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Thanks all for the responses, it is interesting to see. From those who are like me and have 2-3 lenses to try and cover most situations, to those who've had more time / money to accumulate a vast array of lenses. I've always been tempted by 2.8 24-70mm - how much you think I would be looking at paying second hand? I'm also thinking if I was to buy that, then it may make me feel like I get less use out of my 18-200 that I currently own. Hmmm food for thought anyway!
I prefer the flexibility of a longer tele end, over the 2.8 aperture. My wife has a 24-105/4 IS to my Mk 1 24-70/2.8 and given that (once software corrections are applied) there's not much between them in final images, I prefer the lighter, more flexible 24-105.
My most used lenses are a Canon 10-22, Canon 15-85 and Sigma 30mm, mostly paired with a 50D although the 10-22 goes very well with a 400D (smaller and lighter) when my wife drags me up mountains. The 15-85 is a great travel lens, and will cover most situations when I can get it off my daughter. My favourite for everyday use is probably the Sigma.
Well not quite as bad as Snapbandit but:
Nikkor 18-80 mm f3.3-4.5 - came with my old D70 and not worth selling (comes in handy when feeling lazy/weak)
Samyang 8 mm f3.5 - cos its fun!
Sigma 10-20 mm f4.0-5.6 - standard landscape lens
Nikkor 50 mm f1.8D - cos its fun!(...................but I don't use it much
)
Sigma 105 mm f2.8 EX Macro standard macro lens
Nikkor 17-55 mm f2.8 AF-S standard walkabout (when I'm feeling fit!)
Nikkor 70-200 mm f2.8 - like Kevin amputation or even death before I part with this!
Sigma 150-500 mm f5.6-6.3 - humm! Well I won it in a competition but I haven't used it much (yet)
all on a D300 body (but not at the same time
). The 10-20, 17-55 and 70-200 all share a 77mm filter holder
in order of use:
Micro Nikkor 200mm for the favourite stuff
300mm Tamron MF for all sorts of things, flowers, birds dragonflies.
600 5.6 MF Nikkor lighouses, dragonflies, birds, waterlilies ![]()
14-24 Nikkor AF real estate
50 1.2 MF real estate and portraits and loads of night shots.
70-300 VR AF (i never use the AF) to walk around town , holiday and Land rover meetings
85 1.4 MF night shots
35-135 old Tamron zoom which is surprisingly sharp - the lazy lens.
sitting around: a 20mm 2.8, a 35 2.8 PC , an 18mm 3.5 a broken Tamron 180mm and two dx lenses.
newly acquired: 85 2.8 PC Nikkor Yes you got it right it's all old stuff apart from the wide angle zoom
Part on and part off topic, when you buy photo gear try to buy wisely for what you need rather than want you want.
49 years ago I started with a compact film camera bought as a 21st birthday present.
I scrimped and saved for a Pratika SLR - and took out a loan for a 135mm f3.5 lens.
As earnings increased I upgraded to Olympus about 30 years ago, and switched to Nikon (for AF) 13 years ago.
To some extent photography is traditionally a middle aged and older mans hobby as often there is not much spare disposable income while the mortgage is large and children are at school - and wives like mine prefer shoes to cameras ![]()
After 49 years in photography the good pictures I took with what I could afford at the time, kept safe, and now show to others, are the important ones.
Quote: To some extent photography is traditionally a middle aged and older mans hobby as often there is not much spare disposable income while the mortgage is large and children are at school -
That is one aspect I know is true. Another is that when I was younger I tended to do things, and later when I was less able to do things I spent more time photographing things.
Quote: I scrimped and saved for a Pratika SLR - and took out a loan for a 135mm f3.5 lens.
When I first had a Praktica it was already old and vey pre-used, but all I could afford at that time. Later I scraped the money for a 135, and a flash unit. It is true, some of the family pictures I took with the 50 and 135 on the Praktica are much appreciated now.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 has helped to restore the fun in my hobby; so far I have 2 lenses; the kit Olympus 14-42mm II, and the indespensible Panasonic 100-300mm. I have kicked around the idea of getting the Olympus 40-150mm to fill in the gap between the 2 I have now, but that would mean removing the Panny from the camera, can't do that.
The only time I use the 14-42 is in the house when the Grandchildren visit, the rest of the time the Panny does yeoman service. I think for next spring and summer I will have a dedicated macro lens, and that will do it. So far I don't have any use for TCs because I don't have a fast lens on which to use one. Off topic, but I'm shopping for a used fl36 flash.
For everyday use:
the 12-50 kit lens that came with my EM-5 +
oly 9-18
Panasonic 45 f2.8 macro
oly 75-300
with the panasonic 35-100 on pre-order (if the price is right)
For mucking about, a couple of cheapies
sigma 400 f5.6 APO HSM macro
sigma 180 f5.6 macro
Shame you are in Canada Denny, I have a used FL 36 I shall be selling
Nikon 14-24mm F2.8 AFS - used for wide angle close ups of fungi, and general use.
Nikon 24mm F3.5 PCE - used for wide angle close ups of fungi, and general use.
Nikon 60mm F2.8 AFD micro - rear element delaminating.
Nikon 60mm F2.8 AFS micro - my mushroom lens. Very nice optics.
Nikon 85mm F2.8 PCE micro - my other mushroom lens. Superb optics.
Nikon 105mm F2.8 AFD micro - insect with flash lens.
Nikon 200mm F4 AFD micro - insect lens, gorgeous.
Nikon 200mm F4 AIS micro - insect lens, poor bokeh, not as good as the above lens.
Oh and a Sigma 400mm AF F5.6 APO macro somewhere, used for active dragonflies. Very very good value on the second hand market. Not as good as a Nikon, but worth having.
All Canon fit.
Sigma 70-200 EX DG OS HSM f2.8 - I use this when I am looking to compress a certain area of landscape. This is an excellent lens but heavy.
Sigma 17-70 DG OS Macro f2.8-4 - I bought this as a walkabout lens rather than buy my 60D with the iffy kit lenses. A very good walkabout with a useful macro setting when needed.
Sigma 10-20 DG EX HSM f3.5 - IMHO this is the best wide angle lens for Canon crop bodies. Absolutely love this lens and use it for 90% of my landscape work.
Sigma 50mm DG EX HSM f1.4 - I bought this to replace my nifty fifty. Got it 2nd hand and it had never been used. At f 5.6 it is stunning.
As you can see, I like Sigma lenses and the 4 I have are very good. I have also had some seriously bad , early Sigma lenses but I would rather forget those!!
Andy
Canon 17-40L - Landscape & some wedding work.
Canon 24-105L - Same as above but more for wedding work as you can get close without getting too close plus great for low light as it's IS as well, I know the 24-70 has 2.8 but F4 gives you nice bokeh as well IMHO currently my main/ walkaround lens
Canon 70-300L - Some wildlife and back of the church/venue shots at weddings, also did some sports photography last week - just playing but got a shot published in the local paper ![]()
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