this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2023

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What’s your forever lens? (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by barberheart@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

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If you could only use one lens for the rest of time what would it be?

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[–] bananarexia@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

35 1.4, any of the higher end options are excellent but its the goated lens imo

[–] eypandabear@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Pentax FA 50/1.4.

Potentially: Pentax HD 43/1.9 Limited, but I just bought it yesterday so I don’t know yet.

Both lenses go on all my digital and 35mm film SLRs due to external “screwdriver” AF and manual aperture ring.

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[–] Iamnota_man@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Sony 24 GM or the 35 GM

[–] aeon314159@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Sigma 105mm f/1.4

[–] save_the_tardigrades@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T 58mm f/2

[–] m1k3e@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 ZM or Noctilux. Zeiss is the sharpest lens I’ve shot, and the Noctilux bokeh (esp. with Christmas lights in the background) is such an iconic look. I’ve wanted a Noctilux ever since I read this article a decade ago https://www.reddotforum.com/content/2014/10/bokeh-kings/

[–] MatthewWphoto@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

50 1.2

[–] the-gorg@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

15mm f1.7 pana-leica MFT

[–] Elguapo69@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Sony 24 to 70 2.8 GM II

[–] woodwinds11@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

70-200. There no beating that telephoto compression, especially for landscape photography.

[–] random_fist_bump@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Tamron 60mm f2 macro

[–] RadicalSnowdude@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM.

[–] Poppunknerd182@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Sony 135 1.8 GM

[–] Dan-cricket123@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

30mm f-1.4

[–] 1TwoTrilogy@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

You'll get 50-60 years max. Also you won't live forever

[–] King_Pecca@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8

[–] gronkta@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4 just perfect

[–] broken-filter@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

The Bokina. Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 (1:2 and comes with 1:1 adapter). Beautifully made, solid as a rock, sharp as a tack and relatively cheap. I've used it on a Canon 5D, Sony A7 and currently the Olympus EM-1 Mkll. The only lens that is always in my bag.

[–] ggfchl@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Nikon 18-140mm. Lots of range. It's the one I almost always use.

[–] Graviton_Surge@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

24-120 F4. All in one for Nikon

[–] BewareOfLurkers@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Call it a copout answer, but since OP didn’t specify it has to be real:

12-400mm f/2 fisheye macro tilt-shift with interdimensional optics that allow the whole thing to be packaged for the size of an 85mm f/1.8. Metal mount, metal filter threads, 3 stop image stabilization, and optically sharp corner to corner even wide open.

[–] lordskelic@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Either my Nikon 80-200 ED or 85 1.8G

[–] soldmysoultoleica@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

24-90

[–] japppasta@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Helios 58mm

[–] RRG-Chicago@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Probably a zeiss 50mm f/1.4

[–] _Jordan11_@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Sigma 18-35 f1.8, so crispy!

[–] Pentaxian_Sorciere@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

My 50mm 1.2 for Nikon. A tank, a dream, a delight.

[–] TheRuggedGeek@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Some 28mm equivalent f/2 (or faster) lens.

[–] zkhw@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

The pancake Canon RF 15-600 f/1.2, but apparently Canon hasn't released it yet.

[–] rellabopper@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Helios 44m 58mm f/2, best lens i've ever used

[–] suchstreet@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

5-5000 f0.5

[–] CrunchyCondom@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

honestly the 24-105 f4L is an extremely versatile lens, with image stabilization. i have much more expensive lenses but always come back to this one.

[–] rodneedermeyer@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Schneider-Kreuznach 35mm f3.5I love me some standard/wide glass. Granted, it’s not very wide in 35mm format, but it’s oh-so-lovely.

[–] ConstantineSid@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

My Canon 100-400mm Mk II Honorable mention Canon 70-200 f/2.8 MkII Canon 200mm f/1.8

[–] sharingsilently@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Nikon 80-200, 2.8, ED, zoom, extraordinary glass, hyper clear and built like a tank.

[–] Ok-Cook-9608@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

85mm 1.2

[–] mrich1002@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

50mm f/1.2 with no doubt

[–] trikster_online@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Nikkor 55/1.2 AI. It’s my most used lens.

[–] Impressive-Nobody-95@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

XF50mm F1.0WR

[–] DrFrankenstein90@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

35 mm prime. Anywhere between f/1 and f/2.8, I don't care which, just let me keep one.

[–] bobchin_c@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Probably a Sigma 50-500. While it's not the sharpest lens around, it would be the most versatile.

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