooltouch]

Back in my film shooting days, for years, my three-lens loadout was a Tamron SP 60-300mm f/3.8-5.4, a Vivitar S1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5, and a Canon FL 19mm f/3.5. With this combination, I had everything from 28mm to 300mm covered and I had the ultra wide when I needed something for really wide shots. It was a great combination.

These days, if I'm shooting film only, I'll still go with a similar loadout. If digital, I don't have FF -- I have APS-C, so I'll usually take the kit lens because it has a decent wide range, but beyond that, it will be any number of other optics. Just depends on what I'm doing, or where I'm going.

[Boris_Akunin]

If I had to choose three (and if weight didn't matter), I'd pick these:

Minolta MC 28mm f/2.5
Minolta MC 58mm f/1.2
Vivtar Series 1 90mm f/2.5 (1:2 macro)

Those three weigh in at a combined 1.5kg though, I'd rather take these four at just over one kg:

Minolta MD 24mm f/2.8
Minolta MD 35mm f/1.8
Minolta MC 50mm f/1.4
Minolta MD 85mm f/2.0

[pinholecam]

I usually go for a set of focal lengths that go wide, normal, tele and as such, I tend to try to by a 'set' within each brand of lenses I have.

So something like :
FD20/2.8; FD55/1.2; FD100/2 (don't like this combi too much though as I find it heavy and big, though its fast and good performing)

Current favorite is :
Pentax M20/4 (very small); any Pentax 50mm, Pentax M85/2 (really small package with A7)

RF set :
CV21/1.8; Canon ltm 50/1.4; Nikkor 105/2.5 (CV21 ultron is almost a 'do it all' wonder; )

M42 set :
Soligor 17/4; Rollei 50/1.8; Jupiter 9.


If the trip is more serious photographically, I will add a wide lens to any of the above.
That would mean either the CV12/5.6 or the Samyang 14/2.8

[Abbazz]

The purely MF three lens kit that I would use with my Sony A7 (good IQ, versatile and compact):

- CV Ultra Wide Heliar 12/5.6
- Minolta MD 35-70/3.5 Macro (or SMC-Pentax 35/3.5 if I plan to shoot mainly landscape)
- C/Y Sonnar 100/3.5

If I am allowed to cheat a wee bit, I would include AF lenses (but that's not really cheating because I use them in manual focus mode on the A7 anyway):

- Pentax F 17-28/3.5-4.5 Fisheye zoom
- Pentax FA 20-35/4
- Pentax FA 50/2.8 Macro if I need the flat field and extra sharpness (or Minolta MD 35-70/3.5 Macro if I need the versatility of the zoom)

But if you ask me tomorrow, I'm quite sure my preferred kit will be totally diferent!

Cheers!

Abbazz

[hoanpham]

I used to bring less than 3 lenses on travel. Mostly ended by using 90% one lens. The rest of percentage is because the other lenses are brought so I need to use them

Planning is a different issue, mainly one wide, one normal/macro and one light weight tele.
Here are some choices:

A- zeiss 90/2.8 contax G, zeiss 35/2.0 contax G
B- pentax 20/4, pentax 50/2.8 macro, pentax 100/2.8
C- canon fd 24/2, canon fd 35/2, canon fd 100/2.8
D- nikon 28/3.5 pc, nikon 55/3.5 micro, nikon 105/2.5
E- distagon 25/2.8, planar 50/1.4, sonnar 85/2.8

Last trip:
- Leica 90/4 and summilux 50/1.4, where 99% are taken by the summilux.

[miran]

I find that whenever I take more than one lens with me, the majority of the photos I take with just one of them and the rest tend to stay in the bag. Knowing that I usually don't bother and I take just one. Any one, because they're all good, each in its own way. This also forces you to be more creative, especially if the lens you choose is not a very versatile one.

[bernhardas]

[Edited

[hoanpham]

[calvin83]

[womble]

If I am shooting film, SMC Pentax 'K' 30/2.8, K50/1.2, K135/2.5. My M20/4 and/or K85/1.8 might get a look in too. K.

[SonicScot]

The lenses which tend to stay in my bag these days are:

Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye
Zeiss Flektogon 35/2.4

The third lens is almost always a Vivitar Series 1 from my signature below, which one depends on where I'm going and the subject matter I expect to encounter.

[glaebhoerl]

I usually just end up using one lens and it's usually the 40/1.4 Zuiko. I sometimes pack an 135 as well but almost never end up taking it out. Other times I'll go out with just the 135. On Sunday I brought the 20/2.8 Flektogon, Zenitar-M and 135mm Fujinon and ended up using only the Flektogon.

[Aanything]

Digital (nex-5r, apsc)
Minolta MC W.Rokkor SI 2.5/28, mamyia macro sekor 2.8/60, kaleinar 5n 2.8/100, speed booster.

Film (cotax rts)
Distagon 2.8/28, Planar 1.7/50, Planar 1.4/85 (or sonnar 2.8/135).

super-light walk around kit:
nex 5r + w.nikkor.c 2.5/35 + jupiter 3 1.5/50

Obviously, if asked again in six hours, my answer would be completely different.

[LucisPictor]

Totally depends on where I'm going and what I plan to shoot.

For "allround sets", it depends of course on the camera I bring...

Leica M8: Voigtländer Heliar 4.5/15, Ultron 2.0/28 and Heliar 2.5/75

Nikon Df: Nikkor-N.C 2.8/24, Nikkor AI 1.4/50 or Nikkor-O.C 2.0/35 or Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55, Nikkor-H 1.8/85

Nikon D7000 / D90: Samyang 2.0/16, Nikkor-O.C 2.0/35 (AI'd) or Nikkor AI 1.4/50 or 1.8/50, Nikkor-H 1.8/85 (AI'd)

Fuji X-T1 / X-E2: Samyang 2.0/12, Pentax-A 1.4/50, Pentax-M 2.8/100 and the LensTurbo

Canon EOS 10D (last one of the EOS bunch): Samyang 2.0/16, Nikkor-O.C 2.0/35, Nikkor-H 1.8/85 or Pentax-M 2.8/100

Panasonic GF3: c-mount 1.4/25, VNEX-System, Pentax-110 2.8/70

For my film cameras I bring some fitting lenses. (Too long a list to write down here.)

[newst]

For a walk about I prefer to keep it simple, one adapter and small pocketable lenses. If I were taking three lenses it would likely be...

Sony A7: Canon Rangefinder 1.8/35, 1.4/50 (or 1.8/50) 3.5/100 (or Voigtlander 2.5/75)

Sony A6K: ROBOT lenses Schneider-Kreuznach XENAGON 3.5/30, Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 1.9/40 (or Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2.0/40), Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 3.8/75 (or Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 4.0/75)

Steve

[vroger]

[visualopsins]

I usually take only one lens from my signature.

The "kit" I take is usually 35/2, 50/1.4, & 135/2.5.

[Lee|Ratters]

As of recently -

A7
Voigtlander 40/1.4
Leica Leitz Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8

I also have a Yashica ML 50/1.7 which I sometimes use for a change.
Helios 44-2 which I only tend to take/use if I'm going somewhere I know I can make the most of the OOF blur
Helios 135/2.8 which I've yet to even use on the A7

[barryreid]

Tomorrow, it will be a 17/24/45 TS-E combo as I'm shooting an architectural project.

Honestly though I'm liking my AF lenses right now and tend to carry the Sony/Zeiss 35 2.8 & 55/1.8 on my A7r with a Contax G fit 90/2.8 on an AF adapter, but I'd like to drop the 35/2.8 for a Zeiss 25mm Batis if it's any good.

[Kei]

For generic walkabout there are two choices for me:

Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AI-s
Mamiya 80mm f1.9 N
Tamron SP 180mm f2.5

or

Nikkor 28mm f2 AI-s
Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AI-s
Mamiya 150mm f2.8 A

I take a mamiya extension tube with me too so I get macro ability.

[Lightshow]

A plethora? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik
Yeah, I resemble that definition.

Well, this week I'm picking:
CV15III
Rokkor 28/2.5 or my FrankenZeiss (G45/2 transplanted into Rokkor 55/1.7 body, & M mount)
Topcor R 90/3.5

[IAZA]

I am crazy about uncommon lenses, so my list is
1. Rodenstock Rodagon 28/4 enlarger lens, fit perfect on NEX, sharp
2. meopta 70/1,4 or ROW Visionar 71/1,6
3. zuiko pen f 42/1,2

[Pete]

I am a big fan of 'three lens kits'. I have several ways of making it up but lately I have been carrying my Nikon Df with:

58 1.2 Noct AIS 9 blade aperture
28 2.0 AI w/ CPU added
105 2.5 PC AI'd and CPU added.

This combo works great as i leave the Non-CPU lens set for the Noct and the other two work on the CPUs. That way I don't forget to change the menu each time I swap lenses.

Sometimes if I have room for a fourth lens, I carry the 20 3.5 UD