DSLRers: How many lenses do you carry?

[DonSchap]

Being a DCRP member for a number of years and having various exchanges between all sorts of photographers ... I'm kind of curious as to what everyone is carrying with them as regular lenses with their DSLR.

It's tough to cover all the bases with just one lens ... but, some do try (you know who you are). If you don't carry a big ol' lens bag, you're rather strapped with your options.

So ... how many lenses are with your camera (no matter what manufacturer you have chosen) on a regular basis?

Try and detail them with a supporting comment as to why you chose what you did, if you would. It should make for an interesting read to the new members, trying to decide what they should buy for their next lens.

Also, indicated on the poll, if you carry an external flash, also ... it will accept the choice.

(Thanks, Rooz, for the forum change suggestion :D )

[Rhys]

Normally just two - my 17-85IS and my 70-300IS.

When I'm working, 4 - 17-35 and 28-75 in addition to the above. Add to that a couple of flashes and a second body.

[toriaj]

I carry everything with me, all the time, down to my battery charger and manuals. For now, everything still fits in my Lowepro 200 with room to spare :)

[D Thompson]

1) Canon ef 24-70 f2.8 L - my workhorse lens, on camera most of the time. Superb quality.
2) Canon efs 10-22 f3.5-4.5 - wide and great image quality. Landscapes. 2nd most used.
3) Canon ef 85 f1.8 - mainly shooting outdoor portraits. Very good image quality.
4) Canon ef 50 f1.8 - least used, mainly lowlight indoor when the 85mm won't do and am not using my strobes.

I also usually carry a tripod, Jobo Gigaone 40G portable hard drive, and a Sekonic light meter.

[Spookonthe8ball]

Canon XTI with BG-E3 battery grip
Canon lens assortment:
EF 100mm f/2.8 macro For macro and extended distance portrait.
EF 70-200 f/4 IS To supplement my 17-55 when I need more reach.
EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS For wide angle and indoor photography.
EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS For more distant shots. I may retire this lens and get a 1.4 teleconverter for the 70-200.
430 EX external flash.
Microfiber cleaning cloth and lens cleaner along with bulb type blower brush.
Extra battery and memory cards.
How many lens I take along depends on the activity. Normally 1 additional lens works out fine.
Spook

[Nickcanada]

It depends, regularly my kit is the 20D, 35mm 1.4 and the 580 EX. Some times I'll bring the 85mm with me but only if I know I'm going to use it.

[Rooz]

1) Canon ef 24-70 f2.8 L - my workhorse lens, on camera most of the time. Superb quality.
2) Canon efs 10-22 f3.5-4.5 - wide and great image quality. Landscapes. 2nd most used.
3) Canon ef 85 f1.8 - mainly shooting outdoor portraits. Very good image quality.
4) Canon ef 50 f1.8 - least used, mainly lowlight indoor when the 85mm won't do and am not using my strobes..

my kit is pretty much the same as this, (sigma 10-20 instead), except i stopped bringing my 18-50 2.8 with me and i carry an sb600 or 800. as per the question, this is my "regular kit" so it's light as i can make it without losing too many options.

i only bring the 70-200 when i know i'll want it.

[JTL]

Everything I own is currently in one very comfortable water-proof backpack, so I usually take it all. XT, 4 lenses, external flash, travel tripod and all accessories.

When I'm in the mood to travel light (China, India, etc.) I usually have only two lenses with me...the 10-22 and the 24-105. In those situations I also generally carry a 1.4x teleconverter, a 2 and 3-stop graduated neutral density filter and a polarizer with me. I've just added a 25mm extension tube to this kit.

Sometimes I only shoot with the 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Very rarely, though.

When I'm with friends and/or family, it's just one lens...the Sigma 18-200 OS.

[Jason25]

My number varies all the time. Some days I only take the 17-55, other days I add the 70-300 VR and the 30/1.4 or 55 micro. Generally, it seems my max is 3.

[tim11]

Background: I'm not a professional and hardly have time for photography. :(
I hardly take more than one lens unless I think I will need others. Same for flash. I hardly carry the Nikon anyway... but Fuji F30 stays with me all the time.

[Norm in Fujino]

Depends on what I'm doing, but generally about three lenses, or maybe four.
Standard on body: ZD 14-54mm, Others: 50-200mm, 8mm FE

I just got back from a week in China and those three were the lenses I took. If I'm doing macro work, I'll include the 50mm f2 macro as well. And a FL-50 flash in the side pocket. The combination works out pretty well.

[achuang]

I carry 18-70 f3.5-4.5, 55-200 f4-5.6, 50 f1.8, 85 f1.8, 60 f2.8 micro lenses and the SB600 flash.

[fionndruinne]

Still only the kit lens. I long to get out of the 18-55mm club, so to speak, but cash is slow to accrue.

In future, though, I plan on a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM and 50mm f/1.4 HSM (and be damned the flash!), and chucking my kit lens into some corner.

[DonSchap]

Everyone is invited to reply to this ... it has no limit ... but you only get one shot at it, too.

Don't be embarrassed to open up and let everyone know how you operate. We all learn for each other ... albeit, sometimes we learn more or less than we probably want to.

Remember: It's not what's in your bag, but how you use it. (Yeah ... sure. :rolleyes: )

[VTEC_EATER]

I voted 4 and external flash.

My D50 and all my variable aperture lenses are getting sold this weekend, so now I'm down to all that pro/semi-pro equipment. Oh, woe is me.

[StuartN]

Currently I'm carrying the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 , 80-400 f/4-5.6 & 18-55 f/.5.-5.6, although sometimes it's just the 24-70 for walking around. That will probably change shortly as I'm looking to add the Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8 or 70-200 VR f/2.8 and a macro 105 VR f/2.8.

And a bigger bag to fit it all ;)

[TenD]

I carry everything, to just one lens. It depends on the situation. When I am traveling by car or airplane then:
5D
XT
17-40
24-105
50
80-200
300
1.4x

If I am hiking:
5D or XT
17-40
24-105

If I am at work(cockpit)
XT
28-300

Walkabout:
5D
50

Etc. Etc.

[great_guns]

I carry everything (except my Lumix camera) myself. I don't own much to be frank - just the kit lens, a 50mm f1.8 prime and a 90-300mm telephoto. The kit lens covers my wideangle requirements, the prime is used when I am shooting in extreme low light or sometimes during the day when I want super-sharp photos and the 50mm isn't too "long" for me. The telephoto, of course only comes out once in a while.

:D I shot the coast of Italy from the plane using the telephoto last evening. IT was an unbelievably clear day and though it isn't the sharpest photo in the world, I am excited to look at the results tonight.

[T06]

I usually sling the Kata over my shoulders with a mono sticking out of it about 8". If I'm traveling by train or on foot through Sydney & lots of people I've been known to keep the mono in one hand to protect whats in the bag:D
The bag contains D200, 17-55mm 2.8, 50mm 1.8, 70-200mm 2.8, Nikon MC36, media cards, cleaning gear etc.

[cwphoto]

The most I carry is 8-9 for a wedding:
16-35/2.8 II
24-70/2.8
70-200/2.8 IS
24/1.4
35/1.4
50/1.2
85/1.2
135/2

and sometimes a 300/2.8 IS.

For sport I try and go light:
16-35/2.8 II
70-200/2.8 IS
300/2.8 IS

+ something big (400/2.8 IS, 500/4 IS, or 600/4 IS).

When I'm shooting for fun I usually just pick one and go for it.

[Visual Reality]

Hopefully just two.

Nikkor 18-200 VR

50 1.8

[DonSchap]

Obviously, there are a "number" of people who have NOT participated ... and it's a little rough to get a "feel" for the leaning.

I've always considered four lens the perfect coverage is you are not using an all in one.


UWA - 10-17(24)
WA to Normal - 17-50(70)
Telephoto - 70-200mm
Super Telephoto - 200-500


Obvious, having a fifth (bright lens) for low light would be awesome, somewhere in there ... but, when you are out and about, this should cover most of it.

All-in-ones are awesome for the "grab a& go", but then not every situation should be that way, because you begin to miss the beauty sharp imagery, straight lines ... and also reducing the number of hours in post processing straightening out those "compromises." The DSLR is a "lens swapper" ... capable of offering an incredible array of photographic solutions.

Three lenses seems to be a clear standout, here ... I suggest it is three + the fourth (the big one, waiting in the car) LOL

[TheWengler]

I don't think I saw this one the first time around. I just carry around a 16-45mm f/4 for landscapes and a 50mm f/1.4 for portraits. I also have an external flash in case I need it. At this point though, I suck at using it.

My perfect set up would probably be something like this:

An UWA
17-40 f/4 (16-45mm on Pentax)
35mm
85mm (77mm on Pentax)
70-200mm f/4 (60-250mm on Pentax)

[Visual Reality]

As compared to my original plans...95% of my work is now done with the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the 70-300 VR. My more specialized lens, the 35mm f/2, has its place but doesn't get out much. If I got another it would be something to extend my f/2.8 range, such as a 50-150 f/2.8.

[nqjudo]

It depends on the task at hand. The minimum would be just the lens on the front of the camera and the maximum would be five or six plus a couple of flash units.

[DonSchap]

nqjudo ... you are pushing to far with this survey. What do you "normally" have in your lens bag. Check ... take a quick look ... and all will be revealed.

I mean, I usually have ALL the other glass, in a backpack and two attached long lens cases, stored in the truck, when I'm going out for a reasonably good run (airshows, watershows, car shows, dog shows ... burlesque shows ... oops, forget that last one :rolleyes: ). In my sling ... normally three lens and the ext. flash. In the "grab & go", the A100 w/ 18-250. My normal tote, is the sling bag as packed.

That's all the survey asks ... I swear.

[ColColt]

All that's in my signature for the Nikon, plus an upcoming SB-600.

[raven15]

Ideally, three. One ultrawide, one super zoom, and one extraordinarily nice, high quality, wide aperture zoom lens where the two meet.

Examples:
Olympus: 18-180mm, 9-18mm, 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 (my setup)

Sony: Sigma 10-20, Sony 18-250 or Tamron 28-300, Tamron 18-50 f/2.8

Canon: Sigma 10-20 (what no IS???), Tamron (Sigma?) 28-300mm OS, Canon 18-50 f/2.8 IS


Optional: a Super telephoto, a wide aperture prime lens (1.2?) in focal length most useful to me (I don't have either of these yet)

[nqjudo]

nqjudo ... you are pushing to far with this survey. What do you "normally" have in your lens bag. Check ... take a quick look ... and all will be revealed.

I mean, I usually have ALL the other glass, in a backpack and two attached long lens cases, stored in the truck, when I'm going out for a reasonably good run (airshows, watershows, car shows, dog shows ... burlesque shows ... oops, forget that last one :rolleyes: ). In my sling ... normally three lens and the ext. flash. In the "grab & go", the A100 w/ 18-250. My normal tote, is the sling bag as packed.

That's all the survey asks ... I swear.

Sorry Don. Maybe I just don't understand the question. To try and clarify though, I 'normally' have as many lenses as I 'normally' need.

[DonSchap]

I suppose that is a "normal" response. Cooperative stuff can be a rough go for some folks.

[eman]

I voted 2, cuz I just own 2 lenses :(
That LBA is hitting me hard!!!

[jmoro]

I voted. But here is what I carry:
On the D300: 18-200 Nikon VR Zoom
Bag: Tokina 12-24 F4, 100mm F3.5 Macro, Lensbaby 1st generation

On the S2 Pro: 28-200 Nikon F3.5 Zoom.

[DonSchap]

Okay ... does anyone carry a SHORT PRIME (50mm, 35mm, 28mm, 24mm, 20mm, 14mm) with them, routinely, to handle dim-light issues?

Is so ... how often do you fit it?


Also, if you haven't voted for the "applicable selection" on this poll, I urge you to please do so. We have a monkey around back doing the tallying ...

37757

and he won't get his banana, until this is complete. Business is monkey-business.

[TheWengler]

Well that monkey doesn't look to busy. :p I carry a 50mm, but more for portraits than low light stuff. I'd rather use a tripod or a flash if low light is an issue. How often do I use it? It depends on what I'm doing, but I'd say 2/3 of the times I go out. If I'm focusing on portraits then that's pretty much all I use.

[01514]

i got 3 : 50mm 1.8 ,18-55 IS and 70-300 IS
and heres my shoot of monkey :D

[DonSchap]

The accountant does get around, eh?

[Nickcanada]

I use my 35mm 80% of the time.

My monkey is still thinking about it....

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_5942.jpg

[lukeap69]

Most of the time

Sigma 30 1.4
Tammy 17-50 2.8
70-300 IS
Sigma 50 1.4 (previously EF 50 1.8)
430 EX

Normally, prime is in my camera but I carry all of the above just in case.

[drama]

1 lens & flash for my usual walks, 2 for trips

[expatCanuck]

I voted 1, and that's the answer if I'm around town.
If I'm on a trip, I'll take my 18-55 and 55-300.

If fate is kind, I'll soon acquire a 50mm f/1.4 to take clubbing.
(I dislike flash.)

- Richard
oldWithoutMoney.com (http://oldWithoutMoney.com)
Pentax K200D, 18-55 II, 55-300

[DonSchap]

Well, I have to be honest ... I found myself primarily using two when I headed out to AirVenture 2008 @ Oshkosh, WI. The 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 for the close stuff and the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 on the flight line. There didn't seem to be time to consider what PRIME to use, things were scooting by so quickly ... it just wasn't practical.

I saw several Canon users dedicating everything to the 500mm f/4, which can be exceptionally limiting, considering how close the jets actually got to the crowd.

I guess it has shown me that some things are truly mission dependent.

[res222]

So far everything I have still fits in one bag. 18-55 kit; 70-300 and sb-600 are with me everywhere I go. I'm hoping to add a 50mm soon.