Easy Answers

In yesterday’s comments Melody asked what so many people have asked before,

What lens do you love-use-can't-live-without…?

A few of you asked the same thing of Kate and I for our radio show, I have gotten numerous emails of the same accord, and there have been a few threads about lenses in our Flickr discussions.

Of all the questions I can think of, the equipment is the easy one. It’s just a matter of pulling out all of the stuff from our bags and listing them for you, right?  So, where’s our list? I am working on it as we speak. It’s my little goal for the weekend; to have a bright and shiny page posted here listing what the contributing Sisters have tucked in their bags. Now that I’ve put it out there, you’ll hold me accountable, won’t you? In return, all I ask of you is to list some of the equipment you use (at least your most favorite stuff) and maybe we’ll list what’s in your bag too!

We’ll show you our list if you’ll show us yours.

Pictured above: a reflected self-portrait featuring my massive (and totally rockin’) Canon 24-70 mm 2.8. Ain't she purty?

Comments

[laura]

Ah, the article I've been wanting to write for a while on my site. Thanks for the push!

For full explanation and photos:
http://www.dolcepics.com/articles/my-gear/

My gear:
Nikon D300
Nikon D50
24-70 f/2.8
14-24 f/2.8
50 f/1.8
18-55 f/3.5-f/5.6
SB-600
SB-800

Love the 24-70 too Tracey! And great portrait btw!

[intensity_too]

My gear:

Nikon D80
50mm f/1,4
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Slik Pro 700DX tripod

[Marcie]

What I carry with me/my gear:

Nikon D300
Nikon D70 (as backup)
Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED AF VR Zoom (my favorite)
Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 ED AF Zoom
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
Nikon SB-800 Speedlight

[Shelli]

This is so helpful. Thanks. Please tell me what you think the best "first" lens for a newbie would be, especially if she likes to do close-up, macro work.

All I use right now is a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1. But we're thinking of getting a SLR.

[julie]

I'm a Canon girl. Right now I have the Canon XTi but am saving for a D40. My favorite lenses are
50mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8
I also like me zoom 75-300mm.
And responding to Shelli....I did my first macro work with filters that screw onto then end of my lens. I loved them and still use them sometimes. I haven't bought a macro lens yet just for that reason.
My equipment is just for hobby use. I don't sell anything so the things I have should be somewhat affordable for a newbie!!!
Julie

[alli]

This is so timely! I will have a cute DSLR in my hands by the end of June. I am looking at D40s and D60s and wondering about the lenses.

[Lawyer Mama]

I have a Nikon d40x (currently in the shop)
Nikon 18-55mm (also in shop - I'm a clutz)

Nikon D60
Nikor 50mm 1.8
Sigma 18-200mm

Even though my nifty fifty is manual focus, I love it. Great bokeh.
My Sigma lens has surprised me. I assumed it would be like my kit lens - good, but nothing to wow me. But I'm really impressed with the close ups and the lovely bokeh it gives. It's great all around lens.

[jenn]

Canon SD400... yup, that's right: a six year old point-and-shoot. It has enough little things on 'manual' mode that I am actually quite impressed with some of the shots I've been able to pull off. (a bunch are located here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennemmer/sets/72157604796062877/ ) Now, considering my habit of shooting often in the dark I really should invest in at least a cheap tripod. (random buildings, the roof of my car and learning to hold _really_still_ can only take a person so far).

I would love an SLR but as long as I'm still a grad student I am stuck coveting what I can't afford.

[Angie]

I am blessed to have a husband who loves this hobby as much as I do (although it's a curse because then we're pushovers when it comes to buying more equipment). Between us, we have:
Olympus E-500 camera
40-150 mm f/3.5 zoom lens
14-45 mm f/3.5 lens
18-50mm f/2.8 lens
50mm f/2 lens

And that 50mm rarely leaves my camera. I love it more than I should love a material object, ha!

[Christy]

Over the past month I have added a bunch of new stuff to my kit. The year before that I pretty much exclusively used my kit lens. Love the new ones :)

Rebel Xti
18-55mm, f/3.5-5.6
75-300mm f/4-5.6
50mm, f/1.8
Sigma 28-7mm, f/2.8
Speedlite 430ex

[megan]

nikon d80
50mm 1.8
18-55mm
18-200VR
SB600 (which i never use)
tripod

love my 50mm the most. am still learning the quirks of my 18-200; just got it this month. don't covet anything right now (except the nikon d300:).

[Holly T]

My gear:
Canon 5D (I find Canons are the best for digital. I was a Nikon girl when I worked in film)
17-40mm/f4
90mm/f2.8 shift (love this lens!)
24-70mm/f2.8
70-200IS/f2.8 (you can't beat this lens for taking great candids)
Speeditron Monoheads and White Lightning to use with a 5ft octobank, strip light, medium soft box
And of course lots and lots of memory cards

[Lyn]

I'm still in love with my Nikon D50, though I recently dropped it (my heart almost stopped), and fatally wounded my kit lens. Now my primary is a Nikon 28-105mm 3.5 with a macro "switch" on the side (I inherited this one - and love it), a Nikon 20 mm, and LawyerMama's fav Sigma lens. Still learning to use my SB-800 flash, and my reflector set.

But really my fav: my tiny wireless remote, which has proved useful on sooooo many occasions.

[Heather]

Oh, how I love reading about your lenses!

I have a Canon PowerShot A650 IS. One day, I'll have a DSLR, and will be back to this post for info :) .

[Jenny Rebecca]

Love, love, love my Canon 50mm 1.8. It's the only "real" lens I have besides the kit lens for my XTi. I'm hoping to get the Tamron 17-55mm sometime soon.

[Angella]

I bought that same lens two months ago and it rarely comes off of my camera! Love it, love it, LOVE IT!

In my bag:
Canon 40D
Canon 24-70mm, f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Sigma 18-200mm, f/3.5-6.3
Canon 75-300mm, f/1.4-5.6
Canon.5x wide-angle lens

[Jenty]

This thread has come at just the right time for me! I've just got my first SLR (a Canon 350D), I was using a Sony H5.
So I'm in the market for lenses. The only one I have is the one that came with the camera - the 18-55mm.
I'll be reading all the comments with interest

[melody is slurping life]

OMG, love this thread! Thanks, Tracey! I forget about discussions at flickr...yeah, I can be slooooow. I poppoed over and discovered the lens you love to love on your Rebel. Thanks, again!

Back to list what I have in my little ole bag later. :)

[nicky thomas]

Good Day Shutter Sisters

I used to love my canon EOS 300 film camera but i now have a new love.

canon 30D with canon 18-55mm lens (for my day to day stuff)

canon 75-300mm (for pics of unsuspecting people)

Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 (new and hardly used as yet)

and a variety of macro filters.

I also have a benbo trekker tripod which is lovely.

I am a humble amateur so i cant buy any more stuff!!

Have a lovely day

Nickyx

[Christina]

After years of saving, I got my "baby" last Christmas!

Nikon D80
Nikor 50mm 1.8 - which I LOVE and use 99% of the time
Nikor 18-55
Nikor 55-200VR

[Secret Agent Mama/Mishelle Lane Photography]

My Gear:

Canon Rebel XTi
18-55mm, f/3.5-5.6

& I'm waiting on the arrival of 50mm, f/1.4, a filter kit, and a plastic hood. My husband informed me today that he ordered these for me, along with the Crumper 5 Million camera bag! I'm stoked!

The next lens I plan to add will be either a 18-200mm, f/3.5-6.3 or 75-300mm, f/1.4-5.6. This won't be for a long time, though, since I have exhausted the camera equipment funds for a while.

[m]

I'm completely non digital I use a holga and a lomo. I've just been given a SLR which needs lenses and I'll probably look into geting that fixed up after the summer.

[Krista]

I'm new to the world of digital SLRs, so I only have the Nikon D40 Kit with an 18-55 mm lens.

[romila]

I only have the D40 and kit lens, too, but am anxiously awaiting the release of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens that will autofocus on the D40: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0803/08031801sigma50mm.asp

[Stacy]

I have a Nikon D50, and my favorites are my 85 1.8 and 50 1.8 primes.

[nikkipolani]

That gorgeous lens is the very same one I'm saving up for :-)

My gear at present:
Canon XTi
50mm f1.8
28-135mm USM f3.5-5.6

[Teri]

My gear:

Canon XTi
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro Lens
Canon 430EX Speedlite Flash
Hood, extra battery, extra card, USB cord, and the instruction manuals in a ziplock bag.

I do wonder what the difference is for Canon lenses - between EF and EF-S. Holding off on buying any more lenses until I actually know what I need.

[Steve Fielding]

Hope guys can post here too...

Anyway, I shoot with a Nikon D200 and must have lenses are the 50mm f1.4 and the 80-200mm f2.8 and everyone once in a while a Lensbaby.

/sjf