As I sit here cleaning and organizing my lens collection, I’m thinking about which lenses are the foundation of my photography. Sometimes for simplicity and frugality’s sake, I wish I could start my photography life over. If I could travel through time and space back on my photography path, here are the lenses I would tell the newbie me to focus on first. I think these are the types of lenses every DSLR owner should have.
Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro
This is not your typical macro lens. With the Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro you have a lens that is two in one. It is ideal for portraits and macro photography. Having the Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro will give you a great deal of flexibility and beautiful images. This lens also has optical stabilization. On top of this, this lens has fantastic sharpness and color reproduction.
Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Lens
Every photographer needs an all-around lens, the one lens to rule them all. The Sigma 24-105mm F4 is not a specialty lens; it can do a little bit of everything. If you are working and event, or just out for a photo walk a lens like this fits in. It works out especially well if you only can work with one camera body and one lens.
A 50mm F1.4
Every photographer should have a 50mm f1.4. This lens is fast and sharp and works in almost every situation. This lens makes the ideal back up lens or a fantastic primary one. It all depends on what you want to do. Over all I believe a photographer should carry a 50mm at all times. It adds a sense of security to your daily shooting. Take it from a person who dropped a lens. Almost every camera manufacturer makes a 50mm f1.4. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than the 50 f1.8, but that little extra expense is well worth it.
A 20mm f2.8
One day every photographer gets the itch to do a landscape photo or a wide angle shot. Having the right lens helps. While 24mm is decent, 20mm is fantastic. As a prime lens, it will have less distortion and more versatility. This lens is also small and easy to carry on a long walk. When you are not using this lens, you can pack it away easily. A 20mm lens is also nice to have around when you just want to change your perspective for a bit. This is another lens that many companies make.