1, 2 or more lenses?

[rya]

Say you have a set budget for lenses that is roughly equal to the cost of your ideal lens, or enough to cover several other pieces of camera equipment if you sacrifice some quality or red dots. Assume you have one body on which you plan to mount the lens(es) you own. Which option would you select?

A) Own the one lens and use only it (likely your favorite 35 or 50).
B) Split the wealth and buy two lenses for diversity (e.g. 35/75, 28/50)
C) Divide the money even more ways to have three or more lenses, or perhaps even another body and the like.

With theory and practice being different, please give your theory. I do not doubt that most users here own multiple lenses, even if they started out as one-body-one-lens types. What the question really asks is whether you rangefinder users value having ‘that one lens’ more than a sampling of a lot.

I’m not asking this to figure out some sort of buying quandary, but I of course do have lenses that I could fill the spots with in this questionnaire.

 

[rya]

Another note--I might've been better off to speak in terms of focal length instead of lenses. For example, many buy the 35 Nokton and Color Skopar combo and consider it a package.

 

[shimokita]

if just starting out then maybe I would select multiple less expensive lenses to find out what focal length you want to work with, and then look for a good quality at a fair price. You still have the multiple less expensive glass until you can afford other FLs.

If you know what you like based on your experience, then no problem to go for one good quality lens at a reasonable price.

Casey

 

[andredossantos]

Unless you're doing this for money buy that one lens you're lusting after and just learn to adapt it to the situation. You may miss some shots, find yourself in a less than ideal situation sometimes but 90% of the time you'll be enjoying your lens.

Secondly, if you buy all the other lenses you won't be fully satistfied and will go ahead and buy the one you truly wanted anyway thereby spending much more in the long run.

 

[back alley]

you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince/princess...

 

[MikeL]

On a budget, I let my needs drive my tools. Therefore, I focus on figuring out the needs first, and the decision between quality and/or number of different focal lengths takes care of itself.

 

[k.a]

with a tight budget i would go for one lens.

many lenses is always fun but i rather have one good lens then many crappy ones

 

[rxmd]

you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince/princess...

The problem in the world of photo gear nerddom is that today you kiss your frog, tomorrow you're happy with your princess, and the day after tomorrow she looks like a frog again and the next frog begins to appear around the corner.

 

[Gazzah]

Dont want to sound perverse...

Dont want to sound perverse...

but sometimes kissing the frog s is half the fun !

The problem in the world of photo gear nerddom is that today you kiss your frog, tomorrow you're happy with your princess, and the day after tomorrow she looks like a frog again and the next frog begins to appear around the corner.

 

[glchua]

One good lens and work around it's limitation. However, like someone had mentioned, if the photography style is still maturing, a couple may be better.

 

[Sparrow]

you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince/princess...

c'est si vrai, même aujourd'hui 😀

 

[tbarker13]

So much of this depends on your style of shooting. Some people never use telephotos. Others never use wide angles.
For me, I would have to own at least two lenses. Something in the range of a 35 and 90.
Having one or the other (or a compromise between the two) would cost many shots that I'd like to take. I don't want to work around the limitations of a single lens. I want the right tool for the job.
Fortunately, for the cost of the ideal Leica lens, you can easily pick up a couple "less than ideal" lenses by leica, zeiss, CV, etc. that will perform quite nicely.

 

[ferider]

Same here, 35/75-90. Plus, if I really wanted only a single lens, I would give up Leicas alltogether. The Hexar AF does a better job, IMO.

 

[tbarker13]

I bought a 50mm because it was the one of two I could afford. Years later, when I had the money, I got the 35mm. Would rather save up and get what I want, instead of settling.

I guess there are multiple ways to look at it. I never view any of my lens choices as settling - but rather another step down this photographic path.
There are just so many nice lenses out there. You almost have to work to find one that's just bad.
And the nice thing is that if you buy used, you can generally get your money back if/when you decide to make a change.

 

[Chris101]

I have some camera systems with a bunch of lenses. But I have only one lens for my RF camera. In my mind, the purpose of my RF camera is to take pictures fast, and without spending much time making technical decisions. Having only one lens means I never need to decide which lens to use. It's liberating.

Lately, I have been using a Nikon FG for that same purpose. Because it has P mode, I never need to make exposure decisions. But it does have a zoom lens (43-86) on it, so I have the added decision of pushing or pulling on the lens. Or I could use the N80 with the 50 AF in P mode and remove everything except where to point it from my responsibility.

Dang - look what you've done! Now I can't even decide which camera to use, let alone lens. 😉

 

[kxl]

So, to ask it another way, if I had one camera body and $2000, would I buy one lens or two lenses (maybe 1 at $800 and the other at $1200), or more?

The answer is: it depends. IF I HAVE TO spend the $2000 on lenses, then I would likely buy 2 lenses. But if I DON'T HAVE TO sped the entire sum on lenses, then I would likely just buy 1 lens at $800 and use the $1200 for a nice weekend.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

There are good reasons (real, physical ones) for using more than one lens. And there are different good reasons (real, physical ones too) for using more than one body.

We decide our own limits... The brand or price we pick, as long as it's OK, is not what limits us.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[kzphoto]

I'd rather buy one lens I really wanted. In the interim, buy something to get by and then save, save, save.

 

[back alley]

So, to ask it another way, if I had one camera body and $2000, would I buy one lens or two lenses (maybe 1 at $800 and the other at $1200), or more?

The answer is: it depends. IF I HAVE TO spend the $2000 on lenses, then I would likely buy 2 lenses. But if I DON'T HAVE TO sped the entire sum on lenses, then I would likely just buy 1 lens at $800 and use the $1200 for a nice weekend.

1200 on a WEEKEND!!!???

not on my pay garde...but have fun 🙂

 

[back alley]

I guess there are multiple ways to look at it. I never view any of my lens choices as settling - but rather another step down this photographic path.
There are just so many nice lenses out there. You almost have to work to find one that's just bad.
And the nice thing is that if you buy used, you can generally get your money back if/when you decide to make a change.

exactly!
i have bought and sold and tried so many lenses and bodies that some might call me a fondler...but i say fk'em as i am now the one will all the real life experiences with this gear and have MADE MY CHOICES based on what makes me happy and satisfies me.