p.5 #1 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Sony 70-200 F/4 macro G OSS II. Great range, small and light, and great macro capabilities on top of it. If I could add an extender, the macro capabilities get even better and it has broader range. I like focusing on details so this is a winner. I have other lenses on my favorite list, but this one has me hooked.
p.5 #4 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Depending on where in life you are at the moment, this could be a challenging question... I'm in my late 70's so I have had a few cameras and I'm not a pro so my needs have changed over the course of the years.
Today I can indulge my creative side with a variety of lenses for different purposes but this was not always available or time was difficult to come by during working/family years.
- Early Years: 1960's - 70's - Pentax Spotmatic w/50mm f/1.4, only lens (college, young children)
- Middle Years - 1975 - 1990's - Canon AE1 w/50mm f/1.8, only lens (teenagers, some travel)
- Later Years - 2009 - 2023 - Nikon D90 w/18-200 f/3.5-5.6, 85mm f/1.8 (travel, landscape, street)
Today, I am learning the new A7R V I just purchased, exploring the multiple Sony lenses I have just acquired. Going back to one lens is kind of going back in time for me.
Final Jeopardy answer:
- Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6
I am still traveling, it is what I know, has broad range and I have experience with as of today.... This will change over the next months as life and new interests mature and I learn the new tech & lenses.
Lastly, I want to thank the folks who are posting as I am learning so much from reading your comments on the multiple subjects covered on the Sony board. I post periodically as I want to contribute as well as learn so please be tolerant of an old newbie..
p.5 #5 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
It would have to be the Sony FE 4/24-105 G OSS for me, but I wouldn't buy the camera if that was the only lens option. My most used lens is the Tamron 70-300 RXD, but that range is really limiting.
p.5 #7 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
j4nu wrote:
Tamron 35-150 as I simply got used to the versatile focal range and aperture it offers, high IQ and nice draw are a bonus .
The problem with just one lens for me: it has to be a zoom, as for primes the minimum amount of lenses is 2. But this Tamron is the perfect just-one-lens solution, as it inherits the most used part of a 24-70mm, the most used part of a 70-200mm, and a little bit of a larger aperture too. Up to 39mm it's f/2.0, up to 59 it's f/2.2, and up to 79mm it's f/2.5. I'm often in that f/2.2 territory, and yes, two thirds of a stop extra is huge.
It's not like I never shoot wider than 35mm, but it's not a big sacrifice for me.
The best lens for me is the 50mm f/1.2 GM, but I need other lenses next to that in my bag.
p.5 #9 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Hmm...right now I own the a7cR and with that I would say the 20-70 could be the one and only lens. It's basically a 20-105/4 with crop mode. Perfect for travel.
p.5 #10 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
Given im still shooting as a Pro I would say to cover almost all basis of gigs than the 24-70 would be the smart choice. Just can't get around the versatility of it. But still not long enough or wide enough either fro me at least
p.5 #12 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
As an one lens solution I would choose the Sony FE28f2 (because the limitation of this thread was an AF-lens). For me 28mm is the perfect allrounder (of course a 28f1.4GM or 28f1.8G would be prefered) and my personal limit for portraits. I tried the Sony 24f1.4GM for one year but did not like 24mm (or more close to 23mm on the GM) for my tasks at the end, because it felt often to wide for people and not that wide as an 20mm lens.
The advantage of the old 28mm Sony lens is the compact size, low weight and image-quality where I need it (wide open sharp enough for portraits up to midfield and closed down to f8 good for landscape, up to the corners).
It was a great workhorse lens for me over many years (even we have more exiting lenses now)
p.5 #13 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
mudlake wrote:
Easily the 24-70GM II.
Small(ish), light(ish), and can do everything. Landscapes, family, portraits, sports, vacations, etc. There is a reason there are so many 24-70/2.8 lenses made. Sony’s version 2 is outstanding.
Ditto. I don’t love it in terms of rendering compared to primes but it has proven to be extremely practical and versatile and overall provides excellent IQ.
I prefer the look of longer focal lengths but I find myself using the range of 24-70 most often in everyday situations. It also isn’t too big (also isn’t too small). It is by definition and in practice the Goldilocks lens for me.
p.5 #18 · If you could only have one lens for your Sony...
I think Sigma 35 1.2DN. It's 35 wide enough most use, but not too wide, 50 is too tight indoor. 1.2 and sharp wide open, lower apertures razor sharp.
The only thing why not 35GM because Sigma has better portrait rendering, and it's more significant than all 35GM advantages for me. Now I have 35GM and 35 1.2DN, hard decision but I'm selling the Sigma. But the reason I want 35GM as lighter walk-around because for that it's better lens, and want to buy an 50 1.2GM for portraits, because it's better than Sigma for portraits. But if I have to choose one lens 35 1.2DN, size is not matter for me because I don't need carry more lenses.
If wouldn't have kids, then I may get away with MF, then Voigtlander 40 1.2, however that Laowa 35 0.9 is very tempting.
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