What’s your most used “great” lens

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Z800 f/6.3 by a long ways. If I owned the Z600 f/4 TC that might be different but I do not and the Z800 is lighter and much less expensive and I got it back on 5-1-22.
 
General travel / backcountry hiking / restaurant - bar / street - 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH FLE II on Leica M11.

Wildlife / eclipses / airshows - EF 500/4L IS ASPH v1 on EF 1.4X II and EOS R7, or EF 400/4 DO IS on R7. I also use the RF 70-200/2.8L IS for air shows, dog mushers and Schutzhund.

Night sky /Milky Way / light painting - LUMIX 18mm f/1.8 or Rokinon SP 14mm f/1.4 on LUMIX S5 II, or LUMIX Leica DG-Summilux 9mm f/1.7 on OM System OM-1. I use live composite mode in both cameras all the time, especially useful for star trails and equalizing light painted exposures.

See https://markbohrerphoto.com for examples.
 
Recently picked up an RF 200-800/6.3-9 IS. I’ve used it for July 4 fireworks, and I’ll be taking it to New Mexico’s Bosque Del Apache NWR in November. It’ll be alongside my EF 500/4L IS that I’ll use for low light / dawn shots.
 
Birds , wildlife and sport: Nikon120-300 f2.8 ,500pf, and 70-200f2.8
Street, travel and landscapes: Nikon Z24-120f4, Z14-30F4
Macro: Nikon 105f2.8
FTZ11 adaptor for non Z lenses.
Gavin
 
At the moment it is not the best season for birding but that is about to change as fall migration kicks into gear.

When birding the 800mm f6.3 is clued to my z9 and it goes everywhere.

Richt now I am doing events and people, pets and flowers which means PLENA BABY.

The Plena is a truly fine instrument.
 
At the moment it is not the best season for birding but that is about to change as fall migration kicks into gear.

When birding the 800mm f6.3 is clued to my z9 and it goes everywhere.

Richt now I am doing events and people, pets and flowers which means PLENA BABY.

The Plena is a truly fine instrument.
I just ordered the 800PF refurbished from Nikon. I am looking forward to working with it.
 
For several years the 500PF. So much so that I sold a 500 f4G for lack of use after getting the 500PF.

Currently I'd have to say it's the 800PF. I suspect with time it will come to be known as one of Nikon's "great lenses".

But my favorite is the 400 4.5. A phenomenal lens but a bit short for anything(wildlife) other than large mammals. If I had access to a bird feeder it would be my lens of choice.

For landscape I've sold off everything but a 24-120 f4G. It gets the job done with adequate IQ.
 
Wildlife: 600TC, 600PF. Now with the 600TC I use the 800PF less but I keep it because I still use it regularly because of the smaller size and lighter weight.

Cities, landscape: 4/24-120, followed by 100-400 and 14-24

Flowers, Insects: 105 Micro, 100-400 (normally at 400), 24-120 (in the future also the Plena 135)

Newest lens: Plena 1.8/135. Only took it out twice, absolutely love it, great for plants and other things I want to isolate against a clean background, so far only used it at f1.8. The lens is crazy sharp.
 
General all around: Z 24-200 and/or some combo of Z 26 2.8, 35 or 50 1.8S
Landscapes, Z 14-30
Wildlife: Sigma 150-600C which will eventually become a Z180-600.
 
I just ordered the 800PF refurbished from Nikon. I am looking forward to working with it.
Congrats on the new lens.

I assume you get it with its fabric case. that is a really nice and highly protective case, my 800 lives in the case.

They put a huge hood on the lens which makes it look a lot bigger than it actually is. I can hand hold it for short periods and for longer if I have it on a shoulder sling and can let it dangle when not actively shooting. At the same time the lens thrives with a tripod/monopod.

The front element of this lens is huge and potentially vulnerable if not protected by the lens hood, Nikon provides a soft padded leatherette type covering when the lens hood is reversed and the case provides added protection.

I strongly recommend you get a Zemlin lens cap for this lens. If you have not already used them, the Zemlin lens caps hold solidly on the lens. Theyu are substantial and provide meaningful protection.

I preduct you will love this lens. It is really sharp and also does really well with autofocus.

I tend to shoot this without a teleconverter. I find RAW images taken with this lens crop well.

Enjoy.
 
Wildlife: 600TC, 600PF. Now with the 600TC I use the 800PF less but I keep it because I still use it regularly because of the smaller size and lighter weight.

Cities, landscape: 4/24-120, followed by 100-400 and 14-24

Flowers, Insects: 105 Micro, 100-400 (normally at 400), 24-120 (in the future also the Plena 135)

Newest lens: Plena 1.8/135. Only took it out twice, absolutely love it, great for plants and other things I want to isolate against a clean background, so far only used it at f1.8. The lens is crazy sharp.
Concur wholeheartedly on the Plena. It has been a real head turner for me.

Try taking a well-exposed and focused image of a subject with a lot of fine detail. Then bring it up in NX Studio and zoom in by 300 or even 400 percent. I think there was some witchcraft involved in the design of this lens.
 
I do most wildlife handheld. So in order of most use
1. 600pf 6.3 with or without the 1.4tc
2. 400 f4.5
3. 100-400z
4 24-120 but I have to say the iPhone 15 pro max will likely see more use in the future as I’m more casual about wide angle subjects and I’m always carrying a larger lens and it is nice to not have to change lenses or carry two bodies.
 
Until yesterday, I would have said the 180-600. But just took delivery on the 800mm PF and will head out today to a local wetlands for some bird photography. I think it will become my go to lens for birds. Will keep the 180-600 for travel...
 
Just to flip around my previous post, might be fun to name our most used “great” lenses. For me - because I enjoy several forms of photography - its situational:

For birds and wildlife:
1. 600mm 6.3 pf
1A. Oly 150-400mm 4.5 TC

Landscapes - 24-120mm f4; my 70-200mm 2.8 is a very close second.

Street and travel - Oly 25mm 1.2

Grandkids in action and family - 70-200mm 2.8

Astro, night and Aurora - 20mm 1.8
The 500 PF hardly ever comes off my D500 or D850.
 
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