If you could have only 1 prime(or zoom) lens? Which?

Lately I've read a few responses where the contibutor mentioned that they use only

one lens 90% of the time, and feel almost "liberated" in doing so. So I thought it

might be interesting if a similar question was asked here; pointing to a lens that

many folks feel is most valuable to them. So..1), if you could have only one lens

and it had to be a PRIME lens, which would it be and why? For the sake of

clarification, let's say it's used on a 1.6X DSLR. And 2), if you could have only one

lens and it was a ZOOM lens, which would it be and why? Thanks for "playing"

Favorite zoom: 24-105mm f/4 IS. If I had to live with one prime, the 35mm f/1.4 would be my first choice for a 1.6x body.

24-105 for it's sharpness, contrast, zoom range and most of all, IS. I shoot lots of low light images. I bought the 24-105 while my 10D was my only body. I now use it on my 5D.

 

All the shots in this set were made hand-held. Not all are perfectly sharp but make a note of the shutter speeds:

 

http://www.slidescanning123.com/route-1-saugus/

Another vote for the 24-105, but it would be really hard to give up all my other lenses:-)

That 24-105 is a real winner. But actually, I personally am more interested in what you folks would choose as your PRIME lens candidate.

Just ordered the 100mm 2.8. I love using my Tamron as a close up. I can't wait to

have 1-1 mag.

The trouble with 24 or 28-whatever zooms is that they are still fairly long on the short end for the APS sensor cameras, if you take my meaning. The lens that corresponds to those on the smaller sensor is the much derided EF-S 17-85mm, which many of us love, warts and all. When I'm at the gardens or on the streets, I rarely have to switch lenses when I'm using it. Close focus, and from the equivalent of 28mm to 135m lens

 

I'd go with a 50mm lens for a prime. If you're rich, the f/1.2; if poor, the f/1.8. I also really like my 35mm f/2.0, but use 50mm more often on an APS-C body. (I've got the cheap 50mm, since I have a Nikkor f/1.2 that works just fine as a manual lens on my camera).

Favorite prime on an APS-C camera - 50/1.8

 

Favorite zoom - 70-300/4-5.6IS USM

Ditto the 24-105 L.

If I could only have one lens I'd opt for the 24-105 f/4 too. Make the scenerio a prime lens and it would be the 135 f/2.

Bob Atkins,

 

I'm curious to know if you use your 50/1.8 a lot?

The 85mm f1.8. Yes, on a 1.6x crop body.

EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM Cheers - <a href=http://www.photo.net/photos/colinsouthern>Colin</a>

The 24-105 is a great lens, but for a crop camera, I'd pick the 17-55 f/2.8 hands down. The angular coverage difference between 17 and 24mm is huge. I'd much rather have the range in between 17 and 24 than the range between 55 and 105. But much depends on your shooting style and typical subject matter.

 

In primes, again, your shooting style would again be really important. I use a 50 f/1.4 a lot, because it's a good portrait lens on a crop camera. But I use a 105 macro even more often, because I shoot a lot of macro.

Dang!...all these votes for the 24-105!<br><br> I've been dithering the last week trying to decide between getting the 17-40 or the 24-105 ...and I'm dithering even more so now... Right, I'm off to bed!

500/4 :)

It doesn't matter if it's FF or 1.3x or 1.6x...

 

Prime would be the EF 35 f/1.4L and the zoom would be the EF 70-200 f/2.8L.

 

Plus, the biggest band for your buck would have to be the EF 85 f/1.8.

 

Why? Construction - Construction - Construction! Sharp & Great Contrast. USM

motor on all three.

One prime would be a 14mm f2.8. One zoom would be a 70-200mm f2.8. Both on full frame only, which I already have.

Probably 24mm 1.4L.

Zoom 24-105, particularly for 5D.

 

The prime should be a standard lens: 28 or 35 for x1.6 body.

There is no doubt, my 70-200 f4L is the lens that I use the most, on my

EOS1n and my 30D. My only prime lens is a Canon 50mm 1.8f, but since purchasing a 24-70 F2.8L lens last year, I now rarely use my 50mm, but it did come in handy for many years.

On an APS-C:

 

Prime: EF24F1.4L

 

Zoom: EF16 to 35F2.8LMkII

 

(Though I would not have chosen an APS-C body as my `one` choice of body.)

 

WW

Canon 400 f5.6 L. Relatively light, inexpensive. Very high rating for optics (see Michael Reichmann's Luminous-Landscape site). No IS so tripod generally needed, but I love it. Of course, all depends on your photographic interest.

I use the hell out of my 50mm f/1.8, so that's my choice.

35 mm prime