Which TWO Lenses?

[Mike Farley]

At The Online Photographer, Mike Johnston asks if you were restricted to just two lenses, which would they be?

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.co ... -mike.html

On the face of it, this is a gear question. I see it as something different, the way we see and the way we use our cameras. Analysing the results of my 365 project a few years ago, the most intensive period of photography I have undertaken and am likely to undertake, I realised that many of my photographs that year were taken within a relatively narrow range of focal lengths. Specifically, my most used lenses were the two standard zooms I had for my Canon 7D and Panasonic G3*. The full frame equivalents would be focal lengths between 28 and 90. I also know that I do not use wide-angles that often, but occasionally need something longer than 90. It is to do with removing complexity in an image, which is consistent with the the Gestalt Law of Simplicity. Our brains cannot cope with too much clutter which wide-angles tend to introduce. Specifically, my brain usually finds it easier to avoid the compositional challenges imposed by shorter focal lengths.

For those who have Lightroom, it is straightforward to use the Metadata function to determine which lenses and focal lengths you use most often. The result might surprise you. I know that it did for me.

* I used two cameras as I preferred the more compact and lighter G3 as my walkabout camera. At that stage, I did not have the confidence or knowledge to realise that I could leave most of my gear at home and not miss too many shots. Even so, I still find the combination of my Canon 7D and 17-55 f/2.8 EF-s lens, fine combination though that it is for image quality, has too much bulk in quite a few circumstances.

[GrahamL]

Hi Mike,

Interesting question. I'd approach the subject from a slightly different direction. Deciding which lens on the focal length you prefer to shoot in/find more successful.

I've kept a log since joining the club of the image details of those pictures put forward to the club competitions. Splitting the focal range format into 4 groups; Wide (<36mm),Standard (36-69mm), Short Tele (70-200mm) and long tel (>200mm) I've produced the following table from images put forward to the DPI and print rounds (excluding the one-off competitions and the final).

% images in this focal range Sep. 2014 - Jan. 2017 (round 4)
<36mm 36-69mm 70-200mm >200mm Number Images
PRINT 20% 11% 36% 33% 45
DPI 11% 13% 36% 40% 45

Total 16% 12% 36% 36% 90
Note that this includes both half-frame and full-frame camera bodies and an increasing number of lenses, the focal length has been adjusted for those taken on half-frame bodies.

The finding that over 70% of the images that I judge are good enough for club competition use are taken at a greater focal length greater than 70mm greatly reflects my preference of portrait and street photography. If I did more landscape I'm sure it would be quite different. That said, for me I'd prefer to have a lens on me that covers up to 85mm. ideally, if carrying two lenses, one should go up to 200mm. How wide is more tricky. Probably 24mm. In practice this is usually as one multi-zoom or one zoom and one prime (less heavy). If feeling strong or need the firepower, two zooms plus. The other factor that comes into play at this time of the year is the quality of light. I'm often carrying at least one f1.8 prime when I'm out into the evening at the moment.

What I'm trying to say is that much depends on the photographer's style, the type of subject he's expecting to shoot that day, and of course how much room/weight he's got available for the camera gear. If pushed I'll just have my small Fuji XE-2 with the kit 18-55mm f/2.8-4 zoom and a single prime.

Graham (Land)

[Mike Farley]

Mike Johnston has just answered his own question in a recent post at The Online Photographer.

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.co ... acker.html

There's an interesting quote of the day in that article, as well. I am not sure that I agree with it, but then I prefer to shoot a variety of subjects.

Coming back to the two lens question, if so restricted I would probably opt for a couple of zooms. Given my current preference towards Fuji, that would translate into the 18-55 f/2.8-4 and the 50-140 f/2.8. The former is small and convenient, the latter large and heavy. Both are good lenses, the telephoto zoom especially, but its bulk means that it often gets left at home when I want to stay light.

What I'm trying to say is that much depends on the photographer's style, the type of subject he's expecting to shoot that day, and of course how much room/weight he's got available for the camera gear. If pushed I'll just have my small Fuji XE-2 with the kit 18-55mm f/2.8-4 zoom and a single prime.

I do agree that with that first sentence. I also find that in practice that I often tend to favour the mid-range zoom and prime strategy. Last Saturday on the RPS London Region walk around Greenwich, I mainly used the same setup as Graham, Fuji X-E2 and 18-55. It is a versatile and compact combination which covers most situations I encounter and produces good results. For the Greenwich Market shot, I switched to an Olympus E-M10 and Panaleica 25 f/1.4, shooting at f/2. That is my usual street photography kit. The lens gives very good results and I can focus and fire the camera held at waist level using the flip out touch screen. Hey, no one said the two lenses had to be for the same camera.