Lens Lust... what's yours?

JohnR · « **on:** 2 Jun 2008, 12:40 pm »

I'm traveling overseas in a couple weeks, and was just thinking to myself, hey, I should grab one of those 16-85mm VR-blah-etc lenses, everybody on the forums says how great it is, and it would be such a great travel lens, and I would even get the 10% GST (tax) back off it...!

And then the other half of the brain kicks in and says, hang on, that's half, or 1/3, or whatever, of this other lens that you *really* want, because you know, a serious photographer would get that heavy, more expensive, specialized lenszzz....

And I have to admit the other half has a point.

So, what's *your* dream lens? Or lenses?

BobM · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 12:45 pm »

I'm no professional so I tend to look toward a minimum set of lenses to carry with me, so utility is important to me. A zoom lens that lends itself to the wider angles, and a second that lends itself to the longer shots is what I am looking for mostly.

Hell, I got by with a single 49mm lens on my old Minolta X700 for many years before even getting a zoom for it (heresy, I know).

But, to each his/her own.

Enjoy,
Bob

Thebiker · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 12:58 pm »

I travel with my Nikon D40x and am always looking for the most coverage with the least baggage. As a result, I travel with 2 lens: a 18-55 VR and a 55-200VR. Throw in a light-weight tripod plus the IR remote shutter release and that's all the bulk I want or need. I shoot primarily landscape and nature. I have on occasion wished for a longer lens than the 200, but not often enough to dig deeper into my wallet or lug more bulk. You can only put so much gear into a saddlebag and still have room for the other (non-camera) essentials.

I have also not had any complaints with either lens, but my enlargements don't go beyond 11 x 14.

Walt

JohnR · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 01:06 pm »

Hi Walt, cool. Do you travel a lot? I love traveling on a bike (altho it's been a long time now), there's no excuse to carry junk you don't need. And... well, all the rest of it as well.

Thebiker · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 01:18 pm »

I ride as much as possible, all over the northeast US and a fair amount in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. There is nothing else like it. I've always traveled with cameras, my trust AE-1 for years and now my D40x. I have to admit, I love not having to worry about carrying or finding film. A fast 2GB card in the camera and 2 spare cards and I'm set for any trip. Of course, weeding out the good stuff from the medicore takes longer with more total shots, but I sort by thumbnails on the screen and then work from there. The up side is I don't hesitate to take a shot that might not be "perfect". I have gotten some great images that way.

Since I'm going to be moving to Arizona from New England in the next year, I'll be riding more and taking my camera places it hasn't been before. The desert is a wondrous place

.

Walt

bz79 · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 03:00 pm »

Mine would have to be the Canon 600mm f/4L IS for birding or other wildlife.

Grumpy_Git · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 03:24 pm »

From a pure fetishistic perspective, I'd love a Nikon 8mm f2.8 esp at £20-something-k but as I have no need, realistically, I'd settle for these:

Olympus Zuiko 21mm f2.0.
Zuiko 85mm f2.0
Zuiko 300mm f4.5.
(and maybe the Olympus 8mm fisheye)

Yum!

Nick.

nathanm · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 03:25 pm »

The Goerz Hypergon would be pretty cool (well, if I had an 8x10 that is). Gotta love the little anti-vignette fan!
http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/hyperg_e.htm
http://www.cameraquest.com/hyper.htm

There is apparently a replica of it made with modern techniques, but they are made-to-order and cost about 3 grand. Yeeow!

SET Man · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 08:12 pm »

Hey!

I do have quite a few that I've been lusting after....

1. Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 (sweet!)
2. Sony 70-200mm f2.8 G
3. Sony Zeiss 85mm f1.4
4. Sony Zeiss 135mm f1.8
5. Sony 100mm Macro f2.8 (strangely I still don't have this yet

)
6. Minolta 100mm f2 (very rare, should have bought one long time ago

)

Oh! yeah I know I haven't use my 4X5 since November 2005 but it would be nice to have 150mm f5.6 XL, 90mm f5.6 and 300mm Schneider for my 4X5 also.

Boy! That's a lot of lenses I'm lusting after.

If I weren't into audio I would have most of these lenses on my shelf now.

Take care,
Buddy

nathanm · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 08:25 pm »

My lens purchases ended when all four compartments in my backpack were filled up. If you want a 300mm Schneider 5.6 SET Man, I could probably be persuaded to part with mine. That is, if you don't mind a big dent in the rear element and no lens caps. Heh! Oh, and the slower shutter speeds don't work very good. And the face detection circuit is on the fritz.

SET Man · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 08:42 pm »

Quote from: nathanm on 2 Jun 2008, 08:25 pm

My lens purchases ended when all four compartments in my backpack were filled up. If you want a 300mm Schneider 5.6 SET Man, I could probably be persuaded to part with mine. That is, if you don't mind a big dent in the rear element and no lens caps. Heh! Oh, and the slower shutter speeds don't work very good. And the face detection circuit is on the fritz.

Hey!

Thanks Nathan but I think I should save money for those lenses for my DSLR first.

Take care,
Buddy

Scott F. · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Jun 2008, 10:30 pm »

My 30D came with a fairly nice 28-135. At times I could use a little longer lens but for most times it works just fine. More often than not I find myself wanting a short fast lens.

My wish list would be;
Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L IS USM

navi · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Jun 2008, 01:25 pm »

I've been dreaming of a
Canon 85mm 1.2 ($2300)
canon 50mm 1.2 ($1600)
Canon 14mm 1.4 ($2500)

I've been using the 85mm 1.8 and 50mm1.4 they are pretty damn fine lenses but if I won the lotto..........

denjo · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Jun 2008, 02:14 pm »

Angenieux Nikon mount (manual or AF)
35 - 70 mm
180 mm

ipy · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Jun 2008, 07:48 pm »

Fast prime lenses......
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Levi · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Jun 2008, 08:11 pm »

Hi John,

I know how it is travelling with SLR camera.

I only bring 2 lenses with me when travelling abroad. Nikon 17-35mm F2.8 and Nikon 12-24mm lenses.

The Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 looks like a great addition but Ken Rockwell did not like it for some reason.

Cheers,
-Levi

ipy · « **Reply #16 on:** 3 Jun 2008, 11:25 pm »

Quote from: Levi on 3 Jun 2008, 08:11 pm

Hi John,

I know how it is travelling with SLR camera.

I only bring 2 lenses with me when travelling abroad. Nikon 17-35mm F2.8 and Nikon 12-24mm lenses.

The Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 looks like a great addition but Ken Rockwell did not like it for some reason.

Cheers,
-Levi

Could not agree more with your selection of travelling lenses. For my next trip I will be bring the Sigma 18-200 mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS (1.3 Ib), Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L (2.11 Ib) & perhaps a 1.4x Extender (0.44 Ib) for those zoom in shots. I will be leaving the weighty EF 100-400mm (3.01 Ib?) at home ........

jcpix · « **Reply #17 on:** 4 Jun 2008, 03:41 am »

If anyone is looking, I have a Canon 300mm 2.8 lens for sale. Auto focus and in good shape. It does not have IS as it was the last model before Canon added stabilization. Looking to get around $2900 for it. Drop me a PM if interested.

bz79 · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Jun 2008, 04:40 am »

Quote from: navi on 3 Jun 2008, 01:25 pm

I've been dreaming of a
Canon 85mm 1.2 ($2300)

A few months ago Canon had all kinds of rebates and I picked up a 85mm f/1.2L II for $1,600 from B&H.

jqp · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Jun 2008, 04:43 am »

On my trip to Mexico I took only "the Beautiful Lens"

- the Nikon 18-200 AF, VR, etc. It's nice never changing and having zoom power for any kind of shot. Plus the VR is of course great.

On my Nikon D40, camera and lens fit perfectly into one of the pockets in my backpack.