If I could use just one lens…
That’d be, without a doubt, the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 for Sony E Mount. But really, any super zoom would do for me.
I don’t even have to go to a desert island to make this choice: since I bought it 6 months ago, it’s pretty much replaced other lenses I thought had a permanent spot in my camera bag. More specifically, a couple of Tamron zooms, the 28-75mm f/2.8 and the 70-180mm f/2.8. These two are, objectively, better in almost every way when compared to the super zoom. So why do I choose the worse option?
For me, it’s all about versatility and flexibility. I can have the same range in one lens instead of two, at almost half the weight and less than half the price. This offsets the benefits of the faster lenses, at least for my needs.
I usually carry a lot of gear with me, not just for photography but also to make my YouTube videos. My camera bag can get very heavy and, if I’m not careful, it can hurt me or at the very minimum make me feel exhausted, with no energy left for photography.
Because some times I need a little bit more, I like to pair it with a couple of fast prime lenses (my choices are the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 and Samyang 85mm f/1.4). These three lens are all I need for most of my photography, in almost any situation and condition.
when less is more
Super zoom lenses are often dismissed because they are, supposedly, inferior lenses. And they might be, when it comes to sheer image quality. But the way I see this (again, for my specific needs) is: better to get a slightly less sharp image than no image at all because I had to turn around due to the excessive weight in my backpack.
This is also the reason why I love using compact cameras: I am very aware they aren’t the best cameras I could use, but they are the best cameras I can fit in my pocket.
what about you?
I’d love to know which lens you’d choose, if you could only keep one. I figure your answers would be very different depending on what you photograph. So, which one?
new images
new videos
I love fog. Fog is very important for my photography, as it creates the atmosphere and the mystery I look for with my images.
As you can imagine, being able to predict (or at least have some degree of confidence) where and when fog happens can make a big difference. That’s why I always keep an eye on some key numbers that are a good indicator of possible mist.
I'm back home after the trip to the Pyrenees, and I'm back photographing in the fog. This day, I had only an hour before having to go run some errands, but I still wanted to sneak in some photography. I ended up being late to my appointments, but I think it was worth it.
I've been having a lot of fun with my bike lately. My bike and my camera, that is: they are almost the perfect marriage. This is Visual Diaries episode 3.
This newsletter, in video form.
A couple of quick notes:
The Image of the Month is back! This is a collection of prints I release in a monthly basis (or I try to, at least). I love seeing my very favorite images printed on a beautiful Hahmemule German Etching paper.
Last night, I hosted my second livestream over on Patreon. I’ve also started to give shout-outs to my patrons in my YouTube videos. If you want to support my work, this is a good way to do so!
This is all for this week, thank you for tuning in again. Hope you have a great one!
Adrian