3 lens kit

[zackesch]

I am aware that this question depends on the person behind the camera, but building a 3 lens kit has been on my mind. At the moment, I have two camera systems, Pentax K "K1000" and Canon EF "Elan II". I do have the M42 adapter for pentax and will be getting one soon for my canon. For both systems, I have 50mm, 1:2 pentax and 1:1.4 USM for my canon "Still the pride and joy of my lenses." I have a Rexagon Auto MC 28 2.8 on its way for the bay. There is very little info on it, but from what I have seen, it looks pretty good. For both systems, I have a typical zoom, 70-200 F4 for the k mount, 70-300 F4-5.6 Sigma DG APO for my cannon.

What I am thinking about for my 3 lens kit would be 28,50, and something in the 135 to 200 range.The Bauer 500mm F8 has been on my mind for the sole purpose of rail photography. That would be an interesting walk around lens. Can you imagine peoples reactions?

What are your thoughts on a 3 lens kit, and what odd lens would you keep on hand for special purposes?

 

[blockend]

It depends whether budget is a factor. Also size of kit. My preference is for two camera bodies, one with a wide angle lens and the other with a standard lens. They fit neatly into a small shoulder bag. Depending on what you're photographing, 21-35-50, 24-50-80, 28-50-100, or 28-85 zoom would be my picks, but I find one camera body and multiple lenses slow and confusing.

 

[brucemuir]

For my Nikon system I have a wide array but what I pack if i need a light 3 lens kit
28 f/2 ai
50mm 1.4 S or
105 2.5

If I'm shooting lowlight i would prefer a faster tele like maybe 135 f/2 or 85 1.4


This is really personal choice
I could also go

35 1.4
and the 85 1.4
I don' really shoot real long teles unless it's sports or wildlife

It's really highly individual
there are so many factors that can change things quick.
It's nice to have choices :wizard:

 

[Paul Howell]

My standard 3 lens set is a 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm, if the 105 is too short I do like a 135 or Pentax made a 150 in both M42 and KM mount. Although rare Pentax also made a 120 in M42. If you want a zoom kit, 28 to 105 and 70 to 210 works well.

 

[thegman]

I don't really like having more than one lens to be honest, it's just more faff. I'd rather just have a really good zoom, but fast, small zooms are pretty thin on the ground.

It's one reason I like my Rolleiflex, Horseman Convertible, Rollei 35, no GAS over lenses.

 

[benjiboy]

One lens Canon FD 28-85 f4

 

[tkamiya]

I probably use my 50mm the least and my usual zoom seem to never be in this range.

If I have to choose 3, then my choice will be: 28, 105, and an all purpose zoom. 28 because that's how wide I usually go. 105 because I like that focal length for a tight portrait (which I really like). All purpose zoom to cover other situations where I don't need the performance of prime. If I don't have to choose 3, then I'd drop 28 and let zoom take that place.

I use Nikon. Today's zoom are amazingly good for general purpose use.

 

[zackesch]

There have been situations where 50MM was just too long, and I couldn't move any farther back. Well, I could but I would of gone over the bridge and into the river. Also, looking at what people use for rail photos, 50mm is pretty common along with 200mm range. There have also been examples where 500-800mm was used. 28mm isnt too common, but it would be fun to get more of the foreground and get the atmosphere and character of where that train is passing.

Pardon me as i push my glasses up my nose here, being the train geek I am.

 

[Chris Lange]

As Bruce said above, classically I have been a 35/1.4 + 85/1.4 kind of guy with my Nikons. A 50-only kind of guy with my Leica now.

If I had to add a third lens it would be something in the 18 to 24mm range, I occasionally like to challenge myself with my 20 just to change things up.

 

[BradleyK]

If opting for primes, my three lens outfit would be the F6, and the 28mm F2, 50mm 1.2 and 85mm1.4 Nikkors. However, if going the zoom route, the kit would be the 17-35mm 2.8, the 50mm 1.2 and the 80-200mm 2.8 lenses (anything longer stays at home unless I am off to shoot something like wildlife or sports).

 

[Steve Smith]

I probably use my 50mm the least

Same here. For my Nikon Fs, I have 35mm, 50mm, 105mm and 200mm. The 50mm hardly gets any use and the 105mm the most.

I usually only take one lens out with me. Now I have an FE2, I only have a 135mm series E lens with AI coupling and for now I am quite happy using that alone.

If I want a 'normal' field of view I will use my Rolleicord which doesn't have the choice.


Steve.

 

[donkee]

My travel 35mm kit consists of

Minolta XE-7
Minolta SRT201
MC 35mm f:2.8
MC 50mm f:1.7
MC 135mm f:2.8
Minolta Auto 360PX flash

That setup has been good for me when running around on vacation, when I can get a vacation that is.

One body will be loaded with Fujichrome Provia 100. The other body with Ilford Hp5.
Once in a while I'll also throw in an SRT101 with a slow B&W film like PolyPan F at 50.

Add on filters, meter, lightweight tripod, batteries, cable release, etc.

It all fits in a Tamrac 603 except for the tripod, that is on an old strap for when I might need to grab it and fling it over my shoulder.

The bumming around bag (Lowepro EX 140) has a Pentax K1000 with a 50mm f:2.0 and a Pentax 75-150mm f:4.0. If it gets crushed or stolen I won't be out much.

 

[Terry Christian]

I'm with the others on this. A 50, a 105, and either a 28 or a 70/80-200 depending on whether your purposes dictate wide or telephoto. Another zoom of some type could bridge a gap and make it into a two-lens kit instead of three, if you don't need tons of versatility or particularly shallow depth of field.

 

[MattKing]

My three lens kit (all Olympus Zuiko) is as follows:

24 f/2.8
35 f/2.0
85 f/2.0

I move them between Om-2n, OM-2s and OM-G bodies.

I have other lenses, including several versions of the 50mm, but I tend to use them for special purposes - the 50mm f/3.5 macro for close work, or the 50mm f/1.4 for lower light.

The Vivitar 2x macro teleconverter is a useful, small addition to the bag as well - a 170mm f/4 close focus combination can be handy.

 

[Alan Gales]

I used to own a 180mm. It was really nice but I found that I didn't use it as much as my shorter lenses. I found the 85-100mm range a lot more useful, especially if you shoot people at all.

Now if you want a 4 lens set-up, by all means buy the long lens.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Oren Grad]

24 / 35 / 50 for me.

28 / 35 / 50 would be OK too.

Beyond that, it depends what the "special purpose" is.

 

[John Earley]

For my SLR it is usually 24, 50 and 105 with Nikon and 24, 50 and 100 for Canon.

 

[blockend]

In recent years I've gone through a wide phase for street photography, mostly 24mm with some 28mm. In the last couple of months I've returned to a 50mm 1.4 and it's quite liberating re-educating oneself to see without worrying about distortion and the wrap around effect of a wide.

 

[Lamar]

My 3 lens travel kit: 35-200mm f/3.5-4.5, 24mm f/2.8, either a 35mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.4 depending on my mood.......

 

[pen s]

Three lens kit? OK for travel I suppose but I found I often need a bit more on the longer end.

For my only 35mm system, the Olympus OM-1 I have from 24mm to 200mm is these Zuikos;
24mm f2.8
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f2
135mm f3.5
200mm f5

So in those 6 I am content. You will notice they are all the slower, smaller, lighter versions of their focal lengths. They also take the same 49mm filter size. Truth be told I also have a Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro that will go to 1:1 but I only paid $25 for it and have only needed to go that close a handfull of times.

 

[wblynch]

For 25 years I had only a 28mm, a 50mm and 75-150 zoom. I traveled halfway around the world with these three and seldom ever used the zoom.

Now that I have one, I would substitute the 85/f2 for the 75-150.

Or take only two, a 35-70 mini-zoom for daytime and a 50/f1.4 for low light.

OM lenses are small and light but you still want to be sensible.

 

[vintageslrs]

I like to carry a 50mm, a 35mm or 28mm and a 135mm.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

For 25 years I had only a 28mm, a 50mm and 75-150 zoom.

A very sensible choice and the same as mine for a Nikon EM system.

 

[benjiboy]

It depends on the individuals taste, but if I was carrying three prime lenses rather than a mid range 28-80 mm zoom I would choose a 50mm, a 24mm and a 100mm, so you are halving the focal length in the case of the wide angle, and doubling it for the telephoto to make a significant difference.

 

[Two23]

I mostly photo trains, especially at night. With film, I use a Leica IIIc with lenses 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm. The 90mm is often not long enough. For that I use a Nikon digital system. If you are sticking to the cameras you have, I'd suggest a 28-80mm and 70-200mm f4 zooms. The 70-200mm f4 zoom is a very useful lens for taking shots of trains.


Kent in SD