What is your lens of the Year?

For me this year consisted of using 3 primes, the Sigma 35 1.4, the 135l, and the 50l. All 3 have such great qualities at their given focal lengths that taking anyone off for the other is a pain.

With that said the 135l gave me images I just couldn't get anywhere else, but on the downside at that focal length it was useless indoors for me. Some of my most beautiful images came from this lens though and when I slap it on I feel like it's almost as if I have a cheat code for beautiful pictures. It just cannot hang in the versatile department.

The Sigma 35 is easily one of my favorites lenses I have ever owned, the sharpness, the bokeh, the focal length. This in my opinion might be the perfect focal length and with this lens showing it off I had some stunning captures from it. This was a tight call for me because I love this lens so much. I really have no complaints about it at all.


Which leads me to my pick for my personal lens of the year, the 50L. Is it soft? Yeah it is at 1.2 but it's at 1.2 what do you expect. It has a softness though that has character, it's not a bad soft imo but a nice soft at 1.2. I've also had captures really sharp at f 1.2. images with this lens without a doubt give off one of the nicest 3d pop type effects I've seen from a lens.. The images that come from this lens are very distinctive and also remember it has a major learning curve, one I still am learning daily. I also was never a fan of the 50mm focal length, perferring the 35mm focal length but when I have this lens on it just gives me images that cannot be had anywhere else. It also is my go to indoors camera, and my life consists alot more doing things indoors with family, parties, social gatherings, and holidays. This lens kills it in those scenarios and that's why I'm giving it my lens of the year.

What about you guys and gals?

AltgnJoey wrote in post #16429212
For me this year consisted of using 3 primes, the Sigma 35 1.4, the 135l, and the 50l. All 3 have such great qualities at their given focal lengths that taking anyone off for the other is a pain.

With that said the 135l gave me images I just couldn't get anywhere else, but on the downside at that focal length it was useless indoors for me. Some of my most beautiful images came from this lens though and when I slap it on I feel like it's almost as if I have a cheat code for beautiful pictures. It just cannot hang in the versatile department.

The Sigma 35 is easily one of my favorites lenses I have ever owned, the sharpness, the bokeh, the focal length. This in my opinion might be the perfect focal length and with this lens showing it off I had some stunning captures from it. This was a tight call for me because I love this lens so much. I really have no complaints about it at all.


Which leads me to my pick for my personal lens of the year, the 50L. Is it soft? Yeah it is at 1.2 but it's at 1.2 what do you expect. It has a softness though that has characte, it's not a bad soft imo but a nice soft at 1.2. I've also captures some really sharp for 1.2 images with this lens and without a doubt this beast gives off one of the nicest 3d pop type effects I've seen on a lens. The images that come from this lens are very distinctive and also remember the lens has a major learning curve, one I still am learning daily. I also was never a fan of the 50mm focal length, perferring the 35mm focal length but when I have this lens on it just gives me images that cannot be had anywhere else. It also is my go to indoors camera, and my life consists alot more doing things indoors with family, parties, social gatherings, and holidays. This lens kills it in those scenarios and that's why I'm giving it my lens of the year.

What about you guys and gals?

For me, and by far, the Samyang 14 f2.8. All images with this lens are as sharp as they can be and, even if its AF is manual, using hyperfocal focussing means I can just concentrate on composing and shooting. Great optics and great price.

Miguel

Good topic!

For me, without a doubt my most versatile lens in my lineup is my 35L. This thing just amazes me every time I use it. Indoors and out, its glued to my camera 90% of the time. I

It's my go-to for my pre wedding shots, wide stuff for ceremonies as well. It's just awesome.

I also got, not long ago, the Sigma 85. It's a fantastic lens as well. I struggle with this and the 70-200 2.8L on which goes on my 5d3!

70-200 f2.8 IS II. Best lens that I have ever owned. Amazing results using this lens.

I'd have to go with my 35L. I have a love hate with it, but it's used for more keepers this year than any other. The 24-105 is second most in keepers, but nowhere near my choice for lens of the year. The others I'd consider would be my new 17-40 which saw a lot of travel use this year. And the 135L is my favorite all around lens, but somewhat less versatile.

The game-changer, the Sigma 18-35 f/freakin' 1.8!

The 70-200mm IS mk1. Yes, the mark 1. Bought this guy fairly cheap on CL, and been pleasantly surprised by the IQ. I went from the 70-300L and I thought I would be disappointed.

400mm f/5.6 in love with that thing.
My sigma 30 feels a little neglected, but every time I mount it, it delivers the goods.

landscaping: Zeiss 21, TS-E 24 II, Rockinon 14.
other stuff: 70-200 IS II, 50L 1.0, 85L II, Sigma 35 art. Honorable mention to the 100L.

For me, it is my 135L.

NYC2BGI wrote in post #16429363
70-200 f2.8 IS II. Best lens that I have ever owned. Amazing results using this lens.

DING! DING! DING!.....we have a winner!

I like a lot of lenses but I have to agree with the OP with 50L and 135L as 2 that always impress me.
For outdoors I really like the 17-40 paired up with 70-300L because they are so small and lightweight.

My most used lens this year is the Canon 50/1.4. My 70-200 f/4 IS and 24-105 are a close second and third. These three combine for over 85% of the images in my LR library for the year. I have a nice collection of lenses but the others are pretty specialized and don't account for a ton of shots.

Great topic Joey...Sigma 35 for me followed very very closely by the 85Lii. I never use my 135L because of these, but I can't sell it. I do wish I could afford to have a 50L again

strangely enough, the EF-M 22mm f2. I didn't realize how much I was missing a fast 35mm equiv lens for APS-C. And this lens is amazing for the price, even at MSRP.