Best lens you ever worked with?

[Salleke]

Wich is the ONE best lens you ever worked with?
The lens that made you say "WOW" from the first
picture tha you toke with it.

It does not have to be the best you own.
It can be one you used from a friend or
one you rented for a job.

The best lens I ever worked with is the 70-200 L 2.8 IS.
I don't have this lens but I rented one for a weekend.
Now I'm saving untill I can buy me one. Maybee at
the end of this year or sooner I hope.

I'm curious in the replays.

[Olegis]

70-200 f2.8L without a doubt. Every time I use this lens I just love it more and more.

[SkipD]

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS for sure....

[molesrkool]

canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
probably because it was the 3rd lens i ever used
heres lthe 2nd ( i think) picture i took with this lens
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/molesrkool/IMG_3507-01.jpg

[twisted pixels]

:rolleyes: 70-200 2.8L :p cant beat it :p

[BryanP]

I guess I'm with the slower class of the 70-200s :p

But I loved using the 70-200/4Ls. I'm still in the process of getting it back.

With the one I currently have, the 300/4L IS produces shots nothing short of stunning.

[mR_CaESaR]

yep 70-200IS for me...

gotta love shooting at 1/60 @ 200mm!! :)

[chris clements]

Has to be Cohen.
Or perhaps the one from Vulcan :)

[Salleke]

Has to be Cohen.
Or perhaps the one from Vulcan :)

Lenses not produced on Earth are not allowd ... ;)

[Benandbobbi]

70-200 2.8 USM IS---by far

[LightRules]

Yes, the 7-2 L IS has to be up there. In fact, I am proposing its nickname as either Mr. Clutch or Lord of the Rings.

[coreypolis]

leica 50mm f/1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/56196343.jpg)

though I've also worked with the nikkor 400 2.8 and canon 200 f/1.8, the 135L was the best I've owned outright

[karfeef]

so far, my 70-200 F4. my 50 F1.4 is nice, but the L is well on the way to being orgasmic. wonder if the mrs will lend me the cash for th 2.8 IS...hmm......prolly not :D

[Andy_T]

Yawn,

well to add a bit of diversity here...
80-200/2.8 L :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[Benandbobbi]

Yawn,

well to add a bit of diversity here...
80-200/2.8 L :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

The Magic Drainpipe is one hell of a lens. I'll have to admint that.:p

[CyberDyneSystems]

500mm f/4L IS

It beats the older 200mm 1.8 for focus speed and accuracy, and it has IS.
(mind you the 200mm beats the 500mm on a lot of aspects to say the least as well )

It has given me the highest keeper ratio for what I shoot, bar none.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

35L is the nicest I've actually owned.

[Thelonius]

70-200 f2.8L without a doubt. Every time I use this lens I just love it more and more.

Same for me.

[morehtml]

300mm 2.8 . And very versatile too. I've taken with it, portraits, sports, wildlife, compressed landscape and more.

[Big WIll]

70-200 f2.8L all the way!

Its lives on my camera all the time!

[basroil]

70-200 f2.8L all the way! Its lives on my camera!

basically the same here... though when i first got my 50mm 1.8 and took a closeup of some fruits, i really said "wow that's what i call out of focus";)

[farrukh]

The Nifty

[liza]

It's a tie between the 200 f/2.8L and the 100mm macro lens.

[Longwatcher]

It is a tie for me between 85/1.2 (just beautiful pictures)
or the 70-200/2.8L IS (versatle while still taking wonderful pictures)

[CoolToolGuy]

My contenders:

The Magic Drainpipe (80-200 f2.8L) is an amazing piece of glass. The newer 70-200 f2.8s have some advantages, but they are bigger, heavier, and white - I'm not against white lenses, but I think black works for the Magic Drainpipe.
The EF 70-200 f4L - great lens, good size to carry all day.
The FD 300 f2.8L is a great lens - even on a DSLR. It makes me want to trade up to the EF version.
The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS is on its way to becoming the holder of the title, but I have not had enough time with it yet.
And the winner in the CoolToolGuy experience is: The FD 35-105 f3.5. This is my all-time favorite walkaround lens to date. As mentioned, the 17-55 IS will most likely overtake it, but between the image quality, the size and weight, and the range the FD beat out the 24-70 L by a mile.Have Fun,

[ssim]

It would have to be my 300 f2.8 L IS followed closely by the 600 f4 L IS. The latter has increased my keeper rate on things like small birds and far away wildlife.

[Tincam]

35L is the nicest I've actually owned.

Same here. I got to use a 70-200 2.8 IS over the last two weeks. It is one very nice lens. I know I'm comparing apples & oranges, but imo the 35L is a better lens than the 70-200.

[Woolburr]

The 70-200 f/2.8 L IS is one hell of an impressive lens....but I have to give my vote to the 300mm f/2.8 L IS.....strap it on a 1Dmk2n and hang on for the ride.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

..and hang on for your life, because you've got a sack of bricks in your hands!

[tellingthm]

the 70-200 IS was the first L lens i ever used, borrowing from another photographer a few years ago. considering the best lens i'd ever used up to that time had been the 28-135 IS, i was seriously blown away. looking back now, however, i think the 300/2.8 IS is the best i've ever worked with.

[drbenjamin]

It's a tie between the 200 f/2.8L and the 100mm macro lens.

My feelings exactly. I bought the 200 first, then the 100. They are both spectacular, and I find myself using them almost exclusively.

[Mark_Cohran]

My favorite/best is the 135 f2L. The IQ on that lens just wows me every time.

Mark

[René Damkot]

Schneider Digitar

[GyRob]

The 85f1.8 has given me some great shot's to me anyway and the 500f4isL MY 2 Fave lenses.
Rob

[Rhinotherunt]

I am split with my 70-200 and 10-20mm. The 10-20mm is just amazing to look through... takes nice pics as well. The 70-200mm is contrasty and sharp with nice reach! ;)

Some examples from 10-20mm...

[jesusdelallata]

Although I love all my lenses, I'd have to say that using my brother's canon 70-200 f2.8L has been a real treat. My 70-200 f4L ranks highest for me (of the ones I own). One day I'll be able to upgrade.

[Jon]

The one that I'm currently using on the camera I'm currently using.

If what I'm doing calls for the 24-70 L, that's it. Likewise the 70-200, or the 100-400, or the 15-30 Sigma. If they didn't satisfy me I'd replace them.

[Lord_Malone]

I'd have to say the 70-200L IS. This is the lens I was born to use. I don't know why I waited so long to get one.

Honorable mentions include (but not limited to):
16-35L
35L
80-200L
Leica APO 100 f2.8 Macro
50 1.4

Surprised they're not all L's? ;)

[Tandem]

Considering that at the time of this post I don't have the 400 f/2.8, the 135 f/2 is by far the best lens I have. I am amazed and in awe of the beauty of every photo I've taken with it.

[Salleke]

First of all let me thank you all for the very learningfull replays.
When I posted this question I thought dat everyone would only
name one lens, but like me I can't work with only one lens and
have my favorit lenses. I am reorganising my lenses.
Shortley I will have the following lens collection:

17-55 2.8 (is ordered)
70-200 2.8 IS (by the end of this year)

Now I have the:

24-105
50 1.4
85 1.8

When the 17-55 2.8 arrive I will sell my 24-105 and the 85 1.8 to fund
the 70-200 2.8 IS.

But what I wanted to ask to the users of long primes like the 300, 400, 500
or even the 600, does such a long prime not limit you when taking pictures?
What if you are in a place you can't move and you lens is to long?

A while ago I read a thread that some members here wher in the process
of switching all thyere lenses to primes. Is this possible?
IMHO one can't use primes in all situations or am I wrong?

[coreypolis]

First of all let me thank you all for the very learningfull replays.
When I posted this question I thought dat everyone would only
name one lens, but like me I can't work with only one lens and
have my favorit lenses. I am reorganising my lenses.
Shortley I will have the following lens collection:


But what I wanted to ask to the users of long primes like the 300, 400, 500
or even the 600, does such a long prime not limit you when taking pictures?
What if you are in a place you can't move and you lens is to long?

A while ago I read a thread that some members here wher in the process
of switching all thyere lenses to primes. Is this possible?
IMHO one can't use primes in all situations or am I wrong?

you can shoot all primes, but be prepared for downtime to switch and possibly cleans more lenses. zooms will always be more cinvenient, but primes are often better quality and offer faster shootng speeds and AF.

the long tele lenses are purpose lenses, you don't carry them around for street photography, so you have to kow how long you need, and when it can be used. some will have a 2nd body with a wide angle or even a 70-200 attached for qucik changes in focal length

[CorruptedPhotographer]

tie between 17-40 L and 35 L.

[malla1962]

70-200Lis was my best till last week when I got the 300F2.8L:D

[Ogrt48]

My Sigma 105 Macro. I just adore the thing.

[Dan-o]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet so I'll 70-200 2.8.:D

[SBPhoto]

For me its the Canon 300 /2.8L

[blonde]

500mm f/4L IS

It beats the older 200mm 1.8 for focus speed and accuracy, and it has IS.
(mind you the 200mm beats the 500mm on a lot of aspects to say the least as well )

It has given me the highest keeper ratio for what I shoot, bar none.

i am going with this guy. the 500 is the only lens that made me say WOW!!! and than later made me say "i hate being broke" :)

[Doctor Diesel]

300 f4 L is here......love it every time I use it......!

[Mr. Clean]

My Sigma 10-20 left me speechless with it's quality, build, HSM and FTM and it's on my camera A LOT lately. I love it!

[Lord_Malone]

I am split with my 70-200 and 10-20mm. The 10-20mm is just amazing to look through... takes nice pics as well. The 70-200mm is contrasty and sharp with nice reach! ;)

Some examples from 10-20mm...

How did you do the PP on that second shot?

[Lord_Malone]

70-200Lis was my best till last week when I got the 300F2.8L:D

My next lens for sure. ;)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Same here. :eek:

Well...after the fishy, anyway.

[jedwards]

I borrowed an 85L f/1.2 for a short while, that lens has a unique quality to it - using t feels different, and I can easily identify any shots taken with it. A truly fantastic lens, but not practical for my use. Second would be the 135L (also borrowed), there is just something about "L" primes.

[braduardo]

100-400mm f4-5.6 IS L

That was the first piece of L glass I ever picked up, and when I looked through it I all of a sudden got what the whole L-frenzy was all about. That lens was really the reason I got my 70-200mm f4 L. I knew there was no way I could afford the 100-400mm until next summer, and having looked through such a great lens, I knew I had to have something with those L optics.

I love my 70-200mm f4 L though. It really is amazing. My keeper rate has gone WAY up, and my 100% crops are unbelieveable.

[Thunderheart]

I love my 70-200 2.8L IS. In the two and a bit weeks I've had it, I've gone from have shots that I was happy with, to shots that I'm ecstatic with. :D
If money were a bit more free-flowing, I'd go with a 300 2.8 IS. A local photojournalist had one and a little while ago said "have a play with it." I popped it on the 300D quicksmart and was in heaven for a ½ hour or so snapping away with crispier than crisp shots... the hard part was giving it back. :lol:

Cheers, Helen

[phylet]

another vote for the sigma 10-20 here. sure its not the fastest lens about, but its so wide, at 10mm, i can get away with 1/10 shutter speeds and get images im happy with.

[SuzyView]

Now I just want to go out there and get the 70-200! But I can't. Maybe when I get one I will say it's the best also. But if I had to choose from the lenses I have, it has to be the 17-40L because I got it from B&H in the mail, unwrapped it, put it in my carry on and headed to the airport. I landed, took my bag with me and shot the most amazing pictures. Never had a lens so wide and on the 20D, it's really a great walk about lens.

[calicokat]

So far its the 24-105L, its taken some amazing shots for me but there are some new additions that could take over the title :)

[DreederOcUK]

My favorite at the moment is the 300f2.8IS, the shots ive taken with it exceed all my expectations, I only got it a week or two ago and im in love with it. That said, at the same time I also got the 70-200f2.8IS and ive also produced some IMO stunning shots with that, so its very close between those two lenses.

[rklepper]

200 f/2.8L.

[Salleke]

I love my 70-200 2.8L IS. In the two and a bit weeks I've had it, I've gone from have shots that I was happy with, to shots that I'm ecstatic with. :D
If money were a bit more free-flowing, I'd go with a 300 2.8 IS. A local photojournalist had one and a little while ago said "have a play with it." I popped it on the 300D quicksmart and was in heaven for a ½ hour or so snapping away with crispier than crisp shots... the hard part was giving it back. :lol:

Cheers, Helen

Helen - I know the feeling. Like I told allready in my earlier post. I rented a
70-200 2.8 IS for a weekend a few months ago.
My heart said buy it and my common sense(wallet) said give it back
and don't do a madness...
But aren't we allowed one madness once in a while? Anyway, in a few months
I hope to have saved the money for this lens. All the other members with
theyre 300 mm have made my head spin but I must be realistic.
Like one member said: this is not a walk around lens but a lens you use
for a purpose and I need a good walkaround lens.
The worse thing in photography for me is the decisions that we have to make
every day in spending our hard earned mony ... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Thank you all for the answers. It have helped me alot. Now I know that it's
a good decision to buy a 70-200 2.8 IS in a few monts.
I will post a Duck or b**p shot like requierd when having a new L lens ...:D

Good luck to all of us and happy shooting ... ;)

[peterdoomen]

85L f/1.2 mkII.
First WOW moment: first shot of a person @ f/1.2

P.

[Raymate]

60mm macro, this is so sharp.
17-40mm f4, landscapes are so good.
50mm f1.4, nice for the dark side.
70-200mm f4, stays on the camera all the time.

[CyberDyneSystems]

But what I wanted to ask to the users of long primes like the 300, 400, 500
or even the 600, does such a long prime not limit you when taking pictures?
What if you are in a place you can't move and you lens is to long?


If the thread question was "what is the most flexible lens you ever worked with?" then my answer would have been different,

But best to me means not the most flexible, but the best tool for the job. In my case ( and any tele prime users case) the "job" requires a long lens. So a flexible zoom is not required. Yes, long prime would limit me if I was trying to use for something other than what it is intended, but no zoom can equal the fast prime for shooting at 500mm or more. (with the possible exception of the Sigma 300-800mm, but that lens is not without it's own share of serious compromises)

[Krapo]

Another vote for the Magic Drainpipe. I love that lens!

[Rhinotherunt]

How did you do the PP on that second shot?

I sent you a PM...

[mgash]

My favorite lens is the correct one for the shot. It's like asking which child you like better.

[4x4rock]

Got to be my 50 f1.8... Unreliable focus as it has, It captured pictures that I never thought it could.

[CorruptedPhotographer]

My favorite lens is the correct one for the shot. It's like asking which child you like better.

Obviously its the child with healthier organs :eek::lol:
Worse comes to worst you can easily sell an organ or two..

[Krapo]

Obviously its the child with healthier organs :eek::lol:
Worse comes to worst you can easily sell an organ or two..

:lol::lol::lol:

You must like the Monty Pythons, don't you?

[grego]

Yes, the 7-2 L IS has to be up there. In fact, I am proposing its nickname as either Mr. Clutch or Lord of the Rings.

Good names.

Yeah, i'd say its my favorite follllowed by the Sigma 120-300.

[CorruptedPhotographer]

:lol::lol::lol:

You must like the Monty Pythons, don't you?


haha never seen an episode in my life.

[Spatch]

300 f4 L is here......love it every time I use it......!

I'll second that, by a nose.

Cheers,

[Exit]

400f/2.8, 200 f/1.8 and 135 f/2

[Sledhed]

300 f4L IS - just arrived yeaterday.

[Cadwell]

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8EX. Sorry Canon L fans.

[Salleke]

400f/2.8, 200 f/1.8 and 135 f/2

If you had to choose the best ONE of the 3 witch would you choose?

[mspringfield]

OK. How have we made it almost 7 pages without a mention of the 200 1.8? I rarely use my 70-200 now that I have it.

Michael

[grego]

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8EX. Sorry Canon L fans.

Greatlens too. I love mine. The 70-200 is more versatile at least in what I do, but when I need reach and when UCLA soccer and football come up, this will be my primary lens.

[Lightstream]

So hard to pick just one but it would probably be my 24-105 f/4L - though there are others which are very close.