topic Re: Favorite Lens? in EF & RF Lenses

Favorite Lens?

Monica — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:31:37 GMT

What is your favorite Canon lens to photograph with, and why?

Re: Favorite Lens?

MichaelTheMaven — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:08:38 GMT

Im going to have to go with the 24-70 2.8 L, it is an extremely versatile lens, very good in low light as well. I have both versions, but I havent shot with the v2 enough to know if there are any inconsistencies or issues. One thing I am worried about with it is the color seems a little off sometimes. Need to do a head to head test.

70-200 2.8 L II is a close second.

16-35 2.8 L II is third.

As a wedding photographer those three lenses were enough for me to cover any event.

Michael

Re: Favorite Lens?

Twilightscapes — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:01:07 GMT

It's hard to pick. My workhorse has been the 16-35II and I love it dearly. However, the 17 TS-E has now commanded my attention. It's a wonderful lens, challenging, sharp and allows you to do some crazy things.

Re: Favorite Lens?

briancweed — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:36:49 GMT

Well, my favorite lens and my most used lens are two different things. I would say that my workhorse lens is the 24-105 f4 L IS. It has a great, I love the constant aperture, and the IS helps me out tremendously for documentary and handheld work (keep in mind, I'm coming from a video background here). It probably lives on my C300 50% of the time.

My absolute favorite lens, though, right now has to be the 85mm f1.2 L. Good lord is that a beautiful lens. I get positively giddy every time I get to put in on the C300.

24mm f1.4 L is a close second.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Misha — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:15:49 GMT

24-105mm f/4 L IS USM paired with my 5D MK2. Awesome walkaround lens, very sharp edge-to-edge. I have many other Canon lenses that I rarely used since I bought 24-105!

Re: Favorite Lens?

Ody — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:40:27 GMT

I'll go with my 70-200 f2.8 II. Wonderful lens. I traded in two non-IS versions of the lens ( 2.8 and 4.0) to upgrade and never regretted it.

Re: Favorite Lens?

ShutterbugDoug — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:56:18 GMT

It depends on what I am shooting but as a freelance sports photographer my 70-200mm f2.8 L is my workhorse and spends most of the time on my camera. I bought a 35mm f2.8 TS-E with an FD mount and converted it to the EF mount and use it for most everything else I shoot unless I need auto focus and then it's my 24-70 f2.8 L. As for a favorite I must say it's the converted FD Tilt-Shift. The lens is so versatile, sharp and down right fun to use.

Re: Favorite Lens?

ProfilePicture — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:04:58 GMT

Absolutely!

Re: Favorite Lens?

Chris — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:23:57 GMT

Great question Monica. By far, my favorite lens to photograph with is the 24L II. Granted, zooms are far more versatile, so I shoot more often with the 24-70L and 70-200L II, but when I have the chance to frame my shot, nothing beats the angle of view and shallow depth of field of the 24L.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Moose — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:44:59 GMT

Easy. 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS. I like photography in general, but macro is what I enjoy most, and spend a lot of time doing. This lens is one of the best out there for that, but is also fine for portraits and general use. A little long for a "walk around," on a crop, it'll be interesting to see what I can do with it on a FF (hopefully soon).

Re: Favorite Lens?

LJG — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:24:09 GMT

35L f/1.4. It really is a great all rounder on both my full frame and crop bodies. I tend to defer to it to the point where it now stays attached to my 5DII in my camera bag.

Re: Favorite Lens?

vtanner62 — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:55:34 GMT

My 70-200 2.8L is my favorite with my 28-70 2.8L running a close second (both lenses are older, non IS versions, purchased in 1997). These lenses have been regularly serviced and have outlasted ALL of my EOS bodies.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Jake — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:31:22 GMT

Canon 24-105L has to be my favorite. It is a great walk around lens. I always feel comfortable having it on my camera as I know I can shoot almost any situation with it. It is the lens I leave on my camera so if any quick situation arises, I know I can shoot it. It's also a super sharp lens with great autofocus. Sure is my #1 in reliability.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Chadowe — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:11:05 GMT

Fave lens is easily my 70-200mm F/2.8L IS (V1).

Re: Favorite Lens?

Kolor-Pikker — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:59:38 GMT

85LII ... The thing may as well be glued to my camera.

Re: Favorite Lens?

airfrogusmc — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:20:10 GMT

Favorite lens? That would be my Leica 35 1.4 summilux.

Favorite Canon lens is my 200 2L.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Seapup — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:18:56 GMT

It depends on what I'm shooting. If I had to choose only one, it would have to be the EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

Re: Favorite Lens?

grandpawrichard — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:47 GMT

It all depends on what I am photographing as to which of my lenses is my favorite. My 2 main lenses that I go to are my Canon 17-40 L or my Canon 400 f/5.6 L telephoto. Both of these lenses give me excellent photos. 🙂 I also use my old 70-200 f/4 L lens a lot when the 17-40 L just doesn't have quite enough reach, but my 300 L and my 400 L are too much reach.

I have ready so many posts about how you need to have ultra fast lenses to get good photos in dark situations. I was taught how to use the camera at it's fullest by opening the lens wide open and slowing down the shutter speed, plus using the Higher ASA or ISO settings. My Canon 7D is a Wonderful tool for this! I love the higher ISO settings of this camera and have pulled off quite a few great shots in extremely tough situations.

Recently I went to my Grand Daughter's Orchestra Recital. I sat in a tiny balcony as close to the stage as possible. The stage lights were harsh and varying in intensity, so I had to resort to an ISO of 1250 with a Wide open setting on my lenses. The following photo was taken at 1/80 of a second and hand held:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b218/grandpawrichard/prettyGirlsmallerwithsignature-4047.jpg

That Canon 400 f/5.6 L did me proud!

Here is a photo I took with my Canon 17-40 L. This shot was well after dark. The shot was hand held, I can't remember what the ISO range was, but the lens was wide opened and I only used the existing light from the cabin to illuminate the exposure:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b218/grandpawrichard/A%20Weekend%20in%20the%20San%20Juan%20Islands%202011/_MG_5163-30.jpg

So I guess I can say that my 2 favorite lenses are my Canon 17-40 L and my Canon 400 L!

Re: Favorite Lens?

stevepow — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:14:58 GMT

Tough call...depends on the situation.

The "me" lens is the 35/1.4 L mainly because I used to shoot so much 35mm on a Leica M, so the format is what I "see" and the quality of that lens is lovely. I still have a Summilux-R 35/f2 with an adapter, but in many comparison shot I have done I always prefer the Canon lens - really no contest.

Travel, the 24-105 IS L - light enough and a good range that can get most shots. Wish it was a 2.8, but that would probably make it too heavy and expensive. 🙂 That and a 16-35 and you have all you need for travel - except for a safari.

Value - 70-200 2.8 IS II - for portraits, events, wildlife, etc - this is a must have lens for anyone. So versatile and excellent IQ.

Work - architecture - the 24mm TSE - wow, what a fantastic lens and if you can live with manual focus full time, it is an awesome 24mm lens in general. The IQ of this lens will spoil you.

50 1.2 L - another reasonably priced gorgeous lens - can produce stunning selective focus shots . Wish the 85mm would get updated to be as nice.

Very Honorable mention - 40mm pancake. Don't laugh. Light as a feather and makes the 5DMKIII into a great walk around camera - and the IQ is great. For $200, this lens is a no brainer. Put it on and take your small lightweight camera anywhere.

Re: Favorite Lens?

Bingo — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:36:43 GMT

Believe it or not, right now it's the cheap nifty fifty 1.8. I took some great photographs of the NYC Sandy blackout. I've had this lens in my bag for a long time w/o using it. Much to my surprise, I'm enjoying it.

I do like the wide angle 16-35 2.8L