What lenses do you take with you?

fernanrl

Hi,

I really don't know where to put this message...so I hope I am doing it in the right place (otherwise, please, move)

The question is: What lenses do you usually take with you, lets say, in a day trip? I like to take wide lenses since I love architecture and landscapes, but I tend to take more than I need "just in case".

Since most of you have all sort of lengths (sometimes even same focal different brand) what is your rule of thumb when picking up lenses?

...just curiosity. Regards,

Fer

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I try to imagine place before I prepare my gears, if I was there before to take photos this is easy. If I have no clue generally I take a film camera with 20 or 24 mm lens. One digital body with following lenses:

50mm f1.4
85mm f1.8
180mm f2.8
300mm f4.5

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

I tend to go with just one lens and learn to see with it for the entire day. Sometimes I'll take two, or two different cameras, and switch somewhere along the way... but I'm sticky and won't swap lenses often.

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

I agree with Nesster
When you work with a prime, you see the exact scene with your eyes and don't lost time to frame trough the viewfinder
Like Attila say, it help a lot to have already been to a place to select lens
24mm (=36mm) is a nice focal lens but it miss the thin dof
but for landscape and architecture it's nice

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I only take one lens. Wink

I just close my eyes and reach into my big bag and whatever lens I grap, that's the one I choose. Laughing

No, just kidding. Many guys here know that I tend to bring too many lenses by far.

I normally have in my bag:
- 17 or 20mm
- 24mm
- 28/35mm
- 50/55mm
- 80/85mm
- a tele lens (105, 135, 200)

So that means two bodies and six lenses (sometimes more). Far too many, indeed.
One body with the 24mm and the other one with the 80/85mm. The other lenses to change.

I have realised that when I only have a fixed lens rangefinder cam with me, I shoot more picture than with all those lenses...

Richard_D · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2378 Location: Faversham Kent UK

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

My choice is like Attila says. If you know where you are going plan for the location. There is not much reason to take a 300mm on a street shoot or a fish-eye to a birthday party (although it could be fun). I usually care a RF with a 25mm and 40mm. And a reflex with a 50mm and a 85/100mm. Often I just carry the RF with the 40. It is all a matter of what is going on Cool

Shiladitya · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 306 Location: New Delhi, India

Fer, I think the location matters as rightly said by Attila. But if it is unknown then it entirely depends on your shooting preference. I always have three bodies ready with a 24, 50 and a 135/200 and just chill. Having said that, the best photographs that I ever got was not a product of thinking too much about which lens to use but to find scenes and subjects that would be suitable for the lens in my hand Smile

Enjoy

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Normally two or three - 35mm, 50mm, and then a telephoto depending on where I'm going (85mm, 135mm or 180mm). My Ricoh GX100 and a 135mm make a good combination.

fernanrl · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

Hi,

Yup, since I am going to do some walk arounds in Madrid and my neighbourhood (I am planning to do a couple of photo-reports) I was thinking to take a 20 mm, 35 mm and my vivitar 85-205 with just my 30D and swap lenses when needed. What do you reckon?

Regards,

Fer

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

35mm is not necessary in my opinion if you have a 20mm lens. Tele should ok for details.

ChrisLilley · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1767 Location: Nice, France

Big difference between 35 and 20, especially on a crop cam. I would certainly argue for something in the 28-40 range as well as a moderate wide.

Laurence · Expire: 2016-06-19

In the past, up until getting into this forum, I've used just the lens that came with the Yashica Mat. Sometimes also, I would use the Pentax 645 and the 55mm Pentax A lens, and the Pentax A 75mm lens.

Now I have several M42 lenses to use with the Revueflex 3003 film camera and the K110D digital camera. However, I usually just take one lens with me, and have been sort of "switching" between wides and normals and zooms. Still trying to find out if I really need more than one lens at a time. With the one lens scenario, I find myself "zooming" with my feet! Very Happy

I guess I'm so used to having just a single lens (such as in the Yashica Mat) that it feels comfortable (to me).

glockman99 · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 233 Location: Aberdeen, WA USA

I generally have my (compact) Tokina SX-Z 70-210mm f/4-5.6 lens on my Nikon F3HP, as that is my favorite lens. I also pack along my Nikon 43-86mm f/3.5 AI lens with my F3HP.

With my (black) Nikon FA, it's usually my Tokina RMC 35-105mm f/3.5-4.3 macro lens, along with my Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/2.8-4 lens.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

fernanrl · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Hi,

I would like to be able to walk around with two bodies and many lenses...the case is that I only have my 30D. Remember the 1.6 factor so...

Someone mentioned about forgetting the 35 mm...Then I think I could change this for a 50mm. So, in total:

30D + 20mm + 50 mm + 85-205mm

...and I have to get a rucksack / bag to put all this inside...I am thinking about making one myself...any ideas?

Regards,

Fer

Poolhall · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 1296

My Pentax/Samsung is a 1.5 crop so my faves to carry about are, 16mm f2.8 Zenitar, VarioZenitar 25-45mm f2.8-22, Jupiter 9 85mm f2, and CZJ 135mm f3.5. Depending on light etc i might bring a 50mm usually Pentax m f1.7, or Pentacon f1.8

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

If I have to take "family" pictures, usually my Tokina 28-80 zoom, not anything exotic.

Because it supports Auto operation on the Pentax DSLR.

j.lukow · Expire: 2021-11-25

This is something I showed in the thread talking about going on vacation, I'll be gone a week and will be approx. 12 hours from home, so my kit is as extensive as I can be without taking up too much space.

In my "camera bag" I'll have -
Minolta X70
Vivitar 28mm f1:2.8 CF
Tamron SP 35-80mm f1:2.8/3.8 **& CF TeleMacro zoom 80-210 f1:3.8
Zeiss Contaflex126 with the 35mm pantar lens
+ filters and accessories
In my lens box (8 1/2" x 14" x 7" plastic "drawer") I have
Minolta SRT200
Minolta PF 58mm F1:1.4,
Vivitar 35-200mm zoom
For when I want a couple more compact lenses
Tokina SD 70-210mm f4-5.6, Sigma 35-70mm f2.8~4
Contaflex126's 85mm Sonnar
Plus a dozen rolls of film and some fresh batteries.

Of course I take my tripod and my Spiratone 400mm f1:6.3 for possible wildlife shots

When I go somewhere with my camera - say a barbeque on a local lake I'll take by 2 Tamron zooms with me.
I can be like this with lenses but I find I don't overthink shots due to using zooms - I usually have the shot in my mind's eye. Occasionally I'll go in vague to a shot with the hope that zooming will generate a good crop.

My camera bag is a laptop bag and I love the compartments and layers it has - later this fall I'll have my wife tailor some padded sleeves for the lenses and such (whick I'll be able to transfer over to a haversack or the like). There are many links on the web talking about making your own camera bag and you can buy the sleeves too.

Jim

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Jim, that's also quite some gear that you carry around. Wink

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

My now very limited equipment is

CZJ 20 + 35 + 50 + 135 + 85 J9

I want to accustom to one body and 20 + 135

and only for potraits 85/2 J9.

RINO.

pixelbart · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject:

It depends. For concerts and festivals I always take a fast 50mm (Pentax SMC-F 1.7 (in MF mode), but I'll try my Super-Takumar 1.4 soon), now that I have two bodies I mount an 85mm or 135mm on my other body. Well, never done that with the 85mm actually, since I only bought it last monday, but tonight I'll screw my J9 on my K200d. And leave the 50mm at home.

I love primes for reasons mentioned earlier in this topic. It forces the discipline of looking at a scene from one perspective. Just like manual exposure and manual focus force you to take the time to frame the shot and become aware of the light conditions.

For day trips: only one lens. Mostly the 50mm (because I still don't have a decent 28mm or 35mm), sometimes another lens, just to play around. On family trips I don't even bother to bring an SLR anymore. Just a simple digital point-and-shoot. I need at least half an hour on my own to to get enough rest to be able to take good pictures, that's simply not an option in such circumstances...

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

WOW!!!!!

Are you scharzenegger?

Congratulation! A great equipment.

Remind me, please, don't fligh with you!!! Laughing

Regards. Rino

maddog10 · Expire: 2015-02-12

That is Carsten's 'fun' bag, you should see what his 'serious' bag looks like! Very Happy