What's your favorite DSLR lenses?

Here are the Most popular DSLR lenses

arranged them in three categories - Canon, Nikon and Other based on popularity.
How do you think of this list? What's your favorite DSLR lense? is it on the top line?

 

I shoot with Canon and have 2 lenses on that list (the 50mm 1.8 and the 10-22mm). I also have the 28-135mm IS and the 70-300mm IS.

As far as my favorite I'd have to go with the 10-22mm but I probably use the 70-300 the most. I'll likely upgrade my 50mm to the 1.4 at some point.

 

So what makes fixed aperture lenses better? I understand that it typically suggests higher quality, but again, why?

 

you mean fixed focal length (primes)?

primarily because fewer moving parts = higher quality. Also there aren't many "consumer grade" primes to muddy their reputation.

 

I know what DSLs are, but what's the R for?

 

I don't fully get primes yet, but no, fixed aperture. f/2.8, f/4. I get that primes are going to have a fixed aperture, but why a 35-70 f/4 is better than a 35-70 f/4-5.6.

 

digital single-lens "reflex"


It means a camera which has a single lens where incoming light is reflected into the viewfinder.

 

Fixed aperture= expensive to make glass
Variable aperture = not as expensive to manufacture and generally the lens has looser(sp?) tolerances.

 

the short answer is so that (in the above example) you can use f/4 @ 70mm

 

Yeah, I get that traditionally a lower aperture number is better, and generally better quality. Just seemed like in that same range, there wouldn't be as much difference as there is. I get that you wouldn't want to lose a full stop over the range, but there was also considered to be a marked difference in a 35-70 f4 v/s a 35-70 f3.5-4.5 where you'd figure it'd be more similar.

I'm reading up on old Konica Minolta lenses, and most of the recommended legacy lenses are constant aperture, which is what prompted the question (as in the example, the best zooms are f4, 35-70 f4, 100-200 f4, which I imagine is good enough and each run around $50-100(!))

More toward topic, I snagged one of the lenses in the original post with my initial purchase.