What’s your top five lenses

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I own 4 lenses, one of which (85mm) I just bought a couple weeks ago, I haven’t used it a whole lot yet but it will probably move into number 3 position by usage.

My 100-500mm is my go to for wildlife and some landscape. It has 0.33x max magnification, so great for semi-macro and close-ups too.

I absolutely love my 24-105mm for landscape and general purpose, the focal length range is great!

I use the 15-35mm for wider landscapes and night photography.

I just bought the 85mm, it’s amazing! So far I’ve used it to photograph my family and got some stunning photos already. This is my first prime lens ever.

1. Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
2. Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM
3. Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
4. Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
 
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This is for wildlife photography. The list would be quite different if I included studio and fahion photography

1. Nikkor Z 400 TC 2.8
2. Tamron 150-500 (Only had this for 2 months but it is getting more use than the much heavier 400 TC)
3. Nikkor Z TC 20 (With the 400 TC, this is my 800 mm f/5.6 choice)
4. Nikkor Z 24-120 f/4
5. Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8

Ussage is not dictated soley by image quality. I can pack my Z9, Z8, Z 400 TC 2.8, Tamron 150-500, Z 24-120 spare cards, batteries and a charger into a gura backpack and still be around 10 Kg or 22 lbs. I could even take along some clean socks and underwear.
 
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Member's gallery
I like to shoot all genres with my a1 and my favorites reflect this.
Tamron 35-150 (event, landscape, pretty much everything except wildlife)
Sony 600f4
Sony 85f1.4 (portraits)
Sony 50f1.4 (indoor anything)
Sony 135f1.8 (pets, portraits, etc.)
 
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  • Wildlife Zoom :
    • 100—500 mm; f/4.5—f/7.1
    • Oh, so incredibly light (1.3 kg) & compact!
    • Superb optics & fast focusing.
  • Extender :
    • 1.4 x
    • Don't go birding without it!
    • Yes, it is a lens.
  • Everyday Companion :
    • 28 mm; f/1.7
    • Optics to die for!
    • Comes with a free Leica camera attached (Q2).
  • Bird Identification :
    • 8 x 30 binoculars
    • Medium price. Good optics. (Nikon Monarch 7)
    • Do binoculars count as two lenses?
  • At home with a cup of coffee :
    • 50 mm; f/1.8
    • Thrifty—Nifty—Fifty
    • This is what's on the camera when I try out new settings.
 
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Member's gallery
I shoot these lenses on my D850 and/or Z8:

Zeiss 25/2 ZF.2 Distagon
Nikon 120-300/2.8
Voigtlander 21/1.4
Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO macro
Nikon 600/6.3

No matter where I’m headed, I’ll pack at least three of those.

Currently looking for a (used) Z 85/1.2 which will bump the Zeiss off the list on arrival.
 
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Ltgk20 said:
I like to shoot all genres with my a1 and my favorites reflect this.
Tamron 35-150 (event, landscape, pretty much everything except wildlife)
Sony 600f4
Sony 85f1.4 (portraits)
Sony 50f1.4 (indoor anything)
Sony 135f1.8 (pets, portraits, etc.)
Click to expand...
I live the 50 1.4 just bought that last year and amazed by the image quality
 
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I only recently got back into photography. I bought 6 Nikon Z-mount S lenses, the 5 I've used the most so far counting by images:

6.3/800PF (that lens was the most deciding factor for choosing Nikon, other reasons are the Z8, the 14-24 and the possibility of later getting the 4/600 with a built-in TC).
6.3/600PF
4.5-5.6/100-400
4/24-120
2.8/105 Micro

The 6th lens is the 2.8/14-24 which I haven't used much so far, mostly because I haven't managed to go to the Alps a lot for landscapes or other cool places. I expect to use that lens quite a lot.
I also have the 1.4x, I have used it only a little so far with the 800PF, but I see myself going for the 1.4x every time the situation allows it, it's always in my bag if I am out with the 600PF or/and the 800PF.

If I owned the Z 4/600 TC in addition to the lenses above, that would probably be number one (and the PF lenses would get used to save weight, e.g. when hiking or for extended hand-holding) but so far I have not bought that lens and I am not sure I will.

I shoot a mix of birds, other wildlife, macro and landscapes, with the occasional city in the future as I am sometimes travelling to cities like London or Oslo (like this autumn) and especially to Madrid.
 
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By use on the last 2-3 years (wildlife only):

Nikon 180-400mm TC FL
Nikon Z800PF
Nikon AF-S 500 PF
Nikon AF-S 24/120 f/4

Nikon Z 600/4 TC (added recently, will be used instead of the Z800 in my September trip to Klasserie/SA)

Nikon Z 180/600 (added recently, not really used on the field yet, will be used sporadically when weight/size becomes an issue)

Earlier lenses that I don't have any longer but used prior to the above:
Nikon AF-S 600/4 FL
Nikon AF-S 600/4 VR
Nikon AF-S 200-400 VR I (all time winner)
Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 (Sigmonster, great times with it)
Nikon AFS 400/2.8 (FL and non-FL)
Nikon AFS 300/2.8 VR I
 
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Nikon Z 100-400 (wasn't expecting it when I bought the lens, but this has become my most used lens).
Nikon Z 600 6.3 (PF)
Nikon Z 105mm 2.8 (macro)
Nikon Z 24-120
Nikon 14-24 2.8 (F mount version. Doesn't get enough use to warrant upgrading to a Z).
 
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MMoretti said:
I shoot these lenses on my D850 and/or Z8:

Zeiss 25/2 ZF.2 Distagon
Nikon 120-300/2.8
Voigtlander 21/1.4
Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO macro
Nikon 600/6.3

No matter where I’m headed, I’ll pack at least three of those.

Currently looking for a (used) Z 85/1.2 which will bump the Zeiss off the list on arrival.
Click to expand...
Zeiss 25/2 ZF.2 Distagon :love: - is it a famous Holywood lens, isn't it?
Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO macro - and this one is rarity now! I tried to get one a few years ago , and they were only from Japan (not good to purchase here, in Europe - customs, taxes, etc) I also thought about my Voigtländers... (58/1.4, 40/1.2 ..) They are the best for 3D effect. Even better than Zeiss.

Speaking about Top 5 - is it possible to have in the list the lens I have never seen or tried but love to? (I's almost like a God, we also didn't see him but love ;-)

1. Nikon Z 400/2.8 TC (never seen or tried but believe it's great)
2. Nikon Z 600/4 TC (never seen or tried but believe it's great)
3. Nikon F 400/2,8 FL
4. Nikon Z 70-200/2.8
5. Zeiss Milvus 135/2
 
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ElenaH said:
Zeiss 25/2 ZF.2 Distagon :love: - is it a famous Holywood lens, isn't it?
Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO macro - and this one is rarity now! I tried to get one a few years ago , and they were only from Japan (not good to purchase here, in Europe - customs, taxes, etc) I also thought about my Voigtländers... (58/1.4, 40/1.2 ..) They are the best for 3D effect. Even better than Zeiss.

Speaking about Top 5 - is it possible to have in the list the lens I have never seen or tried but love to? (I's almost like a God, we also didn't see him but love ;-)

1. Nikon Z 400/2.8 TC (never seen or tried but believe it's great)
2. Nikon Z 600/4 TC (never seen or tried but believe it's great)
3. Nikon F 400/2,8 FL
4. Nikon Z 70-200/2.8
5. Zeiss Milvus 135/2
Click to expand...
I really should give my 25/2 a little more love. I can control the aperture from the camera, unlike my 21/1.4, CA is nicely tamed and the ergonomics are sublime (i.e., I love focusing it). And it can be de-clicked for video... hmmm… Also own it’s little/big Distagon sibling, the 15/2.8 which I rarely shoot anymore, mainly because it doesn’t easily drop into any slots in my backpack.

I bought my 125/2.5 in 2017 from an entomologist around the time they were dropping in price and had it serviced in 2021 to repair a problem with the “primary helicoid and floating center element - a guide pin screw had backed itself out and was binding against the secondary helicoid.” Not an uncommon problem with this lens’s delicate construction, so I’ve heard. (There’s a very nice copy on FM currently for $850.) If I didn’t have the 125, I’d probably own your Zeiss 135/2. I also have the 40/1.2 in Leica mount, but don’t take it out very often since getting my 21/1.4.

If we’re going to start a faith list, I’d probably start mine, like you, with the 400/2.8 TC…
 
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sh1209 said:
Asking this question to hear what your top five lenses are in order of most use.
1-Sony 100-400GM
2-Sony 90mm macro
3-Sony 600GM
4-Sony 70-200GMii
5-Sony 24-70GMii
My top pick, the Sony 100–400 is a lens I cannot imagine not having. It is just so versatile for so many things and absolutely razor sharp. It definitely gets the most used by far of any of my lenses. Not only is it great for still images, it is great for video as well.
Click to expand...
Mine are:
100-500 Canon L
100mm Canon L Macro [edited to add "macro"]
10-18 Canon STM
24-105 F4 Canon L
16mm Canon STM
 
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Member's gallery
Currently a mix of Z and F Nikkor lenses for use on my D850 and Z8.
Mainly wildlife and sport.
Nikkor 120-300 f2.8
Nikkor 500 pf
Nikkor 70-200 f2,8
Z24-120 f4
Z14-30 f4
Gavin
The 120-300 is one of the best lenses I have ever owned - managed to get this at a great price in a clearance sale from Nikon South Africa a few years ago.
 
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sh1209 said:
Asking this question to hear what your top five lenses are in order of most use.
1-Sony 100-400GM
2-Sony 90mm macro
3-Sony 600GM
4-Sony 70-200GMii
5-Sony 24-70GMii
My top pick, the Sony 100–400 is a lens I cannot imagine not having. It is just so versatile for so many things and absolutely razor sharp. It definitely gets the most used by far of any of my lenses. Not only is it great for still images, it is great for video as well.
Click to expand...


Sony 100-400 is my favorite "do-it-all" from landscape to macro to occasional wildlife (with 1.4X TC at times)
Tamron 28-75 f:2.8 G2 - just light and optically superb, great street photography lens
Sony 600 f:4 with or without 1.4x TC - it's either all in if I am on a dedicated trip / day out, or sitting in the closet.
Sony 20mm f:1.8 - stupidly good optically. Great complement to the 28-75 but obviously fairly specialized.

That's it, covers 99% of what I do. Sometimes I rent a Leica M and a 50mm Summilux for a week - and as much as I enjoy it, I love not having another $13k tied up in gear I rarely use.
 
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