Top 5 lens in image quality, use, bokeh or ? My fav is less used than any, but when I use it - magic - the 20 1.8S
What’s your top five lenses
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over what time period? I have you 2024 YTD
Probably over the last 1-2 years as things tend to change with time
Turberticus
Well-known member
Here are the 4 that I currently own, and their uses.
Nikon 200-500 (duh)
Nikon 35mm F/1.8G (For my son, dogs, and landscapes)
Nikon 50mm F/1.8 D (Somehow I recently lost it, but mostly for my son and dogs)
Nikkor 80-200 F/4.5 AI (Used for motorsports events)
Nikon 200-500 (duh)
Nikon 35mm F/1.8G (For my son, dogs, and landscapes)
Nikon 50mm F/1.8 D (Somehow I recently lost it, but mostly for my son and dogs)
Nikkor 80-200 F/4.5 AI (Used for motorsports events)
Vincent_VdB
Well-known member
My favorite 5 lenses:
1. Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
2. Nikkor Z 100-400mm
3. Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
4. Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S
5. Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
1. Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
2. Nikkor Z 100-400mm
3. Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
4. Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S
5. Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Really seems like a lot of us tend to love the 100-400mm
Vincent_VdB
Well-known member
Indeed, I love that lens. When I was shooting Sony for a while was that also 1 of my fav lenses. Never owned the 600mm f/4 from Sony but Sony Belgium was kind enough to load me this lens for a week to use in Africa and that was a gem of lens as well. Did like the 200-600mm also but not that much the 70-200mm f/2.8 (first version).
I did had the Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm zoom lens but this lens could never convince me in both speed and IQ but the Z mount 100-400mm will never be sold
The question implies that forum members own five or more lenses, which is not the case for me. I assume I am not alone in this?
I think much of that has to do with it being just about the ideal lens to complement standard zooms, 24-70 or better yet, 24-105 or 24-120...and gives one reach into bottom of the super tele range in a reasonable size/weight with outstanding IQ. It also fills in the gap below a 600mm very nicely if you want to carry two bodies and have a zoom available when a 600 or 800 is too long without the size and weight penalty of the much larger xxx-600 zooms.
Whether you're a Nikon, Sony or Canon shooter, you now have that option available to you. I don't recall the specifics of the Sony and Canon models, but if they are close to the MFD spec's of the Nikon version, that adds in another valuable capability that generally hasn't been available in this category.
600GM
600GM + 1.4TC
400GM
100-400GM
16-35GMII
600GM + 1.4TC
400GM
100-400GM
16-35GMII
Kjellis
Well-known member
Yeah, this lens is a gem and I really doesn’t use it often enough!
Only wish it had a tripod collar
I wish they would make a Z version of the 200f/4. That is a phenomenal macro lens and built like a tank
nmerc_photos
Well-known member
Nikon Z 400TC
Sigma 14mm f1.4
Nikon Z 100-400
Tamron 35-150
I somehow only own 4 lenses currently. Just sold the 186 and 800PF.
Most likely going to swap from 400TC back to 600TC, and pick up a Sony 300GM, Nikon 400 4.5 or Nikon 600PF for a lightweight option.
Funnily enough, my favorite lenses are the light ones. I much prefer them to the bulky 186, 400TC, 600TC, 800PF. However, I cannot get past the difference in IQ/flexibility the big lenses offer.
Sigma 14mm f1.4
Nikon Z 100-400
Tamron 35-150
I somehow only own 4 lenses currently. Just sold the 186 and 800PF.
Most likely going to swap from 400TC back to 600TC, and pick up a Sony 300GM, Nikon 400 4.5 or Nikon 600PF for a lightweight option.
Funnily enough, my favorite lenses are the light ones. I much prefer them to the bulky 186, 400TC, 600TC, 800PF. However, I cannot get past the difference in IQ/flexibility the big lenses offer.
I hear ya on the weight. The image quality makes it hard not to use them.
That's my #6 most used. Great, light lens and in the studio for some situations (shooting Zippo ligthers) has no substitute.
It is certainly a step above the f mount version of that lens. I was shocked how much difference there was when I first got it.
SoCalRick
Well-known member
I'm curious, why do you say that? Is it because of the weight of the lens?
I feel that the Z 105 is actually pretty light. My Z MC 105 f/2.8 weighs 167 grams (.37 lbs) less than my 24-70 f/2.8, which also does not have a tripod collar.
Personally, I haven't felt that either of these lenses were lacking anything by not having a tripod collar, but YMMV.
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lol, I have only 4 lenses right now so they would all be in the top 5…
24-120 f4
85 f1.8
100-400
500pf
I may replace the 500pf someday and maybe get a 105 macro. But I don’t see myself having more than 5 lenses anymore as I did in the past.
24-120 f4
85 f1.8
100-400
500pf
I may replace the 500pf someday and maybe get a 105 macro. But I don’t see myself having more than 5 lenses anymore as I did in the past.
Doug Herr
Well-known member
I have more than 5 lenses at my disposal, other than the 600 GM and 300 GM most are legacy lenses that could qualify as priceless antiques, or that's what local dealers tell me. They wouldn't quote a price for them so they're priceless.
I could make 99.999% of my photos with just two lenses.
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Right now mine would be:
Z 600 TC
Z 600PF (mostly kayaking and often keep on camera in car just in case)
Z 100-400
Z 400 F4.5
Z 70-200mm
A year ago the 800PF would have been on the top of the list, but since getting the 600TC, I think I have only used that lens once and should really sell it.
I shoot the Fuji GFX system for Landscape and have five lenses for that ranging in 23mm to 200mm, which is about the equiv of 17mm to 150mm in a full frame set up.
Z 600 TC
Z 600PF (mostly kayaking and often keep on camera in car just in case)
Z 100-400
Z 400 F4.5
Z 70-200mm
A year ago the 800PF would have been on the top of the list, but since getting the 600TC, I think I have only used that lens once and should really sell it.
I shoot the Fuji GFX system for Landscape and have five lenses for that ranging in 23mm to 200mm, which is about the equiv of 17mm to 150mm in a full frame set up.
RikWriter
Well-known member
I only have five lenses.
600mm f4
100-400
200-600
300 f2.8
24-105 f4
600mm f4
100-400
200-600
300 f2.8
24-105 f4
Most used. As I am mostly a bird photographer, the long primes and zooms get used most:
1) Nikon Z 800 PF
2) Nikon Z 600 PF - projected use as I only just got it.
3) Nikon Z 180-600 f5.6-6.3
4) Nikon Z 135 Plena
5) Nikon Z 24-70 f2.8 S
In order of best IQ and desire to use because of that.
1) Nikon Z 135 Plena
2) Nikon Z 50 f1.2
3) Nikon Z 85 f1.2
4) Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR S
5) Nikon Z 50 f1.8S
Honourable mentions due to either excellent IQ or much use or both:
Nikon Z 14-24 f2.8S
Nikon Z 100-400 f4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikon Z 85 f1.8S
1) Nikon Z 800 PF
2) Nikon Z 600 PF - projected use as I only just got it.
3) Nikon Z 180-600 f5.6-6.3
4) Nikon Z 135 Plena
5) Nikon Z 24-70 f2.8 S
In order of best IQ and desire to use because of that.
1) Nikon Z 135 Plena
2) Nikon Z 50 f1.2
3) Nikon Z 85 f1.2
4) Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR S
5) Nikon Z 50 f1.8S
Honourable mentions due to either excellent IQ or much use or both:
Nikon Z 14-24 f2.8S
Nikon Z 100-400 f4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikon Z 85 f1.8S
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I'm a wildlife photographer...Nikon gear, 600PF and 100-400.