The top 5 lenses I currently use most from my kit.

I was wondering which lenses and focal lengths I use mostly in my photography, and I’ve highlighted the top 5 in this article by looking at my meta-data from the last three months shoots. These are the lenses I use the most, for the photography I do, so it will be very different to your usage. I’ll fully describe what the usage is for each lens as I go through the list, from number 5 to buy l number 1.

5. 7Artisans 14mm F/2.8

This is a new lens in my collection, but I’ve used it a lot in the last few weeks of owning it. I reviewed the lens here, and it continues to impress me. I use the lens for general architecture and street work, although I intend to start trying to take some portraits with the lens too, as I think it would be great for this sort of thing.

4. Nikkor 24-70mm F/4

The 24-70mm is my standard, grab-a-lens piece of kit for when I’m not using a prime lens. Usually it’ll be just out and about, or in areas I haven’t been before. It’s a clinically sharp perfect lens for the everyday photography. It’s small and light and covers everything you need it to. I only have two zoom lenses in my kit (which you can always see an up to date list here), and this one gets used by far the most. It is also a lens that I am thinking of updating, and I am thinking of moving to a Nikkor Z 24-120 F/4. Time will tell!

3. Nikkor 35mm F/1.4

The Nikkor 35mm F/1.4, just like it’s partner, the Nikkor 50mm F/1.4 (which came in 6th on this list) is one of three main lenses that I use for weddings, portraits and events. I absolutely love the images that the lens produces. At F/1.4 the images look otherworldly and have a vibe all to themselves. It is certainly a lens I want to use much more in the future as it has character that so many other lenses are missing.

2. Viltrox 85mm F/1.8

This is a lens I use a lot for portraits, weddings and events. It’s a lens that just works for the things and the images I want, and it always impresses me when I look at the screen afterwards. As a general walk around lens I find it quite difficult to use (I did use it as my only lens for a month once!), but for everything else it is simply stunning and the one lens I will leave on when I’m changing the lenses on my other camera. Because of the way I use the lens and what I use it for, I am actually thinking of replacing it with an F/1.4 lens, which will then complete my F/1.4 trilogy (with the 35mm F/1.4 and the 50mm F/1.4).

1. Nikkor 40mm F/2

Of course, as it lives almost exclusively on my Nikon ZF, and it’s my favourite focal length (as talked about here), there is a reason why this lens is my most used lens. I can never fault it as a lens, it’s more than sharp enough, great in low light, it has fast autofocus and it produces wonderful images. I use this lens for everything, literally everything, and if I could only have one lens, this is the lens it would be 

Conclusion

Although I have only looked at my lenses I use mostly from the last three months, the list is pretty consistent and it is because of the subjects that I photograph. Two of the five lenses listed are used for when I’m working with weddings, portraits and events, while the other three are used for everyday photography.

You’ll find examples of all these lenses in the blog section of this website, where you can search specifically for articles featuring these lenses.