Only one lens Forever

[Hugo Zhang]

I am totally with Jim on this one. How can we stick to one lens FOREVER?

If I am forced, I will probably pick my Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 12" f/3.5 lens. It's such a brilliant lens with incredible creamy bokeh.

[Heroique]

In terms of its technical virtuosity & manageable size, no contest – my 110 XL.

Wait … let me think about this … I do love my 110 … it’s just that, well …

On second thought …

My shooting habits trump “overall lens specs,” so no contest – my 150 g claron.

Wait …

[Michael Alpert]

I cannot answer your question. I think the term that social scientists use is "sequential monogamy."

[Eric James]

The 110mm SS XL is a heck of a lens but I would choose my 150mm Apo-Sironar S based on its comparable performance, weight and size, and my frequency of use. I shoot 4X5s but if I ever graduate to 5X7 I wouldn't want something as wide as a 110 as my only lens.

[Bill_1856]

It's a silly question, but...I could live with 6" Goerz Golden Dagor.
(Or, if I could fudge a little, my Dr. Staeble Polyplast with four interchangable front components. 105, 135, 165, 195, and 220mm -- one tiny Compound shutter does everything).

[Jeffrey Sipress]

Silly, indeed. My favorite lens is the one that is going the make the image I want at the time I'm making it.

[Jim Galli]

Hugo, is the Dallmeyer a triplet or a Tessar?

[Hugo Zhang]

Hugo, is the Dallmeyer a triplet or a Tessar?

Jim,

I don't know, but it seemed to be a late sister of the Dallmeyer Anastigmat Portrait or Dallmeyer Soft Fucus Lens as described in Dallmeyer's 1931 catalogue.

I got the 10" f/4.5 lens last week and it is just as lovely and even covers my Kodak 2D 8x10 plate for still ife.

[Sascha Welter]

I have 3 lenses, but on the 180mm Tele-Xenar the shutter sticks. Leaves me with the 100mm ("normal" for 6x9) and the 65mm. I use the 100mm most of the time by a wide margin, so that's what I'd choose.

I'm not in the "obsessing on lenses" crowd, neither in the "I need lens XY or I can't make any more pictures" crowd or even in the "I like to own all kinds of lenses" crowd either, apparently.

[Glenn Thoreson]

I have a bunch of old lenses. Most are pre WWII. I doubt I payed more than 25 bucks, on average, for any of them. Why would I want to favor any one of them? I don't know. Even the lowly Zeiss Novar is a very good lens if you stop the thing down enough. I like 'em all.