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Favorite Lens?

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PB PM

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tcole1983 said:
I would think everyone has at least one "go to" lens or one that you just like to shoot more then another. I didn't mean it to be it was your only lens situation, but more as that lens that is either really useful or makes you go WOW every time.

Lenses don't make me go wow, good photos do. Yeah, I know you've heard that one before, but it is true. Since you can make good images with any lens, it is totally up to the shooter. Seriously though, I did the math, I use the 24-70 44% of the time and the 300mm F4 38% (82% between them). I get shots that make me go wow from both, and both are my go to lens for differnt subjects and reasons. In otherwords, they are way to close to each other in terms of use to answer in the way you desire.

Posted 10 months ago #
tcole1983

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Lol I was just trying to make the intent different...instead of just listing all the lenses that we liked. I like all my lenses I currently have :)

@ PB PM...I have to shoot my 300 F4 more, but I have been really impressed so far. It might turn out to be my favorite after a while.

Posted 10 months ago #
msmoto

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One more response.....ha, ha,ha.... I think, guess, or maybe.... the lenses I prefer are those which produce extreme results. And, this would be the 10.5 f/2.8 modified fisheye on FX, the 24mm f/3.5 PC, the 135mm f/2.0, and the 400mm f/2.8. The 135mm extreme feature is its sharpness. As a single lens, what I use now is the 24-120mm f/4.0 VR as it is very sharp, a nice wide angle, can get a bit of tele, and has VR for slow shutter speeds. And with the D4 and hi ISO, the one f/stop difference from the 24-70 f/2.8 is not an issue.

Posted 10 months ago #
Rx4Photo

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Well, I have a habit of selling off the lenses that I have personal issues with. So to that end, any lens that I grab is one that I really like. If I had to choose a true favorite it would have to be the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8. From landscapes, seascapes, portraits, my kids' piano and dance recitals it's the one lens that always finds itself on the camera. I generally don't use UV filters on my 105mm VR, or Sigma 50mm f/1.4 but I did splurge for the B&W 77mm MRC UV Haze filter for my 24-70.

This new D800 has changed the way I'm thinking about lenses now. With its capability for 1.2 crop mode and 1.5 DX crop mode my favorite lens is even more versatile.

Posted 10 months ago #
NSXType-R

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Nikkor 35mm 1.8 for me.

Some people may not like it, but I feel like at least 40% of my photos are now taken with that lens.

Nice, small package, I love it. Best investment I've made with lenses. I use it even more than my 105mm. I don't have a bag that fits it, so I still don't use it as much as I should.

Posted 10 months ago #
aetas

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50mm 1.8
I have better lenses. This little guy has been with me in one form or another since I began shooting. I love the doF and the sharpness of the current generations is amazing for one of the cheaper lenses you can buy. I love when someone asked what the most expensive lens you have is and then they see you shooting with the cheapest. Sometimes its not the price of the equipment;-)

On a side note,
I had the father of a bride come up to me and say, " I was looking over your photos the other day and you have some very nice work. Your camera must be amazing."
My wife overheard this one. So now every time she makes something delicious for dinner I say, "this dinner was amazing, you must have some really nice pans. I heard this joke for so long I'm glad I finally have a reason to use it.

Posted 10 months ago #
Mike Gunter

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aetas said:
50mm 1.8
I have better lenses. This little guy has been with me in one form or another since I began shooting. I love the doF and the sharpness of the current generations is amazing for one of the cheaper lenses you can buy. I love when someone asked what the most expensive lens you have is and then they see you shooting with the cheapest. Sometimes its not the price of the equipment;-)

On a side note,
I had the father of a bride come up to me and say, " I was looking over your photos the other day and you have some very nice work. Your camera must be amazing."
My wife overheard this one. So now every time she makes something delicious for dinner I say, "this dinner was amazing, you must have some really nice pans. I heard this joke for so long I'm glad I finally have a reason to use it.

Hi,

When people tell me that my pictures are nice because I have a nice camera, I tell them I have an amazing daughter.

My best,

Mike

Posted 10 months ago #
starralazn

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105mm 2.8g micro because its so sharp!

but for practicality, and general use, a 50mm prime (currently using a 1.8g on FX) works best for me

Posted 10 months ago #
msmoto

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I have not actually had anyone say something like I must have a very good camera or something like that, but I do have a response to this. "Yes it is the best I could buy. And that is why I have a minimum $2000 charge to shoot your photo." Usually stops the conversation.

Posted 10 months ago #
Correlli

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Difficult to say. I mostly use the 85 mm f/1.8G and the 28 mm f/1.8G. The only other lenses I currently carry around are the 50 mm f/1.8G and the 20 mm f/2.8 AI-S.

Posted 10 months ago #
Ikeshima

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Been slowly making a move away from DX in anticipation of the forthcoming D600 by selling my non-FX lens. I am, however, keen to keep hold of my 35mm 1.8 G; what a fantastic lens for DX: light, wonderful even wide open, never lets me down. I'm actually considering keeping hold of this lens as I may use it with a smaller later DX release.

On my trials and errors with some older lenses, I came across the Sigma 24mm 2.8 Macro AF. The lens cost me around £40 to purchase from eBay, and apart from the noisy focusing gives wonderful results in terms of bokeh, close focus and colour renditions. Sharpness is pretty good too, and excellent above f4. All of this of course on a DX body, so I'm hoping it still performs well on the imminent D600.

Just picked up a 50mm 1.4 G which I'm hoping will be good enough my main D600 lens.

Posted 10 months ago #
ricochet

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Wildlife photography is my first love, so my 200-400 VR II is my favorite lens.

Posted 10 months ago #
Annick

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I have two all-time favorite lenses. The 50mm 1.2 AIS and the 85mm 1.4. These two are built like tanks, have fantastic DOF and beautiful bokeh. Both are wonderful for portraits on my film camera. Just got the D800 and will try them on the digital.

Posted 10 months ago #
kyoshinikon

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My 14-24mm is my fave all around yet I love the look of the shots from my 300mm more...

Posted 10 months ago #
R8R

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Older 50mm F/1.8 AI-S. From the mid 80's. (not the "E" series) Love it.

It's focus ring is a little stiff, and it's painfully hard to focus in a digital body sometimes, but the pictures have this "warmth" to them I can't seem to duplicate any other way.

Posted 10 months ago #
R8R

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BTW - I must have a bad copy of the 35mm f/1.8 G because it's my least favorite lens I've used in the last several years. Soft, mushy and the focus never seems spot on no matter how much I tweak the compensation for it.

Posted 10 months ago #
tcole1983

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R8R said:
BTW - I must have a bad copy of the 35mm f/1.8 G because it's my least favorite lens I've used in the last several years. Soft, mushy and the focus never seems spot on no matter how much I tweak the compensation for it.

I haven't noticed this in my copy. I don't use it much just because of the focal length that I don't care to use that often, but I did recently put it on with my SB400 and camera on auto at a family gathering so someone else could take pictures with it and I was pleasantly surprised how the pictures turned out with it on.

I have heard several others mention they might have gotten not so great copies as well...maybe quality control since it is the "cheapest" prime that Nikon is producing.

Posted 10 months ago #
R8R

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tcole1983 said:

I have heard several others mention they might have gotten not so great copies as well...maybe quality control since it is the "cheapest" prime that Nikon is producing.

It's turning out to be the perfect companion to my wife's D40.

:)

Posted 10 months ago #
tcole1983

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R8R said:
It's turning out to be the perfect companion to my wife's D40.

:)

I kept mine because it is light weight and if I were to let someone else use my camera for whatever reason I didn't want to have any of my pro lenses on it. That and they all weigh a ton. I think it is a decent lens it just doesn't fit in my kit or style all that well. I originally got it because it was inexpensive and I wanted to try primes out.

Posted 10 months ago #
shigzeo

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I'm partial to the 28/2,8 AiS and the 105/2,5 Ai/S, though for general photography, the 35/2 Ai is probably my favourite. At work, the 28/2,8 AiS or the 100/2 Makro Planar are in constant use.

Posted 10 months ago #
vinopaul22

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My 50mm is probably the best as far as IQ, but my DX 18-105VR on my D90 is very versatile (focal length),and I use it 90% of the time.

Posted 9 months ago #
jonmacapodi

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Strangely enough, I'm completely obsessed with the 35mm 1.8 on my D800. Yes, I know it's a DX lens. It's quirkiness on full frame suits my shooting style.

So it's the 35mm 1.8 and my 105mm F2 DC, and I would be happy to do 90% of my work with those two.

Posted 9 months ago #
Everlong

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Hi all,

Since you are not asking what would be my only lens (24-70mm 2.8) I can say that 35mm 1.4G is my favourite. The next best thing is 85mm 1.4G. I prefer light lenses and I mostly photograph people.

Posted 9 months ago #
msmoto

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jonmacapodi said:
Strangely enough, I'm completely obsessed with the 35mm 1.8 on my D800. Yes, I know it's a DX lens. It's quirkiness on full frame suits my shooting style.

So it's the 35mm 1.8 and my 105mm F2 DC, and I would be happy to do 90% of my work with those two.

I like this thinking.... in the 1970's I went to Europe with two Nikon F's, and a 24mm, 35mm, 85mm lens set. Of the several hundred exposures, less than a couple dozen were with the 85mm and almost all the rest were with the 24mm. And today, I am thinking, if I had one lens for a full frame camera, most likely it would be a 35mm, possibly a 50mm. The mystic of shooting with the "original" lens we used to call "normal" a 50mm is actually longer than the "normal" used on a Crown Graphic 4" x 5" format...usually a 135mm. And ironically, the calculations to get to the same ratio of 0.828 times the format diagonal, as is the 135mm on the 4 x 5, comes up with 35mm on a full frame Nikon.....mmmmm...

And the 85mm f/1.8 or 135mm f/2.0 are so sweet as well to accompany this.

Posted 9 months ago #
golf007sd

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msmoto said:
I like this thinking.... in the 1970's I went to Europe with two Nikon F's, and a 24mm, 35mm, 85mm lens set. Of the several hundred exposures, less than a couple dozen were with the 85mm and almost all the rest were with the 24mm. And today, I am thinking, if I had one lens for a full frame camera, most likely it would be a 35mm, possibly a 50mm. The mystic of shooting with the "original" lens we used to call "normal" a 50mm is actually longer than the "normal" used on a Crown Graphic 4" x 5" format...usually a 135mm. And ironically, the calculations to get to the same ratio of 0.828 times the format diagonal, as is the 135mm on the 4 x 5, comes up with 35mm on a full frame Nikon.....mmmmm...

And the 85mm f/1.8 or 135mm f/2.0 are so sweet as well to accompany this.

+1

Posted 9 months ago #