1st - I regret every lens i have ever sold. So many good lenses that I let go for one thought process or another or trying to upgrade and justify cost. Now today I have too many and still not enough
Too few lenses? - Yes of course I have constant gas
Too many lenses? - Yes way too many and cameras too
A7r4
A1
A7Cii
CV10, CV 21 3.5, Sigma 24-70 2.8 art, CV 50 1.2, FE 14 1.8, FE 20 1.8, FE 35 1.4, FE 85 1.8, FE 20-70 4, FE 70-200 2.8 ii, FE 200-600, FE 1.4x and 2.0x
Some specific lenses you would like to acquire? - I need the 300 2.8 / Or really look to downsize and combine
How often do you buy or sell lenses? - 4-5x per year
Are there lenses that you rarely use but haven't sold or disposed of? - CV10, CV 21 3.5, Sigma 24-70 2.78 art, FE 20 1.8 and camera wise the R4
What do you like and not like about your collection? - Too many options but lots of options
I like the manual combo of CVs 10, 21, 55 ..... but I dont get out enough for that
I like the 14, 35, 70-200 package because it is a solid
I am considering selling the CV10, FE 20, FE 14, Sigma 24-70, 85 1.8, and either getting the 16mm or 16-35 and sell the 35 1.4 too
What qualities are most important to you in a lens? 1. Sharp, 2. Speed 3. Coverage 4. Size 5. Uniqueness i.e. starburst
I started my photography journey in 1966, with a Pentax H1A and Tri-Ex film, which I developed myself.
My photo targets were the same then, as now: landscapes and architecture.
I have ~25 lenses, mostly manual focus Pentax K mount lenses, with a few Fuji X and Leica L mount lenses. What do I not like about my lenses collection? All the lenses sitting around, unused. One day
soon I will acquire the ambition to sell them off.
Over the past year or two my photography focus has shifted from buying the latest and greatest to
a more minimalistc approach. I would like downsize to a couiple Fuji bodies and a handful of lenses.
Photography is a hobby that must be fun. I get the shots I can and don't worry about those I miss.
My goal going forward is to spend more time in the field with less equipment.
I have 10...and oddly the main reason for so many is so I can carry less when out and about, as many of my lenses are small primes/zooms/CV lenses. My biggest lens is the 70-200GMII, then the 50 1.2. After that it's a few small-ish lenses with the 16-35pz, 24GM, 14GM. After that it's CV10, CV15, CV40, 24 2.8 & 28-60. All small lenses.
One might say I could replace approx 7 of my 10 lenses with, for example, a 12-24 2.8. Which sounds convenient...until you have to carry it around all day. Instead I prefer to carry 1-3 lenses, especially when traveling (which the 70-200 & 50 are never used for) and take advantage of a small body/lens combo, and the unique looks I can get with the CV lenses and convenience of a single small lens for casual walk around.
For most travel I prefer a 1 bag solution (Wandrd Transit Travel 45L backpack, a Osprey Ultralight packable backpack with the camera insert I'm using in the Wandrd once I get where I'm going, the Osprey folds into itself, about the size of a computer mouse) so the less the better with gear.
Changes? I have a really great copy of the 16-35pz...but for some upcoming travel I could probably benefit more with the 16-25 2.8 vs. the 16-35. And the 24GM hasn't been used as much...but over the years it's served me so well with such great results, I'm hesitant to part with it. We'll see.
EB-1 wrote:
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
i dont know how he came up with 26, but 100,200 or 300 should be on this poll
9 laowa
8-15 fisheye laowa
24 1.4
12-24 2.8 sony
28-70 f2 sony
50 1.2 sony
50-150 f2 sony
70-200 2.8 ii sony
90 macro sony
100 stf sony
135 1.8 sony
100-400 sony
300 2.8 sony
What I will get rid of soon- 70-200. Now that I have tried out the 50-150 extensively, I can't go back to the 70-200. What I may sell- 135 gm.
I buy new lenses when new ones come out that intrigue me. I sell when lenses no longer complement what I have and what I shoot.
So, I sell maybe once a year. Last year, I sold out of fuji gfx as a second system.
I look for lenses that are unique, fun, or fit a use case I like.
Speaking about lenses that are barely used: I have a ton of those. Some I plan to sell, mostly larger ones that I would get a chunk of money for. The others I probably keep, because they're small and/or not worth the hassle of selling them.
I would sell a bunch of a particular mount if I ditched a camera brand, but I'm not there yet.
I have no idea of how many lenses I own. Most are old and not worth much, and not worth the hassle selling. I constantly switched lenses for +20 years looking for perfection, but I quit that when I got into GFX. No more GAS since those lenses give me everything i want.
Edit: And yes, I have too many lenses (even modern ones). I should sell every one of them except for maybe 4-5 that I actually use and enjoy using.
These are the ones I should keep...
GF 35-70/4.5-5.6
GF 50/3.5
GF 55/1.7
GF 100-200/5.6
Placeholder for longer lens (that is not a brick)
After buying/selling few lenses, here is where I am at for now.
16mm f/1.8 - after enabling Dynamic Active Stabilization and Breathing Compensation, this lens provides a perfect FOV for my family video needs. I also use it occasionally for ultra-wide photos.
35mm f/1.4 GM - my main lens that I use almost all the time to document family moments.
55mm f/1.8 - the lens I use when I only want to carry around one lens/small setup during casual outings.
85mm f/1.4 - lens that I use for family/kids portraits; I also use it occasionally as the only lens when I go out to parks or for outdoor activities.
70-180 f/2.8 G2 - I use this with 35/1.4 when I travel or when I need a bit of extra reach when not traveling.
I have around 35 lenses, but mainly use around 10. And there are none I’m looking to purchase at this time. What’s strange is that my main camera is a Sony A7Riii and I also have a Fuji X-T30, but I don’t own even one Sony or Fuji lens. My most used lenses are...
Voigtlander 15mm
Loxia 21mm
Zeiss ZE 28mm f2
Sigma 35mm 1.2
Tamron 45mm 1.8
Sigma 85mm 1.4 dg dn
Canon EF 135mm f2
Canon EF 200mm 2.8
Canon EF 400mm 5.6
And… 5 or 6 Nikon ais manual lenses
I need to let go of lenses I haven’t been using. I have about 15-20 clean manual lenses from Minolta, Canon, Konica, Nikon and Takumar that I would sell at very low prices, but I haven’t gotten around to listing them. If anyone around Chicago would like to see them, let me know.
Tamron 20mm Half Macro
Rokinon AF 24mm F1.8
Nikon Z 24-120 F4 S
Sigma DG DN 35mm F1.2
Sigma DG DN 50mm F1.2
Rokinon AF 135mm F1.8
Nikon Z 180-600 S
Too few lenses? Just the right amount
Too many lenses? Just the right amount
Some specific lenses you would like to acquire? 85mm Prime
How often do you buy or sell lenses? First party lenses I tend to buy and resell more often as you don't get depreciation hit, with third party I buy them at ridiculously low prices and tend to keep them.
Are there lenses that you rarely use but haven't sold or disposed of? Rokinon 24mm, it's tiny, super sharp, feather light, cheap. Doesn't bother me if it sits on the shelf, won't sell for much.
What do you like and not like about your collection? I like the 20-600mm coverage, F1.2 Primes, versatility of 24-120 and 180-600, Lightweightness and rendering of Samyang/Rokinon lens, macro capabilities of Tamron 20mm and Z 24-120mm.
What qualities are most important to you in a lens? Close focussing, distortion free, micro-contrast.
After a decade plus of collecting and churn, my kit has been really stable and minimalist for last couple of years:
Only one body - A7CII (replaced A7R4)
Sony 20-70/4 (replaced 24-70 GM II)
Tamron 70-180/2.8
Sigma 17/4
Sony 35 GM
Sony 40/2.5
Sigma 90/2.8
TT Artisan 50/1.4
I never use the TT Artisan 50/1.4, no time for MF
I feel like mirrorless camera tech and Sony lens ecosystem is very mature now (at least for the lenses relevant to me), in a boring phase, and feel little reason to upgrade or experiment.
Let's see :
Zeis C/Y : 28/2.8 Distagon, 50/1.4 Planar, 100/3.5 Sonnar
Zeiss ZM : 25/2.8 Biogon, 50/2 Planar, 85/4 Tele-Tessar
Canon : 200 2.8 L
Sony 85/1.8
Chinese M-Mount : 28/1.4 and 50/1.1
Mamiya : 120/4 and 80/2.8
Pentax 35/3.5 and 55/2.8
All of them mounted on a Sony A7II with various adapters
Samyang 18/2.8
Sony 16-35 GM mk1
Batis 25/2
Sony 24-50 G
Sony 40/2.5 G
Sony 50/1.4 GM
Sony 85/1.8
Sony 90 macro
Tamron 35-150/2-2.8
Tamron 50-300/4.5-6.3
I feel like the new laowa 8-15 fisheye and 50-150 f2 proves differently.
darrellc wrote:
After a decade plus of collecting and churn, my kit has been really stable and minimalist for last couple of years:
Only one body - A7CII (replaced A7R4)
Sony 20-70/4 (replaced 24-70 GM II)
Tamron 70-180/2.8
Sigma 17/4
Sony 35 GM
Sony 40/2.5
Sigma 90/2.8
TT Artisan 50/1.4
I never use the TT Artisan 50/1.4, no time for MF
I feel like mirrorless camera tech and Sony lens ecosystem is very mature now (at least for the lenses relevant to me), in a boring phase, and feel little reason to upgrade or experiment.
