Do you have a favourite lens? If so, what is it and why?

[Tronhard]

I have a lot of lenses, stretching back to the early 1990's.  The quality of the images they take vary, as one might expect, somewhat by prices and technological development.  That said, I have a couple of lenses that I love the images from:
Canon EF 28-300L,  a monster lens: and until the RF 24-240, Canon's only super-zoom lens.  It has a wonderful tonal quality to it and it behaves amazingly well on both FF and APS-C bodies.

Canon EOS 400D, EF 28-300L@97mm, f/8, 1/500sec, ISO-800

EF 70-200L f/2.8 (and 4.0) MkII IS USM: both with really nice tonal qualities that are especially effective for portraits - which I rarely do, but since I don't shoot people very often (in the nicest way), I do, on occasion get to photograph an animal.

Canon EOS 5DsR, EF70-200L@182mm, f/8, 1/80sec, ISO-200.

So, what are your favourite optics and why?

[rs-eos]

The EF 50mm f/1.2 L.  After my first DSLR (Rebel T4i with the EF-S 18-135mm lens), I found that by far (~90%) of my favorite images were all around 50mm (equivalent on full frame).  I also very much liked very shallow depth of field images.   Thus, when I moved to my first full frame DSLR, I picked up the 50mm f/1.2 and that was my only lens for around two years.

The second lens I picked up was the EF 135mm f/2 L which I also very much enjoy.  This combo is all I need to create the images I enjoy creating.  I also recently started doing panoramas with the 135mm, but with 9 images (3 x 3).  This roughly gives the 50mm field of view, yet without the distortion; especially if doing headshot closeups.

Finally, the 50mm now has a second purpose. Via the 0.71x RF mount adapter, I'm really enjoying using the 50mm on my C70.

[Tronhard]

That's awesome Ricky!   What really comes to me is how our favourite lenses (and also sensor sizes) are very much a function of the subjects that we love to shoot.  You shoot in a very different style to me - my subjects are normally wildlife that is often at distance, and because I am mobile and often self-supporting for days, I tend to go to zooms.

One of the cool things about photography is that it is so diverse, and I love that... 

[Tronhard]

Is there any tonal characteristic of this or another lens that you really like.   For example, and rather surprisingly, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm has a certain tonal quality that I love in the way it renders light - for example in this early morning shot of Victoria Harbour on Vancouver Island in the fall.

Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 15-85@76mm, f/8, 1/160sec, ISO-200

[Waddizzle]

I love the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the EF 35mm f/2 IS USM.

[Tronhard]

What is special for you with these lenses?

[Waddizzle]

Forum won’t let me post images again.  

I like to shoot landscapes with the 70-200mm.  The tripod foot allows me to roll the camera to portrait mode and capture near perfect panoramic shots.  The detail it captures is breathtaking.

I like the 35mm because of the IS.  It is perfect for shooting indoors in natural light.  I think this lens is a real sleeper.  Many reviews rate it above the L series 35mm when it comes to image quality.

[Tronhard]

Bummer Bill...  I have done a few panoramas, but never with the 70-200!  I shall have to give that a go.  As to the 35mm, I don't have that one, but from your comments I shall keep an eye out for one second-hand.

Thanks for sharing.

[Waddizzle]

Okay, after deleting MANY photos, I can post photos again.  This old camera has still got what it takes.  This is where this lens lives.

1D Mark IV, EF 35mm f/2 IS USM.

[Wandalynn]

My workhorse lenses are the EF 100-400 L ii and the RF 100mm L macro. The Canon lenses that I have the most fun with are my EF 8-15mm f/4 L fisheye and EF 24 f/1.4 L ii because both lend themselves to creativity, while my workhorse lenses are more for documentary purposes. I'm using these on an R and an R5. I used to own an EF-S 15-85mm (like you mentioned), and I think it's an outstanding lens and one often overlooked. I sold mine when I sold my last APS-C camera. Another quality lens that I think is overlooked is the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM, released in 1992 and I think only recently discontinued.