What lens do you want most?

Question

I'm curious as to what one lens the serious shooters in here most covet.

You may list two if you can't decide on just one. Please explain why you want to add your choices to your camera bag.

I have two:

Minolta 35mm f2.8 SHIFT CA:

This lens is a "perspective control" lens used to photograph buildings and eliminate the "falling backwards" look you get when you tilt the camera up to get the entire building in the frame. It also has "Variable Field Curvature" which allows you to "curve" the plane of focus for concave or convex objects. Rare. Expensive.

Minolta 17mm f4:

The widest rectilinear lens they offered. 104 degree angle of view with zero distortion of vertical lines. Rare. Pricey.

Answer 1

I want your lens

Answer 2

I actually have lenses that I want for both my film and digital cameras because I use both.

First, the canon 17-40mm f/4L for my ELAN 7e 35mm camera body, about $650, the poor man's L glass (but still "L"). I love my nikon digital camera, but I can never get a true wide angle, even with my 18-135, at 18mm. I still shoot film and my widest zoom is still only 24mm. The 17-40 is a perfect lens for me because it's wide and normal all wrapped up in an "L" package.

Second, a nikkor 85mm f/1.4 for shooting portraits with my nikon D80, a mere $929 on B&H.com. None of my nikon lenses are particularly suited for portraits and I prefer a prime anyway. I've got a standard zoom, a telezoom, and a fast normal prime. The AF DC nikkor 105mm f/2 is also a great lens for portraits, but with defocus control which varies background and foreground blurring effects wide open. Basically a soft focus lens at around $800, both great lenses.

Incidentally, I'm now looking for a bigger bag so I don't have to lug around two. So another item for my wishlist is a tamrac expedition 7 model 5577, about $200 on B&H as well.

Answer 3

I somewhat have and love my Nikon 18-200mm VR lens. it somewhat is a large walkaround lens and is optimal for shuttle. yet, that's no longer speedy adequate for me while i'm on an task, so it gets left at abode. I take alongside an 18-50mm f/2.8, a 70-200mm f/2.8, a 35mm f/one million.8, and a 50mm f/one million.8. Do i alter lenses? specific, and frequently interior some seconds. (practice, practice, practice) as quickly as I shoot activities, or teenagers in action, a speedy aperture makes each and all of the adaptation. Any large zoom is a compromise. I somewhat have a 28-300mm lens that i've got loaned out to a chum. think of of it this form - you've a swiss military knife, or a bag crammed with individual kit. The knife is extremely reachable, yet I difficulty the bag of equipment would provide you the final effects. p.s. I nevertheless basically take the 18-200mm as quickly as I shuttle, although I sneak the 35mm f/one million.8 interior the backside of my bag. :)

Answer 4

Distagon T* 2/28
An incredibly sharp manual focus lens (which doesn't bother me, I predate autofocus). No noticeable CA that I am aware of and tack sharp at ALL apertures. It would function as a wide angle on a FF body and serve as a normal lens on 1.6. About $1,700 in MM mount (works wonderfully on a EOS with adapter).

Contax Vario-Sonnar T* 28/85 - as above. Basically, it kicks butt, even against Canon's 'L' glass. Around $1,700 USD.

Where auto focus isn't anything more than a convenience, these two lenses cover a large section of the focal lengths I usually shoot in for either FF or 1.6.

For the ulitmate in extremely low light photojournalism with a particular look, the 50 mm f 1.0 Leica Noctilux. At about $7,000, I am glad that I can rent it where I live!

That's 3. Did I cheat again? Photoshop has eroded my morals!

Vance

Answer 5

The lens I'm most excited about right now is Canon's soon-to-be-released 200mm f/2L IS.... Perfect for weddings and indoor sports! Fast f/2 plus the new 4 stop IS! Hopefully the image quality will be on par with the old 200 f/1.8..... If the price comes in under $4k...... I'm so there.

I'd also love to get my hands on an 85 f/1.2L for portrait work.

Answer 6

10-1000mm f1.4 lens that weighted only 2 lbs and takes picture as sharp as a Leica lenses.

OH YOU MEAN REAL LENSES!!!

Well in that case... at the moment I want the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 and the EF 70-200 f2.8L IS.

Answer 7

shift and tilts are awesome..im with you there

the one i really want but will proberly never own or need is the canon 800mm - i trailed it once in australia - didnt intend buying it - the guy said i would want it once i tried it and i did, but i resisted due to insufficient funds.....

heres a linked shot, sharp at 800mm!!

http://flickr.com/photos/martini2005/1902367354/

a

Answer 8

This one:
http://nikonusa.com/large.php?productNr=2159

Christmas is coming if anyone wants to get me one. :-)

Answer 9

Don't know!