What lenses do you take with you?

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

My favs of the moment are...
Tamron SP 28-80 (this will always have a place in my bag, I think)
Helios 44-M (just love the Russian IQ)

piticu · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 591 Location: Romania

In the last couple of weeks i've been into insects so i've carried with me only the 105mm 2.8 micro (not mf lens but used on manual focus Smile

).

montecarlo · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 1865 Location: Romania

If I shoot film I take one camera and :
a 28 or 35 mm lens
a 50mm
and a 135 mm lens.
One day I'll make a little change taking
a 35mm, 85mm and a 200mm . Anyhow on film one camera and 3 lenses are enough.

On digital i take :
the Pentax kit lens & another AF zoom (sorry) or if I go manual
a 28mm lens
a 50mm lens
and a 135mm lens although except the 135mm which would be a 200mm lens I'm not quite confortable with a 42mm and a 75 mm lens .
or combinations of these.

spiralcity · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Chicago, U.S.A

I always take a wide and a normal lens. I live in Chicago so there's good reason to take a few lenses when shooting in and around the city.

I always have a 24mm and 50mm in my bag. ALWAYS!
I usually carry a 100mm or 135mm also. I may not use it, but it's nice to know it's there (If the opportunity arose I would have the lens I needed.)

Usually when Im out shooting, I stay out all day. Many situations come up where I do need at least two lenses.

Arlon · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Varies quite a bit depending on where I'm going but I almost always have a 55mm micro nikkor available. I shoot a lot of macro..

If I where going to be forced to carry just one manual lens it would be the Kiron 28-210mm. It's very rugged, excellent images and covers a wide range including close focus. Maybe throw in a 5T adapter, 2x teleconverter or extension tube if you need even more flexability!

Carlsson · Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 793 Location: Portugal

in general plus my 5D:
18mm Distagon
28mm Distagon
50mm Planar,
85mm Jupiter
135mm Pentacon

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Carlsson · Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 793 Location: Portugal

Well, I know, it's kind of boring but it saves my back Smile

Sometimes my 40D + 28mm is supporting me, when I do streetphotography.
Weight is an impotant factor for me, because during summertime the sun is burning without mercy, carrying a few litres of water, the tripod... and of course my girlfriends camera bag, I feel more like a donkey than a photographer Wink

lahnet · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1164 Location: Denmark

Today I was out shooting for fun using Praktica MLT3.

I made a kit of:

Peleng 17mm Fish
Helios 50mm
Tair 135mm

Funny to think about thousands East Europe citizens has been using similar stuff.

Ballu · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Never forget the damn camera... Twisted Evil

Rob Leslie · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 1103 Location: UK Swindon

The number of lenses I take me is directly related to how fit and strong I feel, how far I am walking and what I think I am going to shoot.
The biggest problem is not usually how much I am willing to carry or feel like carrying but working out the options, possibilities and expectations of what I will be shooting, what I may be shooting and what could present itself.
I keep spare bags, more lenses etc in the boot of the car and often have near fatal crashes as I think about what I will load into my regular shoulder bag and take with me!
Perhaps the next question should be – How many cameras do you take with you!

I can be sure that on any day out I find I haven't got the lens, camera or something else I could have used with me, but the car boot is full!

Most wanted, really needed accessory?
1. An assistant to carry gear and set it up
2. A light weight pair of step ladders
I wish I could find some photo step ladders.

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

In my case I bring every single lens except the one that I really needed. Laughing

shad309 · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 453 Location: Illinois, USA

Most of the time I have one lens with me at all times a 50mm. Sure I miss a few shots here and there but the ones I do take are nice IMO. I have found that by using one lens, I am forced to think out my shots ahead of time, use my feet to zoom, and work within the lens's limitaions. Once you really learn a lens it is like you become a master with it.

This has made me better at photography more than anything else.

Laurence · Expire: 2016-06-19

LeFanch · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:38 am Post subject:

Hi!
I tend to take too many lenses, but I get better and better... Smile

Typically I take :
Tamron SP 17/3,5
Pentax 28/3,5
CZJ 35/2,4
Sears 55/1,4
Helios-44M6 58/2
Jupiter-9 85/2
Tamron SP 90/2,5
Jupiter-37A 135/3,5
Tamron 200/3,5
Tamron 300/5,6

And most of the time I would take a couple more in the same focal lengths, just in case... Wink

François

no-X · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:51 am Post subject:

Mostly:

Distagon T* 25/2.8
S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4
eMC Pancolar 80/1.8

sometimes Volna-9 instead of Takumar or S-M-C 35/3.5 in addition. I'll add a 135mm lens this spring - not sure which one, it will vary very likely Smile

claudiu · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 28 Location: Romania

-if going on a short trip(1-2 days at most) I would take:

(optional)CZJ Flektogon 20mm (2.8 or 4) or Pentax SMC P DA 18-55mm 3.4-5.6
CZJ Flektogon 35mm 2.4
Tamron SP AD-2 80-200mm 2.8

- for a longer trip I would take the ones just presented plus:

Tamron SP AD-2 300mm 2.8 60B
a TC SP 2x I still look for

- for going to some party, event, shoot for someone:

2-3 portrait lens among(biotar 75 1.5, helios 40 8,5 cm- this one very seldom,helios 44 silver, Pancolar 50 1.8 )
Pentax SMC P DA 18-55mm 3.4-5.6( I use the external flash so can stop it down to get quite reasonable quality) but more versatile
Tamron SP AD-2 80-200mm 2.8

If you have some suggestions for improvements let's hear.

voytek · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 891

I am waiting when second battery for my K10D will be charged and will go close to the border between Illinois and Wisconsin close to Antioch. There are some spots which I wanted always visit to take some pictures, later will drive to Lake Geneva, Racine, Kenosha - all in Wisconsin.
In my bag I packed (manuals only)
Tamrons:
2.8/80-200
2.8-3.8/35-80
2.5/180
Tomioka 1.2/55
Flektogons:
2.4/35
2.8/20
2.8/65
I know that it is way to many. But as you know: Never say never. It happened when I took camera with one lens that I was missing beautiful shot just because being smart I had short zoom but not long portrait.
With such "artillery" I can take a picture in almost any circumstances. I am going to make about 250-300 shots. Would be beautiful if I could pick 10 decent ones. Wish me luck Rolling Eyes

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Really depend from place where to I go.

To Zoo I like short tele lenses like CZ Planar 85mm f1.4 , CZJ Biotar 75mm f1.5 etc.+ one wide 28mm f2.8 Nikkor or Olympus OM 35mm f2 or Flektogon 35

To sightseeing and nature I like Bessa RF 10,5 cm 4,5 and Bessa L +15mm Heliar lens.

Fuji Velvia 50 and Sensia 100 or Provia 100.

I love Nikon FA+Nikkor UD 20mm f3.5, Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AIS too.
Olympus OM2 + 21mm +18mm Olympus OM lenses

For digital Olympus OM 21mm, Flektogon 20mm

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Hi all,

Usually i have the following lenses with me:
SMC Takumar 24/3.5 and 35/2
Pentax-K 50/1.4 and 85/1.8
Meyer Orestor 100/2.8
Pentax FA-43 (i know its not an MF lens, but i don't use its AF feature) ...

But, when i go spotting at the airport, i mostly use a Sigma 50-200 or a Sonnar 180 ...

Best regards

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I just came back from a short holiday trip the other day and I thought about all that gear I had brought for nothing.
So I have packed a smaller bag (Kata-22) with lenses I would bring on a similar trip next time:

Rollei EF35, a rangefinder cam with a Sonnar 2.3/40 or the Oly 35 RC (I would prefer the Electro 35 but that one's too big) and three rolls of film (ISO200, 800 col and ISO 400 B&W).

EOS 40D & EOS 350D
- Tokina AT-X Pro 4/12-24 (AF)
- Either Canon EF-S 17-85 IS (if I need the stabilisation) or the Sigma 17-70 (AF)
- Nikkor-N.C 2.8/24
- Nikkor-O 2.0/35
- Leica Summicron-R 2.0/50 or Olympus Zuiko 1.4/50 MC or Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55 (if I expect to need something faster)
- Volna-3 2.8/80 or Nikkor-H 1.8/85 (if speed is essential)
- Tamron 2.5/135 or another 135 lens

This means 7 lenses, 2 DSLRs and one film rangefinder cam.
Something you can even carry around a whole day if you need to and it will fit into an onboard luggage when you're flying.

For longer trips I would add:
- either the Viv 3.5/17 or the CZJ Flek 4/20
- either the Telear-N 3.5/200 or the Soligor 3.5/70-220 or the Tamron SP 60-300 or the Canon EF 75-300 (AF)
- and probably the Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/35

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

I pretty much always carry my AF Sigma 17-70mm. Other lenses depend on what FL I need, or think I need,