Too many lenses?

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16717222
IMO.. you only need 6..
16-35
24-70
70-200
35mm
50mm
85mm

Assumes you don't need much reach beyond 200mm....

The difference between having a large collection of lenses, and having GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

1 How often you use each lens?
2 How comfortable you are NOT using a lens for a long time?

Example" If you have 8 lenses, all valuable for certain tasks: wide angle, portrait, macro, but you don't use three of them.
Then why have them?
If you have a macro lens, you never use it, but you want one available should you decide to shoot macro, then that's great.
You have the right tool for the job, and it can sit on a shelf collecting dust until you desire to use it.
See above questions and decide.
Good luck.

PS: In a perfect world I would love to have a 14L, 24L, 35L, 50L, 85L, 100L, 135L, 200L, a 16-35L, a 24-70L, and a 70-200L.
Then I could just choose the FL or zoom I so desired each day, but I simplify my gear to what I need and carry.

InfiniteDivide wrote in post #16717357
The difference between having a large collection of lenses, and having GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

1 How often you use each lens?
2 How comfortable you are NOT using a lens for a long time?

Example" If you have 8 lenses, all valuable for certain tasks: wide angle, portrait, macro, but you don't use three of them.
Then why have them?
If you have a macro lens, you never use it, but you want one available should you decide to shoot macro, then that's great.
You have the right tool for the job, and it can sit on a shelf collecting dust until you desire to use it.
See abbove questions and deciede.
Good luck.

opinions change. My brother's second L lens was the 100L. He really wanted to get into macro for food photography....... then lost his interest. I've been feeding my GAS for a few years now and dont know when it will end

I also have a bag problem...... but that is close to being solved.

So long as you didn't break the bank, I see nothing wrong with having a good selection
of lenses. I would say keep them. In the future if you find you are not using one of them,
then you can decide if you want to sell it.

You mentioned the 135 F/2 L, yes the length may be redundant, but it's also a lot smaller
and easier to carry around without attracting attention than the 70-200 F2.8 VC. And it's
also a great lens for portraits.

--Evan

lenses, like children, each have their own strengths, abilities, quirks, idiosyncrasies and personalities.

I love learning to view the world through the FOV of my individual lenses.

Maybe that explains my collection of 11 prime lenses: 28 f1.8, 35 f2, 40, 50 f1.8 Mk I, 85 f1.8, 100 f2.8L macro, 135 f2.8 SF, 180 f3.5L macro, 400 f5.6L, and the MF 8mm f3.5 FE samyang (nikon mnt) & 14mm f2.8 UWA rokinon.

Different strokes for ...

This winter has been bad for me especially as just a hobbyist for now. New body, 2 new lenses and a new 27" iMac and a bunch of PCB stuff.

"I have too many lenses" is the most first world problem ever.

I say there's never enough

The more the merrier. I try to give all my lenses equal loving

There is another thread that recently came up about what you would do when the time comes that you need that ONE lens for that 5% of the time. My answer there was that I usually buy the lens because that way I always have the option to take the shot if the time comes. I realize that you can't take all your lenses with you and that (for me) is where the fun comes in. When I venture out now, I know I will have 1 to 3 lenses with me and I will shoot my best using only those lenses. Sometimes it may be the 400mm DO and a 100mm Macro. Or maybe the 8-15L Fisheye and the 40mm pancake. That is where you can start to challange yourself if you feel like you have too many lenses. I think the 17-40L, 70-200L, and the 300L are currently my least used lenses. Two of them I use so little and have upgraded/replaced that I don't need them anymore and am getting rid of them. If you really feel that you don't want a lens sitting around, sell it or trade it.

vsocks wrote in post #16717277
Assumes you don't need much reach beyond 200mm....

I have a crop for that

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16717222
IMO.. you only need 6..
16-35
24-70
70-200
35mm
50mm
85mm

Zoom lenses?
Not for me.

A nice holiday combo:
14/2.8 would be nice - but defective
16mm Fisheye
18 or 20mm super wide
35/1.4 fast wide
58/1.2 fast normal
85/1.4
90/2.5 macro
100 Trioplan
180/2.8 mid tele
300/2.8 easy to carry fast tele

But at home I want all the special lenses, and lenses to tinker with. And, yes, lenses that have a nice look, touch and fell - even if I don´t use it. Like a Leitz Summaron.

Over the last two months I have disassembled about 15 prime lenses for my super fast tele lens project

I really don't think there is a number that dictates too many or not enough.

I have 16 active lenses that I use. Each one has a purpose and a reason (except 1 of 2, which I'm undecided on which one I'm keeping).

Rokinon 8mm Fisheye - Self explanatory
Sigma 10-20mm - Have to have a 'normal' UWA
Canon 17-40mm f/4 L - Undecided between this and the Tamron 17-50
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 - See above, but I use this 10x more then the 17-40
EF-S 18-55 - Kit lens that goes to the beach
Canon 24-105 f/4 L - Everyday walkaround
Canon 40mm 2.8 - Indoor stuff (portraits, family, etc)
Canon 50mm 1.8 MkI - Outdoor stuff
Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 - When I want the special look it gives
Rodenstock Heligon Iloca DKL 50mm 1.9 - May not be keeping
CZ Biotar 58mm f/2 - 17 Blade pre-war - 17 aperture blades, swirly bokeh, what else can be said
CZ Biotar 58mm f/2 - 11 Blade - when I want the swirly, but don't want to risk issues to the 17 blade
EF-S 55-250 - Kit lens for the beach
Canon 85mm 1.8 - it is what it is
Canon 100mm Macro 2.8 - Macro, 'nuff said
Tamron 70-300mm VC - My only long reach, and it is a great lens

I'm also looking at the Tamron 150-600 to add to my list in a couple of months.

So even though I have lots of overlap/duplicates, I find that each one has a special characteristic that makes it a nice piece to have available to myself. Do I need all of them, absolutely not. Do I like having them? Hell yeah!

It depends on you. I have 8 lenses and think its too much. I want to sell 2 lenses and a body. I would even sell the 40mm pancake but its so small and not so expensive so ill just keep that...

Most lenses (I'm thinking about older, not modern lenses) have thier own personality, drawing style, bokeh. Specialized tools. The secret is to figure out what each one is best at, good for. Then the number you use will only be limited by your style/tastes.

Talley wrote in post #16715939
14 and 8 are toy lenses for me meaning they serve no purpose other than me taking photos for the fun of it.

And what's wrong in using lenses for fun? Keep all of them and enjoy yourself, otherwise you'll find yourself wanting more in the future.