Tell us your trinity of lenses.

Eduard

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Recently moved to FX. My current trinity is:

  • Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM II
  • Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR
When I was shooting DX, my trinity was:

  • Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
  • Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX
  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR
In both setups, the mid-range lens is used nearly 90% of the time. I rarely shoot long so the 70-300 works well for my style. It is an under-appreciated performer.

I decided to add my CX trinity too:

  • 1 NIKKOR 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
  • 1 NIKKOR 18.5mm f/1.8
  • 1 NIKKOR 10-100mm f/4.0-5.6 VR
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
Chito said:
Very interesting choice of lenses. :)
Click to expand...

its what the pocket allowed at that time. I wanted to get back into wedding photography, but couldnt afford new lenses. did my research. the set is very good for IQ. maybe not the last word in gear but certainly very competent gear for a photographer who has talent.

I will upgrade the Tamron 17-35. I did consider the nikkor 16-35VR and while f/4 is ok, VR isnt useful for me since I shoot moving objects. the 14-24, too heavy for my pocket. the 17-35 isnt so sharp and the price is crazy for a 10YO lens. the tokina is the logical choice. $650 and another $100 for 3 years of all risk warranty with mack. I also dont like using WA often. its not aesthetically pleasing with people in it. but for dramatic effects and weird perspective it can do some nice things.

dont want the 24-70. I prefered the 28-70. got the tamron 28-75 as a backup.

the 70-200VR1 is fine for me and while I would like to get the VR2, the close focus is what turns me off. I cant get in tight with it like the VR1.
70-200mm AF-S VR II Lens Review by Thom Hogan

hogan talks about it in his review.

cheers.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I can't imagine having to give up my 85mm f/1.8 or my 18-140mm, and I keep toying with getting a Nikon 70-300mm, but if I could only have three I guess my short list would be composed of the following...

  • Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
  • Nikon 35mm f/1.8G
  • Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8

....
 
F

fotojack

Senior Member
This would be my "trinity" at the moment:

35 1.8
50 1.8
18-105 3.5/5.6 :)

My wishlist trinity:

Tokina 11-16
Nikon 24-70 2.8
Nikon 70-200 2.8

Just have to wait for the lottery to kick in. ;)
 
A

aroy

Senior Member
I really have two
. 35mm F1.8G DX
. 50mm F1.8 AF
and
. 18-55mm VR-II kit
The 70-300 is really bad, so not considering it.
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
oldhippy said:
Poor mans trinity
28-1.8 g
50-1.8g
85-1.8g
Click to expand...

AHA! But the image quality is stellar. better than every other zoom can do at that FL and at 2.8 onwards.

I wish I could shoot weddings with just primes. just not practical. at parts of the weddings, yes, other times when youre stressed and must get shots, you must have the flexibility.

Its always constant thought in my mind. I have to take a risk by giving up flexibility for the IQ by using a prime over a zoom. especially in tough situations like the ceremony. but if you pull it off, its like nothing else.
I could have shot this with the 70-200 but preferred the look of the 85 1.8d

ELI_6667 copy.JPG

My priority is getting the shot and documenting. then artistic, then IQ. thats how I work. Here I took a chance and it worked. also have a fisheye version but the intimate feel is not there like this image.
Im a hopeless romantic and so weddings suit me perfectly.
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Tamron 70-200 f/2.8

This is my Holy Trinity, and always in my bag. Never leave home without them.
 
E

Eyelight

Senior Member
The amazing AF-S DX VR 18-55mm 3.5G
The amazing AF-s DX VR 55-200mm 4.5G IF-ED
The amazing Af-S DX Micro 40mm 2.8G

I'm working on my optimism.
 
W

wreckdiver1321

Senior Member
My current trinity (seeing as how they're the only three I have):

Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Non-VR
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6 non-VR

My future/wishlist trinity:

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8

I don't do a lot of telephoto work :)
 
kevy73

kevy73

Senior Member
Can I only choose three???

My main go to's for a wedding are:

Nikon 24-70 f/2.8
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8
Nikon 200 f/2.0
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
I guess right now its typically pairs for usual outings, but my current trin. would have to be
24-85 VR
45 2.8 / 90 2.8 macro (depending on what I'd definitely need)
70-300 VR
and a flash (+Gary Fong noodle bowl for indoor or as a cheapo diffuser)
 
A

AxeMan - Rick S.

Senior Member
Nikon 35 f/1.8
Sigma 17-55 f/2.8
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

Yep there is a gap between 55mm and 70mm don't miss is, if needed I can flip the D7100 into crop mode and fill the gap on the fly.

Never had the need to go below 17mm and can't justify the cost for a range I don't use that often.

Future upgrades would be to replace the Sigma glass with Nikon one at a time of a course of a two year period. But don't know which one I would replace first. I would imagine the 17-55 would go first because it's on my camera most of the time.
 
V

Vincent

Senior Member
I have been working on this:

Tokina 11-16 f2.8 I (probably will use it with a Kenko TC 1.4 for FX), wanted to go to Nikon 16-35 f4, but can not justify it.
Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (dead cheap, good and not a critical range for me)
Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VRII (my most used) + TC 2.0 EIII

People do not like to see me change lenses, I'm clumsy.

But I did want this as an alternative set:
Samyang 35mm f1.4 (off the planning at the moment 28-75 is sufficient)
Nikon AFS 50mm f1.8 (great gem)
Tamron 90mm f2.8 (next lens to purchase??)

For my Konica: 24mm f2.8; 50mm f1.7 (I also have a 1.4, but do not choose it even if it is very close); 135mm f3.2
 
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