What's your "go to" lens or focal length?

dynachrome

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
1,748
Format
35mm
For many years my preference was for a fast 35 (in 35mm format). My fastest 35s were and are f/2, f/1.9 and f/1.8. In good light my favorite 35s include the 35/2.8 'K' Nikkor (same as first version AI), 35/2.8 Minolta MD, 35/3.5 SMC Takumar/SMC Pentax and 35/3.5 Noflexar. In recent years I have come to appreciate standard lenses in the 50-58mm range.
 

George Mann

Member
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
2,838
Location
Denver
Format
35mm
My Nikkor 50mm f2's have been my main lenses for years do to their exceptional quality of rendering.
 

Dismayed

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
438
Location
Boston
Format
Med. Format RF
It depends on what I'm shooting.

Sports: 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S on 35mm
Portraits: 105mm on 35mm
Travel: either 35mm or 50mm equivalents on 35mm
When I feel like it: 21mm on 35mm
 

pbromaghin

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 30, 2010
Messages
3,791
Location
Castle Rock, CO
Format
Multi Format
Always on the 35mm - 35-70
Sports - 80-200
Wildlife - 500
6x6 - 80mm or 135mm
I also shoot a lot of folders and they all have normal lenses.
 

narsuitus

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
1,813
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
For my film cameras that have an interchangeable lens feature, these are my "go to" lenses that I use when I am shooting the following subjects with only one camera and one-lens:

Landscapes - 28mm f/2.8 on 35mm SLR or rangefinder

Landscapes - 50mm f/4.5 on RB67 SLR

Landscapes - 90mm f/5.6 on 4x5 inch monorail viewfinder

Head & Shoulder Portraits - 85mm f/1.4 on 35mm SLR

Head & Shoulder Portraits - 180mm f/4.5 on RB67 SLR

Still Life - 55mm f/3.5 macro on 35mm SLR

Still Life - 105mm f/2.8 macro on 35mm SLR

Still Life - 140mm f/4.5 macro on RB767 SLR

Macro - 55mm f/3.5 macro on 35mm SLR

Macro - 105mm f/2.8 macro on 35mm SLR

Macro - 140mm f/4.5 macro on RB767 SLR

Sports - 80-200mm f/2.8 on 35mm SLR

Wildlife - 500mm f/4 on 35mm SLR
 

Saganich

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 21, 2004
Messages
1,252
Location
Brooklyn
Format
35mm RF
Right now I am still on the disgusted side of the scale but I know that it is very hard to overcome 40 years of habit so I intend to give it more time.[/QUOTE]

I use a 35 because I find I'm often too close for a 50, especially in social situations. When I need a 50 and I only have the 35 and forget (or too lazy) to get closer to whatever catches my eye, I feel the same way about the 35.
 

faberryman

Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
6,048
Location
Wherever
Format
Multi Format

Do you have any lenses which are not "go to lenses" because that sure seems like a lot of "go to lenses".
 

narsuitus

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
1,813
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
faberryman said:
Do you have any lenses which are not "go to lenses" because that sure seems like a lot of "go to lenses".
Click to expand...

Here are some of my "not to go" lenses:
1000mm f/11 Nikkor mirror (too telephoto to use as a stand alone lens)
400mm f/5.6 Nikkor (too slow to use as a stand alone lens)
105mm f/4 Nikkor short mount (bellows too delicate to use as a stand alone lens)
50mm f/1.4 Takumar (7-element) (prefer to use the 8-element as a stand alone lens)
35mm f/2 Nikkor (prefer to use the f/1.4 as a stand alone lens)
28mm f/3.5 (it is a pre-AI lens that I prefer not to use as a stand alone lens)
18mm f/3.5 Nikkor (too wide to use as a stand alone lens)
16mm f/2.8 Nikkor fisheye (too specialized to use as a stand alone lens)
14mm f/2.8 Nikkor (too wide to use as a stand alone lens)
35-70mm f/2.8 (prefer to use the 28-70mm f/2.8 as a stand alone zoom lens)
14-24mm f/2.8 (too big and too wide to use as a stand alone zoom lens)
100-200mm f/5.2 (too big, too heavy, and too slow to use as a stand alone lens on RB67
Schneider 65mm f/8 Super-Angulon (too slow to use as a stand alone on 4x5 inch camera)
Schneider 47mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL (too wide to use as a stand alone on 4x5 inch camera)
 

Adrian Bacon

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
2,086
Location
Petaluma, CA.
Format
Multi Format
I generally prefer a little wider than what most people consider normal.

for 135, 40mm f/2.8 is my standard.
For 120, right now, 6x9 is the only camera I have, and it’s 90mm, which interestingly has about the same field of view as 40 on 135.
For 4x5, 150mm.
For 8x10, 300mm.

the 4x5 and 8x10 both also come out to about the same field of view as 40mm on 135, so interesting trend for me there.

on the 4x5, if I’m going to shoot a portrait, I’ll often put the 300mm on there. That’s makes for a wonderful combination for shooting portraits. It’s f/5.6, so I’ll often go a nice even f/8 and set the lighting appropriately. Just beautiful.
 

CMoore

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Messages
6,203
Location
USA CA
Format
35mm
Horatio said:
Does it depend on the subject? Optics? The camera? Whether one is traveling?

I'm still trying to figure mine out. (It was 50mm for a long time, because I could only afford one lens!) I have more zooms than primes.
Click to expand...

It all depends if you are Garry Winogrand or Ansel Adams. You might be both at different times.

Keeping in mind i am just a "Street Photographer".
If i only had one lens, it would definitely be a 50. Don't really care if it is 2.0 1.8 or 1.4

That said......I usually carry two bodies, one with a 35 and the other with an 85.
In my backpack, i often...also... have a 50 and a 135. Rarely if ever shoot the 50 anymore. Definitely screw the 135 on, one in awhile.

I do not own any zooms, but if i shot a more modern AF camera, i might.
 

radiant

Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2019
Messages
2,135
Location
Europe
Format
Hybrid
I of course would like to say some prime lens.

But in reality it is my 28-135mm f4-4.5 AF Zoom lens. For plastic AF SLR.
 

darkosaric

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2008
Messages
4,568
Location
Hamburg, DE
Format
Multi Format
50mm.

I have:
1. Summitar f2
2. Summar f2
3. Elmar M f3.5
4. Elmar LTM f3.5
5. Industar I22 f3.5
6. Nikkor H f2
7. Nikkor S f2
8. Nikkor S f1.4 NonAI
9. Nikkor S f1.4 Ai
10. Nikkor AF f1.8
11. Nikkor AF D f1.8
12. Nikon E series f1.8
13. Micro nikkor 55mm f3.5 (not 50mm but close)
14. Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 (not 50mm but close)
15. Nikkor f1.8 Ai pancake
16. Topocor LTM f2

And many other cameras with similar field of view (like 6x6 80mm medium format or P&S 40-50mm)
 

Bikerider

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
431
Location
Stanley, Co. Durham, UK
Format
35mm
Mine used to be the 28/105 AFD but now it is the 24/120 AFS. I take it with me my motorcycle fitted to a F80 and B&W film or when walking or in the car a F100 also with film or D600. It is a terrific lens with a F4 max aperture at all focal lengths and very very sharp. It covers most of the focal lengths I use and gives better coverage at the wide end than a 28/200.
 

Hilo

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
917
Format
35mm
I have two OM-4Ti bodies, one with 125asa FP4, the other with Tmax 400. Since the mid-eighties each camera has the 40/2 and they don''t come off unless they need to be cleaned or repaired . . . I own another 50/1.8 and a 50/2 OM but never use them unless, again, one of the 40mm lenses needs to be sent out.

So, kind off like Ralph just before me here, except different, ha!
 

John Bragg

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
1,039
Location
Cornwall, UK
Format
35mm
In my early years, it was a 28mm, but these days it is my 50mm f1.4 Ais on my FM2n. Most of my latest work is portraiture, so the 50 is very versatile. It stays on the camera most of the time and is ideal in cramped conditions. If I have more room to work in, then an 85mm or 135mm is better for close in work with a more flattering perspective.
 

Disappointed_Horse

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2009
Messages
166
Location
Florida
Format
35mm
My "go to" lens—as in grab one camera and one lens and go out the door, for anything from a day out to a multi-day out of town trip—would be a 35mm f/2 Nikkor AI-S on my Nikon FE. The 35mm focal length just always feels right to me, and that lens is fantastically sharp.

If I'm bringing more than one lens, I might bring a 24mm or a 28mm and a 50mm, or maybe even a 24 or 28, a 50, and a 105, but if it's just one lens, I'll take a 35mm every time.
 

grain elevator

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2020
Messages
1,276
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
28 is my most used FL. My best one is the Voigländer Ultron 1.9. Second must be 50 on 135 and 75 on 6x6. 35, 40, 100 and 21 share the third place.
Wondering right now which two to three to take on a weekend trip. So many possibilities...
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,619
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format
Isecond the statement about the fantastic optical quality of the 35mmf/2 Nikkor. It's a beauty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…