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Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

chiron
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p.1 #1 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

Please count only lenses that you can mount on a camera you now own.

If you like, please tell us something about your collection of lenses and how you feel about them.

Too few lenses?

Too many lenses?

Some specific lenses you would like to acquire?

How often do you buy or sell lenses?

Are there lenses that you rarely use but haven't sold or disposed of?

What do you like and not like about your collection?

What qualities are most important to you in a lens?

Jul 29, 2025 at 09:51 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #2 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I really don't know, but probably one of the last two options. It's not a collection, just a bunch of lenses accumulated over time for various projects and various lens mounts.

EBH

Jul 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM

johnvanr
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p.1 #3 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I have easily more than 26 lenses. I often look at my collection to see how I can cull it down, but I'd first have to ditch some camera brands to really start making a dent.

The main reason I have so many is that my photography interests vary widely. I'm interested in shooting events, street, travel, landscapes, models, portraits and wildlife. That in itself means I could never get by with a wide and normal lens, like many seem to do. I actually don't understand those people, but that's another discussion.

Jul 30, 2025 at 12:31 AM

robert614
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p.1 #4 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I fall into option 3

Half zooms. Half primes. Almost all Sony lenses. The Batis 85mm being my only non Sony lens

I could probably pare down the number a little as I have a couple I�ve been meaning to sell. As I don�t use them often. But usually come up with a justification to hang on to them for just a bit longer 😄

Overall, I�m happy with the lenses I have. Not really looking for the next best thing anymore. Although I do have to fight the occasional case of GAS

Most of my non photography friends think I have too many lenses. But I have a feeling I might be on the lower end of the spectrum on this forum 😉

Edited on Jul 30, 2025 at 10:33 AM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2025 at 12:52 AM

Plzenaak
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p.1 #5 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

Selling all my Fuji AF lenses and keeping 4�5 manual CV M-mounts. One day I might even take more photos than I buy lenses�

Jul 30, 2025 at 01:05 AM

Nifty Fifty
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p.1 #6 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

When I bought my first and so far last digital camera two years ago, I added the Nokton 1.2 50mm SE. I now have four 50mm and three 35mm lenses. If I'm honest, it would have been smarter to just stick with the 50mm Nokton as my only lens.

Jul 30, 2025 at 01:13 AM

1bwana1
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p.1 #7 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I currently shoot two cameras and lens collections.

A Leica M11 with the following lenses
Leica 21mm Super-Elmar
Leica 35mm Summilux Close focus
Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH Close Focus
VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton
VM 90mm APO-Skopar

The only lens I may acquire is the new VM 28mm f/2 APO.

This is a very flexible system that I can shoot pretty much any scenario where MF is appropriate and get very high quality IQ. It is small, efficient, and easy to maintain and travel with. Depending on intended subjects I usually go out shooting with either one lens on the camera, or three lenses and a very small messenger style bag.

A Leica SL3 camera

28mm Summicron APO-SL
50mm Summicron APO-SL
90mm Summicron APO-SL
35mm Sigma DG DN Contemporary
100-400mm Zoom with a 1.4 TC

The only lens I am considering adding is the new Leica 28-70mm zoom so I have a highly weather resistant, high IQ, 2 lens zoom kit for landscapes, and a single lens event/outdoor portrait setup.

This camera is my primary system for shooting in studio and with strobes. For this I use exclusively the APO-SL lenses. Top level IQ, with great ergonomics and workflow in thuis usage.

This system is also what I take to shoot outdoor portraits, events, architecture, city scapes, and landscapes. Most outdoor uses where I will be shooting from a tripod, and not hiking far. Superb IQ, top level weather sealing for bad weather days.

When I want to shoot AF in a more convenient size weight with a Leica Q like workflow I mount the small Sigma 35mm. It is a tough, optically nice lens with fantastic ergonomics including an aperture ring. It is my Q substitute and serves nicely when I want that kind of shooting experience.

All the lenses except the Sigma 35mm have 67mm filter threads. They can share hoods and filters making for a smaller, more convenient day kit for landscape type work.

The SL3 can also shoot my entire M lens collection for those times when I want manual focus with an excellent EVF based workflow, and a smaller kit. I love shooting that way as well. It is actually a better M experience than the M11 when shooting very wide, or very long M lenses. The very powerful SL3 User Profiles system allows flexible and instant camera configuration for the different shooting workflow for all my lens collections and use cases.

Between these two systems I can shoot pretty much anything, in any conditions. My lens kit covers from 21mm to 900mm (with TC and APS-C crop thanks to 61mpx) except super fast action like BIF, or super long wildlife in very low light. Since I hadn't shot either of those use cases in a few years I decided to sell my kit for that, I will rent what I need if I ever need to do that again. My entire two camera/lenses setup can fit in one average size backpack for travel. But usually when I go out I just choose to take one kit or the other, and not even the full set of gear for either. Much of the time just a single body, and single lens. Most often the M.

Also with the triple resolution Leica sensor system I can optimize for small file size up to the current highest resolution full frame sensor available. This can be done without a crop of the full frame sensor and with an increase in dynamic range and lower noise.

I recently downsized and optimized my camera/lens setup by selling things to streamline it for my Move to Europe. It was rationally (not so much emotionally FOMO and all) easy to do since I know very well what I am using frequently these days. Life changes as we know. Two bodies, 10 lenses, all compatible, without replication and all functionality different in use case. Anyway this is where I have ended up for now, and I am very happy with it. As you can see, generally I most value form factor, workflow, and Image quality in both cameras and lenses. The photography hobby being what it is stay tuned for changes that can come at any time.

.

Edited on Jul 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2025 at 01:49 AM

Douglas L
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p.1 #8 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

Oh my! I lost track

so it's a good exercise.

Starting from wide to long, usage 1-10 on a 10 scale:

1. Voigtlander 12mm (usage:1)
2. Voigtlander 15mm (usage:3)
3. Sony 16-25 f2.8 (usage:, just bought)
4. Sony 16-35 f4 G ((usage:5, will sell)
5. Canon RF 16mm f2.8 (for my Canon R5 infrared camera,usage:1)
6. Canon EF 16mm-35 F4 (for my Canon R5 infrared camera, usage:4)
7. Voigtlander 21mm f1.4 (usage:7)
8. Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM II (usage:7)
9. Sony 28-60 F4-5.6 (usage:2)
10. Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 (usage:4)
11. Sigma 35mm f2 (usage:1)
12. Russian Monocle lens 35mm (haven't use for several years)
13. Tamron 35-150mm (usage:5)
14. Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.8 (usage:2)
15. Sony 70-200 F4 G II (usage:6)
16. Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 (usage:4)
17. Sony 100-400 GM (usage:5)
18. Batis 135mm (usage:5)
19. Sony 300GM (usage:10)
20. Sony 400-800 (usage:7)
21. Sony 600GM (usage:2 since I bought the 300 GM, likely to sell)

My wish list: a sharp/light 14-30mm f4 that takes screw-in filters.

Edited on Aug 12, 2025 at 04:24 AM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2025 at 04:22 AM

twelveish
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p.1 #9 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I shoot two formats/systems, and this is my Sony A7cII kit.

I think my selection make it pretty clear that the long and very short end aren't super important to me. I've also been moving away from very fast primes, since I'm not really into the super shallow DOF look. Using a body with IBIS, f2 is plenty fast for me, and I do a lot of low light.

Basically I have kits within the kit; I might travel with the 24-50 and Sigma 90 if I'm with others and want to minimize lens swapping and maybe just have less time for photography.

I can do an all AF prime kit for portrait assignments, and a MF kit with more characterful lenses, which I might always prefer for when I can take my time and shoot static things.

I still want the CV Nokton 28/1.5 FE and have been thinking about acquiring CV Nokton 28-40-75 instead of the two Loxia and the adapted CV Ultron 75 for a manual kit. But then again, I don't really need the fast aperture, I do like the Loxia lenses, and won't get rid of my Nokton Classic, so...

Native:

[AF] Samyang Remaster Slim; 21/3.5 - 28/3.5 - 32/2.8
[AF] Sony 24-50/2.8
[AF] Sigma 45/2.8
[AF] Sigma 90/2.8
[AF] Sony 70-350 (aps-c)
[MF] CV Nokton Classic 35/1.4
[MF] Zeiss Loxia 35/2
[MF] Zeiss Loxia 50/2
[MF] TTartisan 50/1.4

Adapted:

MF MD Minolta Rokkor 28/2.8
MF MC Minolta Rokkor 55/1.7
MF MC Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2
MF Voigtl�nder Nokton 58/1.4 (Nikon F)
MF CV Ultron 75/1.9 VM
MF MD Minolta Rokkor 100/2.5
MF MD Minolta Rokkor 200/4
MF MD Vivitar 70-150/3.8 + macro adapter
[MF] Meopta 65/1.7 (projection lens converted to FE mount)
[MF] Meopta 100/2 (projection lens converted to FE mount)

Jul 30, 2025 at 05:24 AM

Juha Kannisto
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p.1 #10 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I started to get into adapting manual focus lenses when I moved from DSLR (Canon 5DmkII) to Sony NEX-6 in 2012, and later to Sony A7R in 2013 etc. Tokyo has a lot of shops that sell used lenses at nice prices etc. and I got into trying many different lens lines and buying more and more gradually, without selling too many. I just sell lenses when I need some funds to buy new ones, and the candidates to be sold must have reasonable trade-in value.

Later on I started to focus on compact mirrorless cameras with A7C, A7CII, Sigma fp, Fujifilm X-S10 and those need to be paired with compact lenses for best effect so I got a lot of smallest possible lenses for those systems (including adapted tiny rangefinder lenses).

I'm slowing down with lens purchases and I'm mainly still on the lookout for any new Voigtl�nder lenses in native E and X mounts, as well as for any new releases from MS-Optics and Kistar as I'm a fan of those small companies that are making exciting character lenses in small volumes with a lot of craftmanship at play. I haven't bought new AF lenses in a while, my existing options cover basically everything I need with AF.

These are my currently active sub-collections:

14 native Cosina Voigtl�nder and Zeiss Otus ML E-mount lenses:
15/4.5, 21/1.4, 21/3.5, 28/1.5, 35/1.2 SE, 35/1.4, 35/2 AL, 40/1.2 SE, 50/1.0, 50/1.2 SE, 50/1.4 Otus ML, 50/2 AL, 75/1.5, 75/1.8

10 adapted Cosina Voigtl�nder rangefinder lenses:
28/1.9 LTM, 28/2.8 Type II, 28/3.5 LTM, 40/2.8 VM for VM-E close focus adapter, 40/2.8 VM, 50/1.5 Nokton II, 50/1.5 Heliar classic, 50/2 Heliar classic, 50/3.5 AL, 75/2.5 LTM

6 native Cosina Voigtl�nder X-mount lenses:
18/2.8, 23/1.2 SC (Map Camera limited release), 27/2, 35/1.2, 35/2 Apo-Ultron, 50/1.2

19 adapted MS-Optics rangefinder lenses:
21/4.5, 24/2, 28/1.7, 28/2-II, 28/2-III, 28/4, 35/1.3 II, 35/3.5 II, 36/1.3, 40/6.3 H-Prot, 50/1.3 Sonnetar, 50/3.5 Apoqualia, 50/3.5 Xenomax, 50/3.5 Lumitar, 55/1.2, 57/2 H-Petz, 57/2 Vario Petz, 73/1.5, 135/2.4

6 Kistar lenses (1 native E, others adapted, but they are more or less all really designed to be adapted to mirrorless):
28/3.2 M, 35/1.4 C/Y, 40/2.4 M, 40/2.4 E, 55/1.2 C/Y, 85/1.4 C/Y

9 Sony & Sony Zeiss & Zeiss Batis native E-mount AF lenses:
16-35/4 G PZ, 24/1.4 GM, 35/1.4 Sony Zeiss, 40/2.5 G, 50/1.4 Sony Zeiss, 50/1.4 GM, 90/2.8 G Macro, 100/2.8 STF, 135/2.8 Batis

5 Sigma Contemporary Line AF lenses:
28-70/2.8, 35/2, 45/2.8, 65/2, 90/2.8

1 Samyang AF lens set with 3 optical units:
Remaster Slim 21/3.5, 28/3.5, 32/2.8

I also have additional legacy lenses in Minolta MC/MD & Pentax K lines, and legacy rangefinder lenses etc. that are not really in active use so I don't list them here.

Edited on Jul 30, 2025 at 06:31 AM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2025 at 05:52 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #11 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

In my case the number is a bit hard to specify. I have my personal lenses, but I also use a different set of lenses at work.

Right now my personal lenses include:

These Zeiss ZE lenses:

25 f/2
50 f/2 Makro
100 f/2 Makro

These Voigtlander E mount lenses:

21 f/1.4
28 f/1.5
40 f/1.2
50 f/2 APO

I also have these manual manual focus lenses

Zeiss Loxia 85 f/2.4
Irix 150 f/2.8 Macro (in Canon EF mount)

Then I have these Sony E mount AF lenses

Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f/4
Sony 85 f/1.4 GM (version 1)
Sony/Zeiss 135 f/1.8 (Sony A mount)
Sony 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G
Sony 1.4X TC

So I answered 11-16, but I also have another 20 or so lenses that I use at work that include some Nikon F mount lenses (e.g. 105 f/1.4, 200 f/2), some Nikon Z mount lenses (50 f/1.8S, 85 f/1.8S), some additional Voigtlander E mount lenses (e.g., 50 f/1.2), another Zeiss Loxia lens (i.e., 25 f/2.5), several Zeiss Batis lenses (e.g., 18 f/2.8, 25 f/2, 85 f/1.8) some Fuji GF lenses (e.g., 23 f/4; 45 f/2.8), some medium format lenses (e.g., Hassy 250 f/5.6 SA), some Leica M mount lenses (e.g., Leica 135 f/3.5 APO, Voigtlander 75 f/1.5).

Jul 30, 2025 at 06:25 AM

InFocus2014
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p.1 #12 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

Over the past year, I have purged my lens kit of lenses that I was either not completely happy with or rarely ever used. Manual-focus and all adapted lenses were sold. There was a time when I perused FM B&S daily and always had some sort of transaction in process. I am now very happy with my kit and only occasionally peruse the ad's. Still, it would be nice to shrink my kit a bit further to make lens selection for any shoot a simpler process.

I find that the state-of-the-art for lens image quality has taken a huge step forward in the last several years and I couldn't be happier with the technical performance of my lenses.

The numbers reflect a scale of one to ten, with ten reflecting what I consider to be the most desirable, performance wise, for my use (all my lower ranked lenses have been sold). The rating also roughly indicates usage.

Sony GM 50mm f1.2. (10) - My 'desert island' lens
Sony GM 300mm f2.8 (10)
Sony GM 50-150mm f2 (10)
Sony GM 28-70mm f2. (10)
Sony GM 70-200mm f2.8 II. (10)
Viltrox 35mm f1.2. (10)
Sony GM 16-35mm f2.8 II (9)
Sony GM 24mm f1.4. (9)
Sony GM 85mm f1.4 II. (9)
Viltrox 50mm f2 Air (9) - Travel
Sony 20-70mm f4. (9) - Travel
Sony GM 35mm f1.4. (9)
Tamron 35-150mm (8)
Tamron 50-400mm (8)
Sony 200-600mm (8)
Sony 85mm f1.8 (7) - Travel

I shoot these lenses on two A1 II's or an A7CR for travel.

Edited on Jul 31, 2025 at 05:19 AM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2025 at 07:31 AM

akashyap
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p.1 #13 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I voted 5-10, looks like the lens cost me $2500 on my A7Cii, which might be around $1750 market value these days.

24 GM: $750
CV 35/1.2: $500
Sigma 45i: $200
Batis 85: $600
CZ 35-70: $450

I�m happy with my body to lens price ratio. The CV is a bit of a passion lens, the CZ feels a bit like a collectors item at this point. The 24 GM and Sigma 45i are the backbone of my lenses. The Batis started to show some age when I was a bit further away from my subject, but I dont use 85 enough to justify any change.

I�m always thinking about a FX3, 50/1.2 GM, and an UW zoom, but it seems like a lot of capital to invest in a hobby. I want to try my hand at wedding photo or video, let�s see.

Jul 30, 2025 at 09:10 AM

Nifty Fifty
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p.1 #14 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

1bwana1 wrote:
The SL3 can also shoot my entire M lens collection for those times when I want manual focus with an excellent EVF based workflow,

I'm surprised that you rate the MF workflow with the SL3 as excellent. I recently read the thread linked below in the German Leica User Forum, which paints a completely different picture. Other users and even Leica itself confirmed to the OP that the whole thing isn't a bug, but a feature. What is your opinion on the issue?

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/422873-sl3-sucherbild-bei-vergr%C3%B6%C3%9Ferung-nicht-wirklich-scharf/

Jul 30, 2025 at 09:38 AM

Kevner
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p.1 #15 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I'm one of those folks who has more lenses than I need, but not as many I want. I entered the Sony system with an a6000 because I was enthused about the opportunity to adapt legacy lenses to the camera. My collection has a tendency to grow and shrink and I recently sold of several Contax lenses as well as some German off-brands like Schaact. The lenses I do have reflect my interest in landscape and architectural photography, however, I also have quite a few lenses for just for the fun of it walkabouts. I tend to acquire 2-3 new lenses per year and already have my eyes set on a new purchase. Here is what I currently have:

- [ ] C 55/1.2. SSC
- [ ] C 50/1.4 SSC
- [ ] C 24/2.8 NFD
- [ ] C 35/2 SSC Concave
- [ ] C 20/2.8 NFD
- [ ] Fuji 28/3.5
- [ ] Mamiya 21/4 SX
- [ ] Mamiya 28/2.8 SX
- [ ] Mamiya 35/2.8 SX
- [ ] Mamiya 55/1.8 SX
- [ ] Mamiya 55/1.4 SX
- [ ] Mamiya 135/2.8 SX
- [ ] Argus 55/1.7
- [ ] P 28/3.5
- [ ] P 35/3.5
- [ ] P 55/1.8
- [ ] KR 85/4
- [ ] KR 28/4
- [ ] KR 50/1.9
- [ ] KR 35/2.8 need filter (b36)
- [ ] OM 135/3.5
- [ ] OM 100/2.8
- [ ] OM 50/1.4
- [ ] OM 35/2.8
- [ ] OM 24/2.8
- [ ] Petri CC 50/2
- [ ] Vivitar 20mm f3.8
- [ ] Vivitar 85-205/3.5
- [ ] TTArtisans 100mm Trioplan/2.8
- [ ] TTArtisans 75mm Biotar/1.5
- [ ] Laowa Argus 35mm/0.95
- [ ] Zeiss Loxia Distagon 21mm/2.8
- [ ] Zeiss Loxia Distagon 25mm/2.8
- [ ] Zeiss Loxia Sonnar 85mm/2.8
- [ ] Sony 28mm/2
- [ ] Sony Zeiss Sonnar 55mm/1.9
- [ ] Sony GM II 24mm-70mm f2.8
- [ ] SONY G 24mm -50mm f2.8
- [ ] Voigtlander Heliar 40mm/2.8 m-mount
- [ ] Voigtlander Heliar 75mm/2.5 ltm
- [ ] Voigtlander Hyper Wide Heliar 10mm/5.6
- [ ] Voigtlander Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm/5.6
- [ ] Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm/5.6
- [ ] Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm/3.5
- [ ] Voigtlander Nokton 28mm/1.5
- [ ] Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 35mm/2
- [ ] Voigtlander Nokton 40mm/1.2
- [ ] Voigtlander Apo Lanthar/2
- [ ] Voigtlander Macro Apo Lanthar 65mm/2
- [ ] Voigtlander Macro Apo Lanthar 110mm/2

C=Canon
P=Pentax
KR=Kodak Retina
OM=Olympus

Jul 30, 2025 at 09:46 AM

wordfool
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p.1 #16 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

About a dozen (ish) for me, four zooms and the rest fast primes, all AF, and all Sony except one (Sigma 85/1.4). Most I use only occasionally, but I'm not one of those people who sells then re-buys lenses. Don't see the point. If I've used a lens before and think I might need it again for a gig then I just hang on to it.

Jul 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM

grahamgibson
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p.1 #17 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

If we're talking native Sony lenses, I have 7 at the moment, but 5-10 is pretty normal for me. I would maybe +2 that because I use the CV40 and CV50 with AF adapter as much as any other native lens. I have a couple of options in each category of 1) ultrawide 2) normal 3) short tele that I use depending on the circumstances (characteristics like max aperture, focal range, AF, size, etc). If I own multiple lenses that overlap in focal range, it's generally because they are different in other characteristics.

I also have 7 older lenses for film cameras that I do have adapters for, but rarely use on my Sony camera, not to mention a few fixed-lens cameras (film and digital). Regular use is definitely a consideration for all of these and whether I decide to sell something, but also cost. Time and expense to sell a lens is also a consideration, so buying lenses is not something I do lightly, and I typically only might buy/sell once per year.

Jul 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM

Erictator
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p.1 #18 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

chiron wrote:
Please count only lenses that you can mount on a camera you now own.

If you like, please tell us something about your collection of lenses and how you feel about them.

Too few lenses?

Too many lenses?

Some specific lenses you would like to acquire?

How often do you buy or sell lenses?

Are there lenses that you rarely use but haven't sold or disposed of?

What do you like and not like about your collection?

What qualities are most important to you in a lens?

Coming from another brand I had been with for many many years and having accumulated a ridiculous amount of lens impulse buys, I kinda promised myself to more discerning this time around. I sold off a bunch to fund the switch to Sony.

According to the poll, my lens count is still kinda high in the second to last category, BUT ONLY IF I include my adapted lenses, a fair amount of M42 and K mount stuff from back in the day.

Truth be told, Sony A/F is so simple and addictive, I find myself only shooting native Emount AF glass more and more these days. Selling off the M42 and adapted MF stuff feels like selling off old friends, but it may come to that at some point. If I do that, my lens count of only Sony E-mount glass brings the total down considerably:

16MM Viltrox 1.8 Nice lens, great output, but too big and heavy to bring if I'm not sure I'll use it.

28MM Tamron 2.8 DiIII Super sharp where it counts, camera profile cleans up the distortions fine, but not my favorite focal length to be honest, but sometimes it's the one I need indoors.

35MM SY 1.8 Great little bargain lens, sharp and does most things right, great available light indoor portrait lens for when the 55MM is too long.

55MM ZA 1.8 I know all the improvements the newer lenses have made, but this still renders nicely, and is way smaller than most of the alternatives... if the Viltrox 50MM F2 Air was weather sealed, I'd be tempted to let go of this for it, but the difference is so minimal and the A/F works great on this, so... yeah, it's not going anywhere any time soon.

135MM SY 1.8 Spectacular bargain, silly sharp where it counts, great bokeh. My favorite tight or outdoor event portrait lens, people love the rendering when they get their shots.

70-200MM GM OSS II 2.8 Incredible lens output for a zoom. If I have to run and gun an event, this is the one. The A/F is silly fast and it renders bokeh very nicely. I suppose it 70-80mm range could be a little sharper at the corners wide open, but when do I need sharp corners wide open? Landscapes would be stopped down, etc. and for doing events and portraits, it's absolutely great.

200-600MM G OSS - The main lens I wanted for my personal use when I came to E Mount, and I got a great copy. Yeah, I wish it was as sharp as the 600GM, but it's a lot smaller and lighter too.

7 Lenses doesn't seem too outrageous to me. I'm leaning towards smaller kit these days and am trying to resist the temptation of "better" (said bigger and heavier) lenses that would see seldom use anyway. I tend to do more wildlife for personal fun and some event work, more than anything lately.

The one exception is the 400-800mm, which still tempts me, and is also still smaller and lighter than the 600GM. At 800mm it is reputedly sharper than my 200-600, so I will probably grab one at some point, but I haven't had time to shoot as much lately, so when my schedule shifts a little, I'll probably be more inclined to grab one then, instead of grabbing one now and having it laugh at me from my dry cabinet. (which will need upgrading anyway, as my 200-600 barely fits now, unless I pull 2 shelves and store some stuff standing up)

Eric

Jul 30, 2025 at 01:50 PM

old-gregg
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p.1 #19 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

My regular set

Usually when I take a camera with me, one (two max) of these goes with it:

- 24mm GM
- 35mm GM
- 50mm GM
- 85mm GM

My hiking set

For hikes and landscapes I prefer smaller manual focus lenses:

- VC 21mm Nokton
- VC 35mm APO
- VC 50mm APO
- VC 75mm Nokton

My "pocketable" camera

When I'm limited in weight/volume, i.e. throwing the camera into my business backpack on a trip, I have this lens:

- 40mm f/2.5 G

Lenses I never use

I have these sitting in my dry cabinet, unused. My justification for keeping them is for future experimentation. For example, if I decide to explore 85mm+ focal lenghts, I have this tele-zoom to try them for different situations. Or if I decide to try photographing events I'll probably do it with the normal zoom.

- 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
- 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II

Jul 30, 2025 at 02:01 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #20 · Your lens collection--How many, etc.?

I'm not entering this silly contest. Who cares how many lenses I own? As long as YOU have the lenses that YOU need to make the images YOU want. That's what matters.

Jul 30, 2025 at 02:03 PM

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