Your favourite lens

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Hi folks

Just thought it would be interesting to name your favourite lens and why.

Mine is my Tokina RMC 3.5/17mm. I just adore the perspectives it gives, I mostly shoot landscapes so this is pretty much the perfect lens. IQ is fantastic, sharp as a pointy stick in the eye, immense depth of field, contrast is superb and colours come out rich and bright.

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

This is mine -

http://forum.mflenses.com/schneider-tele-xenar-360-5-5-m42-t9251,highlight,%2Bschneider.html

- I like the focal length
- Its one of those teles that snaps into focus
- Everything moves lightly but with precision.
- It can focus fairly close for this type
- I am lucky with it

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

One of mine too, thanks for you tip! Actually I have a few what I wish to forever keep.

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f1.5
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 50mm f4
Olympus OM 21mm f3.5
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mm f1.8
Jupiter-9 8,5cm RF
...
many more

Embarassed

NewStuff · Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 847 Location: Wales, UK

So Far, my Pentacon 30/3.5. By far my most used lens. A close second, because I've had it for so long, is the Pentacon 300/4, but I don't use it nearly as much given the British Weather.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Carl Zeiss Planar 50/1.4...it's a really versatile lens with incredible pop and contrast. Followed by the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 100-300/4.5-5.6 which is sharp, contrasty, poppy with barely any CA Smile

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

too many favorites to list

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

heartcat · Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 371

RMC Tokina 28mm 2.8

WolverineX · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject:

RioRico · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:01 pm Post subject:

Too many faves, indeed. But if FORCED to name just one it would be...

Schneider Betavaron 50-125/4-5.6 enlarger zoom on 17-35mm helicoid

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Impossible to name just one.

If I had to, I guess it would be the Leica Summicron 2/50.
But I don't want to... Wink

hoanpham · Expire: 2015-01-18

Forced to name just 'one':
Must be Pentax K85/1.8 and FA50/1.4.

RioRico · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:58 pm Post subject:

hoanpham · Expire: 2015-01-18

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

... is the one I haven't discovered yet!!

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

Distagon 1.4/35 Contax
I could list a number of reasons (no flares even in the worst lighting conditions, excellent image quality at all apertures, lively microcontrast,
fast, easy to focus, good for all kind of photos from street to portraits, dimensional rendering)
but there is one that encompasses all the above: whenever I mount it on the camera, I feel like a violinist when he handles a Stradivari.
The Distagon 1.4/35 Contax is the Stradivari of lenses for me. When I handle it, it feels like some wonderful photos will surely come out of it somehow.
And this feeling gives me great confidence in myself as a photographer.

alex66 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:24 am Post subject:

Too hard to pick just one, but the ones I like; Fujinon 55 f1.6, Olympus Zuiko 50 f1.4, Helios 58 f2, Canon 24 f2.8 & 135 f3.5 fd and the Konica Hexanon 50 f1.7 for the various slr cameras I use. Then for my Zorki the Jupiter 8 50 f2. All my medium formats have fixed lenses so no big choice there except the Fuji GS645s has an extremely good lens on it. If I could only keep one SLR lens it would be a hard choice between the Fujinon and the Zuiko, I use the 50 range more than anything else.

Alex H · Joined: 25 Dec 2011 Posts: 344

Among the few manual focus lenses I have:
For Minolta/Sony AF - Canon nFD 500mm F/4.5 converted to MAF mount
For Sony NEX - Novoflex Noflexar 35mm F/3.5

Nelson · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject:

I really don't know
i would not leave my 70-200 L is
MF lenses... adaptall 24mm and may be the tair 3s

pich900 · Expire: 2012-12-27

for me, quite easy and without hesitation, my zoom Angenieux 70/210mm f3.5! It's simply an amazing lens in all aspect !
Like orio said about the distagon, I could exactly saying the same about this lens: "When I handle it, it feels like some wonderful photos will surely come out of it somehow....And this feeling gives me great confidence in myself as a photographer.".....

Willem · Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Netherlands

SMC Takumar 1.8/55
It's the lens that can do everything.
Second choice would be my macro tak 4/100.

nixland · Expire: 2012-07-29

Just read my lens list and still couldn't find the most favorite one ... Smile

All are almost equal to me.
But the lens I use the most recently is my new Olympus OM 21/2.
I got it at lot cheaper price than current eBay price, but the front part condition is quite miserable, though it has no significant effect on the image ... shapeless filter ring and 4cm scratch plus some tiny mm scratch (it shows up in the bokeh highlight in certain condition if used at wide aperture) .. fortunately no scratch on the rear part Smile

The lens is small, good for landscape and it's close focus + f/2 aperture is good for portrait/close up shots too with blurry background and smooth bokeh Smile

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I'm going to go completely against the grain here and nominate ......wait for it......a zoom lens!

The lens that's never out of my reach is the excellent Vivitar S1 24-48 f3.8 by Kiron. It's big, heavy, not particularly fast, but it works! It does everything I ask of it and more.

Next favorite, that has to be the Pentacon 30 f3.5, or the Schacht Travegar 100 f3.3. but in a fire I would save the Vivitar. Very Happy

FluffPuppy · Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 365

Smoli4 · Expire: 2013-06-07

Well i can list 3 of my most used lenses... and i usually take all 3 with me when i go for a shoot:

S-M-C Takumar 135 f-2.5
SMC Takumar 50 f-1.4
Jupiter 9 85 f-2

These are now my favorite lenses, but when ill get more lenses maybe this list will change.