Do you Have Certain Indispensible Lenses?

Guess whatever the answer is, the photographers way of seeing determines the lens. My "Go To" lens out of a couple of dozen or so for my Olympus OM kit, would be the 85mm f2. There is always a set of extension tubes traveling in the kit.

BradleyK said:

Preface: This question popped into my mind when I was posting to "What was the last camera..." forum a few days ago.

Probably an odd question to throw out there, but do you have find yourself using a lens or (perhaps a few lenses) in your arsenal far more often than others you have? Reflecting on the issue (impetus noted above), I realized the following:

1. When using my Leica system (three bodies and five lenses), my 50 mm Summilux ASPH (arguably the sharpest 50mm I have ever used) probably gets the nod far more often (my 28mm Summicron "wins" second place) than any other Leitz lens I own;

2. With my Hasselblads, my 100mm Planar sees the most usage; and

3. For my Nikon system, it would be a tossup between my 28mm F2 Ais (by all accounts a truly substandard performer) and my 80-200 F2.8 ED AFS.

Just an unscientific observation on my part, but one which left me wondering if my experience was unique, or if it was one shared by others...

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I wouldn't want to be without my 85mm/f/2 for my Nikons or without my 150mm f/4 for my Hasselblad.all others are just as good but not as loved

the only lens/lenses that i have that are indispensable are the particular lenses that are whatever camera i am using.
if it is a box camera, well they can't be removed ... if it is something else, i don't store cameras without a lens on them.

Funny, I challenged myself to answer this, but it's "the right one for the image". I do like shooting ruined things with the RB 65mm though. When my primary income was fashion shooting, it was the 180 on the RB (about the max I could handhold) and 85mm to 200mm on the Nikon.

Really, it's "the one I have with me", because I've gotten some of my favorite negs with my old fixed-lens Minolta HiMatic (7s). Because it's a simple camera to throw in a backpack so I tend to have it with me on a trip. And that lens is just the freakin' SHIZZ as the kids say.

I shoot a lot of video with my newer camera bodies, and that's where I find I have more prefs. The Nikkor 28-70 2.8 (beastly thing) is on their a lot. Saves a lot of time on set and looks pretty. I use the 85mm 1.8 AF for interviews, it's pretty magic on APS-C/Super-35. Those two really get the most workout.

One cool thing I'm finding is my very-modern, mirrorless 4K body - sweet jesus, old 1960's Canon FL glass is kinda magical on that thing. Everything gets a little "rembrandt-ish". Just really beautiful color, and wide-open, it's like some perfect mild diffusion is on everything but the subject. Amazing that I can build a set of primes for next to nothing (other than the 85 - sucker is pricey!!!)

Nothing really indispensible here. I try to think of projects and uses for lenses I do not use as much as some others.

Easy 12" Dagor

My 150/4.5 CZJ Tessar. Light and compact; the perfect match for my Intrepid.

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Probably an odd question to throw out there, but do you have find yourself using a lens or (perhaps a few lenses) in your arsenal far more often than others you have? ...[/QUOTE]

For me it's my Pentax 24mm f2.8. That and a Pentax 50mm f1.4 are my 'travelling light' kit.