What lens(es) do you carry with you?

I have been researching cameras and lenses and have started a few threads asking about specific lenses including the 17-55mm kits lens.

Without getting into lens and image quality I would like to get an idea of what others (amateurs and pros) are using as general purpose lenses or if you find you can't carry one general purpose lens.

I have had discussion in other threads discussing the Sigma and Tamrom 18-200mm lens and there is, like with everything, mixed response.

So do photographers always carry 2 or 3 lenses or can you get by with 1?
If you are not out on a specific shoot and you are going back and forth between closeups/close range photos, wide angle and mid range telephoto then are you changing lenses each time if you go back and forth? Isn't that a bit of a pain? ..or is that inconveneince the tradeoff and you accept it as it is?

I am trying to get a feel for all of this so as I begin to spend money on this money pit of a hobby (lol) I make good intelligent decisions. I certainly don't want a bag or drawer at home to have lenses that I don't use or are so inconvenient to take with me.

As always, your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I usually carry 2 bodies, and mostly have the 17-55 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8 on most of the time...

For general use, I only carry the 24-105 (on a 5D).

As a rule, unless I'm looking for something specific that requires a different lens, I'll just carry the 24-70L on my 5D. Now..if I'm carrying my things in my Kata, I'll throw my 580 and the macro in there, as they fit in the little side pockets. Very discreet.

Hi TMR Design,

it rather depends on what I'm doing, there are a few times when I would only take one lens but there arent many.

Most of the time I would like to take a variety so that I could have some flexability. In this case I create a "light" pack depending on what I'm shooting. This is where its handy to have zoom lenses rather than primes.

Hope that helps

BearSummer

Depends totally on what I intend to shoot, each subject has its own needs. Birds, indoor sports, motorsports, etc all need a different setup. I do try to carry as little as I can get way with, my back isn't what it used to be.

I usually always carry the 35 1.4 and the 135 2.0. I really like both of those lengths very much

everything in my sig goes everywhere i go, plus a monopod

i vary my equipment according to what i'm going to shoot that day.

low light work? primes
events? zooms
leisure shooting? primes + zooms

24-70 and my 50

SO it would seem that you use the apropriate lens for the shot and do not really rely on one general purpose lens. I was curious because I know when I am out shooting with my A620 I got rather spoiled by the fact that I can do from telephoto to wide angle and then to macro and sometimes do need or want to switch on the fly, so I was hoping there was some way to do this with one lens on a DSLR. Since I do love the A620 macro shots I am not concerned about a macro lens but would like to go from wide andgle to midrange telephoto quickly.

1D MKII, 16-35, 28-70, 70-200, 1.4x, 2x, 550EX, filters, 10x25 compact binoculars(Leica) cable release & spare batteries.

Unless I'm doing something specific, like sports or specific events, I carry around my "travel kit": 17-55 f/2.8 IS, 135 f/2L, +/- 1.4 tele, and more recently I've started bringing along the Sigma 10-20.

It takes practice to get the most out of each lens, so I tend to go in phases to improve technique.

Malcolm

24-105L and 70-300 DO.

Alex

My standard walk-about kit is my 20D with 17-40L in a slingshot 200 AW, and I might add my flash or my 50 1.8

i find the 70-200 doesn't fit this bag well, so if I think I'll need the longer lens, I usually take a daysack that fits everything, and has the advantage of not looking like a camera bag.

I rarely feel the need to take everything. usually I am either on a walk about, or i have a specific project in mind - a sunset or a night shot etc - so I'll take the gear I think I'll need.