[ChristianRock]

This isn't about a particular lens... this is about what is the focal length you use the most - and your favorite as well if it's actually different from what you end up using he most (like a portrait photographer might use short tele the most, but really loves a 35mm/FFEq the most).

For me it's around 50mm on APS-C on both... I end up using it the most. Even when I have my DA 16-45 on, I use it a lot on 45mm which is close enough. So I guess that's around 75mm in terms of full frame.

I thought of this thread when I went out yesterday to take pictures during my lunch walk with a 24mm lens on my K10D and TWO 50mm lenses on my jacket pockets... (one a f1.4, and the other an f4 Macro...)

30mm is my 2nd most used focal length (was 35mm before I got the Sigma, that's also close enough as well). Again, on APS-C.

What about your?

[edom31]

Great topic!

Favorite and most used both vary... Also, digital I only shoot APS-C


Digital:

Right now, my favorite FL is 100-105mm; my most used is 50mm and 35mm.

Film:
Most used is 45-58mm; Favorite is 55-58mm (thank you Russian glass).

For "real" Macro:
On the field my favorite FL is 100mm as it allows distance. At home in controlled environment, 50mm.

[luftfluss]

Depends on the time of the year

I guess for me overall my most used focal length is circa 500mm. I have a number of long teles* I enjoy using, and wildlife is my favorite genre.



*native focal lengths ranging from 300mm to 600mm, and then there are TC's...

[Qman]

On APSC, 14mm and 200mm. I guess I just like the more extreme views. But 300mm is much less used.

[BarryE]

On FF, I'm thinking ... OK, I'd say between 15mm and 200 mm. Sorry.

For me it's an impossible ask as I keep on changing my mind as my mood and job changes ...

[Fluegel]

The 50 mm Macro A lens, manual focus, is glued to my K5.
If not I use the 100 mm Macro version.
AF is seldom used.

[bertwert]

Definitely 21mm. The 21 Ltd is such a great lens, it's barely been off my camera since I got it!

[Benz3ne]

The 50 mm Macro A lens, manual focus, is glued to my K5.
Of not I use the 100 mm Macro version.
AF is seldom used.

Beautiful choices. I'm particularly fond of the SMC-A 50mm f/2.8 Macro, too. Manual focus for the most part here, also!

To OP: I'd probably say around the 40-55mm range. I know it's non-specific, really, but I've a few lenses that fit this criteria.

[aaacb]

18.3mm on apsc, 28mm equivalent (GR III). Second favorite is 45mm equivalent, I end up around this equivalent focal length with my 16-85 quite often with apsc digital and also on film with the fa 43 and a film rangefinder.

[thazooo]

On film I always liked a little wide normal, 35 to 40mm range. I shoot APS-C now it's a 20 to 30mm range. Just slightly wide.

[Sir Nameless]

For me it's around 50mm on APS-C

I'm right there with you. I recently took a look at some stats from my 18-135 (this is a mix of keepers and those I have yet to cull) and I found a significant spike around 50 mm. I also have big spikes at the extreme ends, not really surprising I guess. Looking at all lenses, I have spikes at the prime FL's I own or have owned (35, 50, 100) as you'd expect, but 50mm is still fairly high.

Maybe I like the look of short-tele landscapes, or something? I feel the need to go home now and see what I'm capturing at 50mm.

Thanks for bringing this up, interesting to think about.

[ChristianRock]

On FF, I'm thinking ... OK, I'd say between 15mm and 200 mm. Sorry.

For me it's an impossible ask as I keep on changing my mind as my mood and job changes ...

Some software like Lightroom can help you with that, it should give you a way of grouping your pictures by focal length...

[ChristianRock]

Definitely 21mm. The 21 Ltd is such a great lens, it's barely been off my camera since I got it!

How long have you had it? And were you a wide angle shooter before that?

[MossyRocks]

I would probably say that my favorite focal length is 400mm but that is because there are a lot of things in the night sky that frame up nicely at that. However my most used is probably 50mm or 300mm which are more a function of lenses I have at each.

[ChristianRock]

I'm right there with you. I recently took a look at some stats from my 18-135 (this is a mix of keepers and those I have yet to cull) and I found a significant spike around 50 mm. I also have big spikes at the extreme ends, not really surprising I guess. Looking at all lenses, I have spikes at the prime FL's I own or have owned (35, 50, 100) as you'd expect, but 50mm is still fairly high.

Maybe I like the look of short-tele landscapes, or something? I feel the need to go home now and see what I'm capturing at 50mm.

Thanks for bringing this up, interesting to think about.

I also enjoy short tele landscapes... as someone who admired Ansel Adams before I even started taking pictures, those he took in that range always seemed the most majestic to me.

Regarding peaks at the common focal lengths, it's interesting how that happens isn't it? Maybe it's because we are used to how these focal lengths frame the pictures (for lack of a better term, in my mind what I'm trying to describe is accurate ). For example, with my DA 16-45 I was surprised at how many times I stopped at exactly 23mm (which is pretty much exactly 35mm in, well 35mm terms ). I didn't do it on purpose, it just happened that way.

Some excellent thoughts from you and the other people who replied so far