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A little research on shooting range - please help!

CatoCato Registered Users Posts: 287 Major grins
edited October 30, 2008 in Cameras
On a non-photog forum I'm a member of, we've gotten into a little bit of a debate over what lens focal length is most useful. It's regarding fixed-lens P&S cameras, so there's no chance to change the built-in lens.

So, I'd like to ask you kind and accomplished picture-takers, what focal length range do you find most useful?

Some examples:

Wider than 28mm
28mm-70mm
70mm-150mm
150mm-300mm
Longer than 300mm
Thank you for participating!!! :barb
http://catographer.smugmug.com/

Shooter on a shoestring.

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    dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    My walk around lens is 18-85.
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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    bandgeekndbbandgeekndb Registered Users Posts: 284 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    I find myself loving the 18-55 that came with my D40 for just about everything.

    Although, if I could afford it, I'd love the flexibility of the 18-200 from Nikon. Past 200, the only thing I'd use it for is nature or sports, which are specialties, not the norm for me.

    I do find myself missing the wide end when I have my 55-200 on the camera, and vice versa, but I can't afford the 18-200 right now. Maybe if I sell the other 2 in the future, but oh well.
    Nikon D7000, D90

    Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8
    Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 50mm f/1.8
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    swintonphotoswintonphoto Registered Users Posts: 1,664 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    I find the 35mm equivalent range of 28mm to 100mm is where I shoot about 80% of my images. This translates into different focal lengths for different crop cameras. However, I feel limited without being able to go as wide as 28mm, and without being able to go out to 100mm.

    So, my 4/3 lens that I use the most is the 14-54mm. On the 2x crop factor it works very well reaching the 35mm equivalent range of 28-108mm.
    Jonathan
    http://www.jonathanswinton.com
    http://www.swintoncounseling.com
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    jasonstonejasonstone Registered Users Posts: 735 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    I have 18-200mm (35mm equiv 27-300mm) and use most of the range although could probably live with 18-135mm (27-200mm)

    I couldn't live without wide angle but likewise I couldn't live without telezoom :D
    Jase // www.stonesque.com
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    ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 23,826 moderator
    edited October 29, 2008
    In 35mm equivalent, my most used range is in the 28-80mm range and my most used apertures are f2.8 - f5.6.

    I did find a way to adapt some nice Nikon converter lenses to my FujiFim FinePix F30 to give it the equivalent to:

    24mm approx. FOV at wide end using the Nikon WC-E63
    A little over 200mm approx. FOV at tele end using the Nikon TC-E2

    I'd rather not go into detail about how I use the converter lenses because I'm not really happy about the way it works physically, but optically I like the results.

    To summarize, I guess I'm saying that the range from 24mm to 200mm FOV in 35mm equivalence is what seems to make me happiest. (I also had that on the Minolta DiMage A2 using an accessory WA lens, the ACW-100.)
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
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    geospatial_junkiegeospatial_junkie Registered Users Posts: 707 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    :D I like my 5mm-600mm lens as my walk around....

    Seriously though, I find myself using my 24-70mm most of the time.
    "They've done studies you know. Sixty-percent of the time, it works every time."

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    PhotoskipperPhotoskipper Registered Users Posts: 453 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    Most use 24-105 for 5D FF and 18-200 for my 300D (1.6 crop)

    Consider the range of 35 to 100 will be the most useful range for everyday use
    Photoskipper
    flickr.com/photos/photoskipper/
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    jdryan3jdryan3 Registered Users Posts: 1,353 Major grins
    edited October 29, 2008
    Cato wrote:
    So, I'd like to ask you kind and accomplished picture-takers, what focal length range do you find most useful?

    Easy enough! How about the the focal length that best captures the image I want, without having to over crop mwink.gif

    What is my favorite general purpose lens? I carry the 24-70m f/2.8 on my 5D as the walkaround setup. I also carry or will put on the 70-200 as my primary lens depending upon the circumstances. Favorite prime AND my favorite low-light? 35 f/1.4.
    "Don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to. Oh well."
    -Fleetwood Mac
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    ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,911 moderator
    edited October 29, 2008
    I guess the answer depends on what I'm shooting. If it's surf, then between 300-500 is a good choice.
    But if I'm doing the landscape thing, something in the 24-105 ish range covers a lot of stuff.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
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    Tee WhyTee Why Registered Users Posts: 2,390 Major grins
    edited October 30, 2008
    In 35mm film format, which most are used to, a "normal" zoom is commonly used for general purpose shooting.
    They tend to range from 28-100 or so. Canon has several in this range including a 24-70, 28-90 IIRC, 28-105, 28-135, and 24-105.
    My Gallery
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    CatoCato Registered Users Posts: 287 Major grins
    edited October 30, 2008
    Thank you for all the responses! :D
    http://catographer.smugmug.com/

    Shooter on a shoestring.
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    ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,911 moderator
    edited October 30, 2008
    Cato wrote:
    Thank you for all the responses! :D

    No problem thumb.gif

    I'll add that it's more about how you fill the frame with what you have. Marc M. mentioned this and I thought it was very appropriate in response to a question about the best lens to use for a given subject.
    Especially when you have a good zoom to do it with.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
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