One (1) lens, you are then banned for life from the purchase of any others!!

Msmoto

FYI... all lenses can be locked.... it is called gaffer's tape. Extremely useful. Also, in many cases where there may be contact, tight shooting venues, gaffer's tape is on most of my lens hoods so they do not get knocked off, falling to the depths of wherever...

snakebunk

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

Photobug

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

Kind of a "narrow point of view", isn't it? LoL

snakebunk

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

Kind of a "narrow point of view", isn't it? LoL

Yes :-)
But a long prime would actually be an easy choice for me if I could only have one lense. I use my 500 mm 90% of the time.

haroldp

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

Kind of a "narrow point of view", isn't it? LoL

Yes :-)
But a long prime would actually be an easy choice for me if I could only have one lense. I use my 500 mm 90% of the time.

Absolutely.

Fast moving distant subjects (animals or athletes) are the last use case where DSLR's and big glass, are decisively better than any other type of kit.


... H

Photobug

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

Kind of a "narrow point of view", isn't it? LoL

Yes :-)
But a long prime would actually be an easy choice for me if I could only have one lense. I use my 500 mm 90% of the time.

Sort of figured that from reading your post. Just making a "funny" comment about your post.
Seriously, that is a lot of use of that 500mm lens. Assume it's wildlife your shooting and some scenery shots. I have never had the opportunity to try the 500/600/800mm lens on my DSLR. Have had the change to use Nikon 300 F2.8 and I use to own a Tamron 200-500. Loved that long reach of these lens on my lone gone D300.

heartyfisher

600/4, but I hope I can take it of and add a converter when I need it.

I think you are not the only one with the 500/600 mm Primary FOV. Like I said a few times now.. people need to find their personal Primary and secondary FOV, and if possible get a lens that covers them. My "primary is about 170mm. so a 150mm prime suits well and the 70-200 covers many of my tertiary FOV as well so.. its great for me. But my secondary cant be covered so I have a second lense thats covers it.

Questions like this thread is a bit pointless as although the 24-70 will cover most peoples needs it may not cover the OP's needs.. it doesnt cover @snakebunk and my needs.


One of the big advantages of finding your primary is you can spend the majority of your budget on it and you will get the best value out of that ! I actually have 4 lenses that cover my Primary. :-)

manhattanboy

Fast moving distant subjects (animals or athletes) are the last use case where DSLR's and big glass, are decisively better than any other type of kit.

this is soooo true.

NoXiN

My first thought was this is a simple question to answer - I would lock on my 'travel' lens, my 28-300 3.5-5.6 VR lens. it covers just about everything and has remarkably good image quality for what it is. It's small, about the same size as my 17-35 that i love so much. in fact I like my 17-35mm 2.8 lens so much I just changed my mind and that's the lens I would have on there all the time. I would miss out on the stuff that's far away but I like playing with perspective and like the narrow f stops too much to go with anything else.

CEBlueclouds

For me it would be the 24-70 f2.8 .....the most versatile lens IMHO... For primes....Sigma 50 1.4 Art.. As a very casual photographer, I always have either on my camera 90% of the time.....the rest when the occasion demands... Used to be the 24-70 f2.8 or the 24-120 f4 as my go-to lens.....but the Sigma 1.4 since displaced the 24-120!

WestEndFoto

I would drop genres, focus on one and do it well, rather than try to be "acceptable" at multiple things.

Forced to make that hard choice, I would pair a Zeiss 85 Otis with a D810 and focus on portrait work.

If I was allowed a 2nd choice, I would buy the 16-35 F/4 for landscapes first and foremost, everything else it was suitable for second.

Symphotic

I would drop genres, focus on one and do it well, rather than try to be "acceptable" at multiple things.
.....

This discussion isn't so hypothetical for some of us. When I started I could not afford many lenses and I only bought one lens for travel (i was living in Asia) and work (scientific instruments.) I did everything with my 55 mm Micro-Nikkor mounted on an F2 Photomic.

I still have my venerable 55 mm lens, usually mounted on either my D800 or a V1. If I am had to do just one genre, it would be the industrial photography, and that old 55 mm lens still pays for itself over and over again.

NSXTypeR

I think if I had to have just one lens, I might go with the Sigma 18-35 1.8. I've been wanting a wide prime, and this does all the wide primes for DX in one zoom.

My only problem is that I'd definitely miss macro and the long end.

Ironheart

If you only have one lens, can you also have teleconverters and macro extension rings? If you have an FX camera you can also put it in DX mode to get that 1.5x.

So I will revise my "nifty fifty" comment from earlier and say I'll stick with the 50, but I want to be able to use accessories to mess with my lens :-)

safyre

One lens?

This one is easy and can't believe it's not been mentioned yet, the Nikon 18-300mm. Wide Angle, Midrange and Telephoto all covered in one. So what if it's slow, that's why you have flashes, tripods and post processing to cover you.

PB_PM

Simple reason, the thread was about FX lenses. For FX the 28-300mm VR would be more acceptable.

Photobug

This is an excellent question - what one lens would you use.

Every few months, all photographers should pick one lens and leave the house and go somewhere and shoot pictures for half a day with that one lens. You won't believe how this improves your composition eye with that lens. Do that over a summer with 3 lens and you will make better images.

WestEndFoto

This is an excellent question - what one lens would you use.

Every few months, all photographers should pick one lens and leave the house and go somewhere and shoot pictures for half a day with that one lens. You won't believe how this improves your composition eye with that lens. Do that over a summer with 3 lens and you will make better images.

I do that often and you're right. I learn a lot that way.

pigeyejacksn

+1 Photobug

all photographers should pick one lens and leave the house and go somewhere and shoot pictures for half a day with that one lens

I can't tell you how many times I have been to Disney for example. Every time I go, I always pack only 1 lens to bring with and force myself to shoot with it. I've had a couple of trips where I've only brought my LensBaby Composer. It was great. Whole new perspective on things I've looked at a million times. Plus it also gives me ideas on how to use those lenses when I shoot for people. I can't agree with this more.

But just one lens for me would be my 28-70 2.8 on FX or my 17-55 2.8 when I was shooting all DX.

Vipmediastar_JZ

I pick one lens for the week and a backup lens just in case but mostly use that one lens.

HipShot

I dove right in when I decided I wanted to explore photography. I bought a Nikon D600 and a Nikon 28-300mm lens after some research. The only disappointment I have is the resale value of the D600. I've had absolutely no problems with it, though. And I did take advantage of Nikon's offer to replace the shutter for free.

Now I have several other FX lenses, and I certainly use them. The 28-300mm is nice for when I keep a camera in the truck while I'm out and about.

Photobug

+1 Photobug

all photographers should pick one lens and leave the house and go somewhere and shoot pictures for half a day with that one lens

I can't tell you how many times I have been to Disney for example. Every time I go, I always pack only 1 lens to bring with and force myself to shoot with it. I've had a couple of trips where I've only brought my LensBaby Composer. It was great. Whole new perspective on things I've looked at a million times. Plus it also gives me ideas on how to use those lenses when I shoot for people. I can't agree with this more.

But just one lens for me would be my 28-70 2.8 on FX or my 17-55 2.8 when I was shooting all DX.

+1 on the 28-70 and 17-55 lens. Those are excellent lens and workhorse lens.

More people need to work with one lens to broaden their creativity. Thanks for the feedback.