In my capacity as a music photographer, the answer to this question for me was easy but has changed in the last twelve months. I used to bang on about the Canon 50mm F1.4
So, as I said, my “Lens of choice” has changed in the last twelve months after shooting with the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L at a couple of festivals, I would happily take it over any of the others. The range on a full sized sensor is just fine for most stages, and the color that you get from this little piece of magic is quite nice too!
So, with news of the new Canon 70-200 f2.8 L MkII I am saving up my Amazon vouchers and will be putting them all towards one of these little pieces of L flavoured magic…
SO dear reader, what’s your favourite lens? (No, i don’t care if you’re not a Music photographer and I don’t care if you shoot with a banana)
Please comment below!
My favourite lens right now is my Sony 35mm 1.4G, but if I was only allowed one lens for the rest of my live (no, no spelling mistake
) it would be the Sony 16 – 35mm 2.8 CZ . I do not yet own it, but I will. One day….
Definitely the 50mm…it’s my go-to lens for just about anything…
50mm f1.4 – light, portable, used for a hell of a lot (it was my only lens for around 18 months) and I can zoom with my feet
I’d miss the 70-200 something chronic, though.
My eyes!
;^)
I’d agree with you, 70-200 f/2.8 is great for most sports. MMA/Fight shoots I’d have to go with the 24-70 f/2.8 though… can’t beat ring side seating!
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Fighting for 10th! =-.
for me it’s gotta be the 50mm f/1.8 (yes I’m a cheap skate!!) and a Nikon shooter but it never fails to impress me. I have a 35mm f/1.8 and although it’s useful it isn’t a patch on the fiddy.
….and in odd ways (more banana-y type answer) the little zuiko piece of stuff in my olympus xa2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rojojam/3012022121/in/set-72157607130845881/) is also very pleasing in a completely different way
the one I use most often is 24-70 f/2.8 L
.. i have the 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM too and the 50 f/1.4 and others .. but for my shooting needs the 24-70 is great.
I’m still hooked on the 50mm 1.4.
Unless i’m shooting a festival, it’s still the main lens i use for shooting live music. But i especially love it for portraits.
I wrote a love letter to the lens and collected 50 portraits i’d taken with it:
http://www.boudist.com/archive/2008/08/21/50-portraits.php
My “Lens of choice” is the same as you, the Canon 70-200 f2.8 on the 5D. It’s perfect match. But I would also agree Nuno that the 24-70 f2.8 is great too… Depending how far you are from the stage.
Frederic
That’s a good choice for a one lens kit. Although I think if someone waved a rather large stick at me and told me that I could only carry one lens (along with a camera of course), I would choose my lovely 35 Summilux PRE-ASPH, I just love fixed focal length lenses.
I absolutely adore the Nikkor 85mm f1.4 too (http://www.digitalrev.com/en/nikon-nikkor-af-85mm-f1-dot-4-d-817.html?match_type=1)
If I was forced to choose 1 lens, it would have to be the 35mm Summilux PRE-ASPH…nice and dreamy…
My favourite lens has to be the (cheap) Canon 50mm f1.8…many of my personal favourites (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aboutthisboy/sets/72157621219459881/), most at Womad festival, were taken with this…
8mm signma.
i just love fisheye lenses.
Right now, it’s my Zuiko 12-60/2.8-4, which is the ideal lens for small venue shoots. Coupled with a flash, it’s awesome. For the bigger venues and festival shoots, a Sigma 70-200/2.8.
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.
hmm… 70-200 f/2.8, is that the IS version?
for events I shoot with the 24-70mm, as I get very close up to the action… and for modelling and portraiture this give me great contrast and range to work with.
So if it’s only one lens it would be the 24-70mm f/2.8L. Not my favourite, but definitely the most useful.
I use a Tamron 18-250mm lens, its great for all eventualities as one lens does all
That way I can get the front of the stage, audience, etc in wide and zoom in on the drummer hiding at the back… love it. Would like to upgrade to a swankier version though with USM or something, but that’s lots of money. Have never used a pure 50mm before, but am looking in to getting one so I can see if it is a lens for me 