p.3 #3 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Suprisingly, it isn’t an af lens for me.
Since over a year I have settled for the Voigtländer Apo Lanthar 2/35 whenever I head out with a single lens.
I feel that 35mm is more versatile that 50mm. It gets more space in and at the same time it is focussed enough that you don’t have to creep up to your subject very close to prevent the subject getting lost in the bigger picture.
I just love 35mm, the only other focal length that comes close is 40mm.
All other focal lengths above or below 35mm just compliment 35mm when I take more than one lens 😉
p.3 #4 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
My logical choice would be the tammy 35-150 but it’s too big and heavy
Next should be 24-70gm, but could I live with the 24?
So it would end up being the 20-70 for its versatility,
That’s on a high MP body, if it was a low MP then I would have to go with the Tammy
p.3 #7 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Fred Miranda wrote:
Choosing only one lens can be tough because various focal lengths suit different photography needs. It's all about finding a compromise based on your most frequent use. Whether it's a zoom or prime lens, make sure it has autofocus for this discussion.
If you could only stick one lens on your full-frame camera, which would it be and why?
Let me know! 📷✨
The lens that came immediately to my mind is the Sigma 45i f2.8 DG DN. It is the lens I most enjoy shooting with and whose rendering over many photographs appears the most beautiful yet natural and unforced. It is the lens whose absence would remove some of my favorite photographs. It is also a lens that is ideal for shooting intimate photographs of people (or animals!) in a way that feels present and close to them, which are the photographs that seem most important to me now.
In addition, it is a small and light lens that lives very happily on an A1, A9, or A7Cxx camera, which are the smallish cameras that I use. So, its absence would also remove the experience of photographing the way I like to--with a small and light lens capable of beautiful rendering.
I can see the appeal of choosing a zoom. But I tend not to be motivated by maximizing coverage. I am most tempted by zooms when traveling because that often does seem about coverage. But when I have tried to do that, I think my pictures are less successful than when I am photographing with a prime whose characteristics I really like.
p.3 #9 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
chiron wrote:
The lens that came immediately to my mind is the Sigma 45i f2.8 DG DN. It is the lens I most enjoy shooting with and whose rendering over many photographs appears the most beautiful yet natural and unforced. It is the lens whose absence would remove some of my favorite photographs. It is also a lens that is ideal for shooting intimate photographs of people (or animals!) in a way that feels present and close to them, which are the photographs that seem most important to me now.
In addition, it is a small and light lens that lives very happily on an A1, A9, or A7Cxx camera, which are the smallish cameras that I use. So, its absence would also remove the experience of photographing the way I like to--with a small and light lens capable of beautiful rendering.
I can see the appeal of choosing a zoom. But I tend not to be motivated by maximizing coverage. I am most tempted by zooms when traveling because that often does seem about coverage. But when I have tried to do that, I think my pictures are less successful than when I am photographing with a prime whose characteristics I really like.
p.3 #10 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
chiron wrote:
The lens that came immediately to my mind is the Sigma 45i f2.8 DG DN. It is the lens I most enjoy shooting with and whose rendering over many photographs appears the most beautiful yet natural and unforced. It is the lens whose absence would remove some of my favorite photographs. It is also a lens that is ideal for shooting intimate photographs of people (or animals!) in a way that feels present and close to them, which are the photographs that seem most important to me now.
In addition, it is a small and light lens that lives very happily on an A1, A9, or A7Cxx camera, which are the smallish cameras that I use. So, its absence would also remove the experience of photographing the way I like to--with a small and light lens capable of beautiful rendering.
I can see the appeal of choosing a zoom. But I tend not to be motivated by maximizing coverage. I am most tempted by zooms when traveling because that often does seem about coverage. But when I have tried to do that, I think my pictures are less successful than when I am photographing with a prime whose characteristics I really like....Show more →
My preference leans towards the Batis 40/2 CF over the Sigma. Despite my appreciation for the Sigma 45/2.8 (review), the Batis offers a focal length that is quite similar and suits my needs for a 'can-only-have-one' lens. The 40/2 CF is a great compromise, being both compact and fast. Also, its close-focusing ability and attractive used price make it a good choice as well.
The Sigma 45/2.8 can focus very closely too (0.25x mag compared to 0.3x mag for the Batis), but there's tons of spherical aberration with the Sigma at this distance unless you stop the lens down to about f/4-5.6.
p.3 #11 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
philip_pj wrote:
It's the GM 50/1.4, a super lens that does what I look for: versatility (portraits, general through to landscapes), practicality, decent weight (516 grams), excellent colour palette, smooth transition zone, near silent and fast focusing, very fine (almost cinematic) bokeh (enough to impress long term reviewers) that does not mean total blur and good for f5.6 as well, 67mm filters, right-sized hood, case, weather sealing, and affordability. Such a balanced product. I agree with many others that it is the finest 50mm Sony has ever made. The bonus is the superb focal plane that permits wonderful separation.
In the critical 50mm space, Sony is actually competing with itself now. It will hopefully soon be joined by an 85mm of the same general specification and performance. ...Show more →
Would the 50 be wasted on an A7CII/R due to its lack of a mechanical shutter and slow readout speed (bokeh destruction when shooting wide open)?
p.3 #12 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
ruthenium wrote:
This will be my choice as well. This lens can be used in good daylight and in low light. It is not too wide, but wide enough. On the tele end, 150 mm (225 mm in the APS-C mode) is long enough for most of what I do. The image quality is never a concern or limiting with this lens
Same, but I do actually own one too, and it's the lens that stays on my body most of the time.
p.3 #13 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Fred Miranda wrote:
My preference leans towards the Batis 40/2 CF over the Sigma. Despite my appreciation for the Sigma 45/2.8 (review), the Batis offers a focal length that is quite similar and suits my needs for a 'can-only-have-one' lens. The 40/2 CF is a great compromise, being both compact and fast. Also, its close-focusing ability and attractive used price make it a good choice as well.
The Sigma 45/2.8 can focus very closely too (0.25x mag compared to 0.3x mag for the Batis), but there's noticeable spherical aberration at this distance unless you stop the lens down to about f/4-5.6.
I think the Batis 40 CF is a great choice. I like the lens a lot, own it, and it does share a lot with the Sigma 45i. I personally would still take the Sigma, but the Batis has great rendering and beautiful Zeiss colors and contrast, in addition to the other attributes you list. If I dropped my Sigma, I might well pick up the Batis.
p.3 #14 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
I would love to have picked the 70-200 II...but I'd be screwed for travel. Although the 70-200 could do about everything else regarding sports/portraits/etc. I'd have to "borrow from a friend" something like a 16-35 2.8II for travel.
p.3 #15 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
I’ve got all three GM f2.8 II lenses, plus GM 50mm f1.2, etc. I really like them all, but when I walk out the door and only want to take one lens, I mostly seem to grab my Tamron 35-150mm f2-f2.8. The range is highly useful and I really like having f2 at 35mm and f2.2 up to 60mm. I sometimes stitch if I need wider.
p.3 #16 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
I have a hard time deciding between my 24 GM and 40 Batis. While the Batis and normal focal lengths have been rising up my preference list, I still love a good wide angle and some of my favorite pictures have been with a 24 GM, whether it’s astrophotography or candid shots on the dance floor. The Batis gives me special lifestyle photography, and I’ve been loving that with me and my family, but the 24 GM gives me special special shots, if that makes sense.
p.3 #17 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Very difficult to pick just one lens but if I had to, it would be the Sony 24-70 GM II (which I don't own at this point; I have the Sigma DN version). The other candidates would be the 35GM (which I have) and the 50 f/1.4 GM (which I don't have), but in the end I would want multiple focal lengths available. So, if I was limited to one lens I would want at least f/2.8, I would want something covering wide-ish to at least long normal, and I would not want it to be as heavy as the Tamron 35-150mm, so the 24-70 GM II it would be. I would miss having both longer and wider focal lengths (particularly longer), and I would miss having a wider aperture, available though!
p.3 #19 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
I would choose the Sony Sonnar T* 55mm f1.8 ZA.
It’s old, the barrel is devoid of buttons and switches, and it’s piss poor for backlit fountain shooting.
But it’s light, fast, has quick and silent AF as good as any GM, is unassuming, and has the Zeiss color signature.
I have a lot of good lenses, almost all of the G and GM primes and some great Sigma glass, but the Sony 55/1.8 remains my favorite of the bunch. I have more keepers from this lens than any other lens by a significant margin.
p.3 #20 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
What I find really interesting is that if I could only have 1 lens I chose the 24-70 GM II because of its form factor, IQ, and FL flexibility. But since I am not restricted to one in real life it is far from my most used lens. Mostly because of the incredible qualities of my GM primes in that focal length range. The zoom only gets mounted when I want convience.
