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05-16-2010, 11:01 AM   #1
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Ned Bunnell: The ultimate compact prime kit?

In Ned's latest blogpost, he asks which three lenses people thought he would bring to photograph the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii. The correct answer was quickly guessed:
  • DA15mm ltd
  • DA35mm ltd macro
  • FA77mm ltd
To me, this seems like the ideal all-round, compact prime kit, suitable for most photographic purposes. What's your opinion?

05-16-2010, 11:07 AM   #2
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The answer was quickly found because Ned Bunnel has well known tastes.
Some would tell you that there is not such thing as an ideal compact prime kit. With this particular one, I guess you can cover most use cases. It's mainly a matter of taste. For example, 77 is not long enough for me I would prefer a CV 180 Apo Lanthar as a tele for an all rounder prime kit.
05-16-2010, 11:50 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by EricT Quote
In Ned's latest blogpost, he asks which three lenses people thought he would bring to photograph the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii. The correct answer was quickly guessed:
  • DA15mm ltd
  • DA35mm ltd macro
  • FA77mm ltd
To me, this seems like the ideal all-round, compact prime kit, suitable for most photographic purposes. What's your opinion?
That's actually exactly the kit I am planning on bringing with me on my next trip, albeit to Vegas not Hawaii
05-16-2010, 12:10 PM   #4
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In addtion...

I'd include the DA 55-300 and consider leaving the 77 at the hotel. I was on the Acropolis in Athens recently and was very glad I had it along. In fact, it was my most used lens. Its range is great for isolating details and getting that special shot you will never find on a postcard.

...my 2 cents...

BTW: My everyday walk-around on that trip was the DA 35 mounted on the K7 (or Kx) and a DA 15 in my left vest pocket and a DA 70 in the right. My vest is a black http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/New_Travel_Vest.shtml so there was no need for a camera/lens day-bag.


Last edited by Michaelina2; 05-16-2010 at 12:33 PM. Reason: add BTW
05-16-2010, 12:22 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Zav Quote
The answer was quickly found because Ned Bunnel has well known tastes.
Some would tell you that there is not such thing as an ideal compact prime kit. With this particular one, I guess you can cover most use cases. It's mainly a matter of taste. For example, 77 is not long enough for me I would prefer a CV 180 Apo Lanthar as a tele for an all rounder prime kit.
The Lanthar is a very fine looking lens! Not as fast as the 77mm, though, so you'd give up some low-light capability.
05-16-2010, 12:24 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by EricT Quote
The Lanthar is a very fine looking lens! Not as fast as the 77mm, though, so you'd give up some low-light capability.
Then I'll trade the DA 35 for my FA31
05-16-2010, 12:25 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Michaelina2 Quote
I'd include the DA 55-300 and consider leaving the 77 at the hotel. I was on the Acropolis in Athens recently and was very glad I had it along. In fact, it was my most used lens. Its range is great for isolating details and getting that special shot you will never find on a postcard.

...my 2 cents...
Interesting to use a zoom at the longer end. I've seen many do the opposite and choose a wide-angle zoom. Although that may be because nobody has made a 10mm prime yet. In either case, you loose some of the compactness, and in your case, some of the speed.

05-16-2010, 12:35 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Zav Quote
Then I'll trade the DA 35 for my FA31
Ah, but then what about macro? (You walked right into that one)
05-16-2010, 12:40 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by EricT Quote
Ah, but then what about macro? (You walked right into that one)
I know, but I am not a macro guy
And when I want to do macro, I have a much better lens than the DA35, ah ah. But it's not a compact one (this discussion can be endless).
05-16-2010, 02:33 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by EricT Quote
In Ned's latest blogpost, he asks which three lenses people thought he would bring to photograph the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii. The correct answer was quickly guessed:
  • DA15mm ltd
  • DA35mm ltd macro
  • FA77mm ltd
To me, this seems like the ideal all-round, compact prime kit, suitable for most photographic purposes. What's your opinion?
.


It's what I've been saying for a while now.



.
05-16-2010, 02:47 PM   #11
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I would go with:

D-FA 100mm WR macro
FA 31mm ltd
Da 15mm ltd

though it is not that light weight kit
05-16-2010, 03:04 PM   #12
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I like the pancakes. The DA 40 blows my mind.
05-16-2010, 03:09 PM   #13
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Lose speed?

QuoteOriginally posted by EricT Quote
Interesting to use a zoom at the longer end. I've seen many do the opposite and choose a wide-angle zoom. Although that may be because nobody has made a 10mm prime yet. In either case, you loose some of the compactness, and in your case, some of the speed.
No way... the Acropolis in bright daylight is minus-EV land. The 55-300's speed is perfectly suited for the setting. In NB's case, I have a hard time imagining Hawaii's daylight being much different.

As to compactness... The 55-300 was mounted on the camera going in with a DA 15 and DA 35 iin my vest's pockets. Its pockets are very deep and can accommodate the 55-300 easily when I swapped it out. I have not conducted an evaluation of my lens use, but I bet many shots were close to 300mm. If there was any question about Greek engineering and craftsmanship in 500BC, I can prove they were pretty darn good. That story would be very difficult to tell, if I were restricted to the DA 15, or 35, and impossible with a 10mm prime. Granted the 55-300 may sound counter-intuitive in this setting, but it worked me. Try it... you may like it too.

Cheers...
05-16-2010, 07:56 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by jsherman999 Quote
.


It's what I've been saying for a while now.



.

Yes I know.

"....15,35,77....ultimate......and no other correspondance will be entered into" i think is what you said in the forum over on the other side (the black one that blocks the URLs).

Its your "fault" that I have a DA15. Thanks BTW .
05-16-2010, 08:23 PM   #15
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I'm still running with the DA 21mm ltd, DA 35mm ltd, FA 50mm f1.4 (sharing time with the A 50mm f1.2) and FA 77mm ltd. If I need a long ball hitter I break out the DA* 300mm. That along with the Sigma 105mm EX DG is my AF lineup.
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