The One Lens To Rule Them All!

If I could only use ONE lens, from now and forever more, which one would it be?

Jupiter? Minolta? Olympus? Canon? Nikon? Or something more obscure?

Find out, in today's exciting instalment! Check out the episode, if you wish to be enlightened.

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Thanks for watching!

[kwords]

Mine would be the Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8. I just love it for the images it makes, the small and compact size, the excellent handling.

[aidanhowgate]

Great video Nigel, mine would be my beloved Topcor RE AUTO 58mm 1.4.

[cmdrvex]

I sat here watching this like it was Torvill & Dean all over again! The Zuiko 55mm f1.2 gets all 10s for artistic impression and it's my own favourite lens too! It's well behaved when you tell it to be, but somewhat flamboyant and eccentric when you let it loose!

[steven]

The Minolta 58mm 1.4 is such a perfect lens.

[ModernVersusVintage]

You beat me to it sir😂 This Olympus is so versatile because of the focal length, but also because it has a lot of imperfections/character wide open, but stoped down, it's almost clinically sharp and well behaved. Keep doing this, your channel is a major inspiration

[Hunter-nuuw]

My one and only lens is the Leica M 35mm 1.4 Summilux pre-asph. It checks all my boxes of speed, compactness, quality images with zero distortion. Thanks for another great video, Nigel.

[campbellsups]

somewhere between 50 and 58mm is the sweet spot! personal pick would be the Meyer-Optik Oreston 50mm 1.8. also a big fan of the images from the Steinhel Munchen Auto-Quinon 55mm f1.9.

[alexanderpowerman]

I choose Pancolar. This is the best, romantic and dreamy vintage lens. I love Helios too. It's sacred.

[sogooth]

Olympus OM Zuiko 50 mm f/3.5 AUTO-MACRO. Gracias por tus videos Zenography

[janedagger]

I was engrossed in the entire video.. thank you. I learned a lot. so, even more thank yous.

[jsbphotog]

Another outstanding video! Thanks for all the work you put into this channel, it's rapidly becoming one of my favorites.

[kennethbehrens]

Surprised that the Pentax Takumar 55mm f1.8, or the 50mm f1.4 are not on your list. I would also think that the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.4 is a worthy consideration, being between the economic f1.8 and the expensive f1.2.

[Magnetron]

Hi Nigel, many, many thanks you for uploading! Really nice lenses! I like the 100 mm lenses! A 28 mm lens is also very versatile! I have a Minolta MD 2.5/100 mm, a Minolta MD 1.4/50 mm and a Minolta MD 3.5/28 mm. Best wishes, Ralf

[Kitsaplorax]

Thanks for this deep dive!
My aunt was a raku potter, an oil painter and a color consultant. Her influence led me to test my eyes for differences in field of view angle, daytime and nighttime color interpretations. All of this plays into learning what choices are important in lens use. I'm testing a Pentacon 50mm, my Helios 44-2 and a 50mm Meritar this month. Same roll of film, etc and subjects in the same lighting. Please, talk more about this and other ignored aspects of photography.

[unbroken]

I guess I would take a 35 mm focal length. Can always crop later. Perhaps a great zoom. Helios definitely is nice

[William-htme]

With sixty-odd lenses, most vintage primes, I've decided I could be satisfied with only one if I could only have one. The Auto-Takumar 35mm f3.5 made between 1959 and 1962 and limited to about 30, 000 copies altogether. (I have two.) It's extraordinarily sharp and has great contrast and color.

[slavayorish]

When you just asked your question I thought about my Nikkor 55mm f1.2 lens. I am happy that your winner is similar to mine.

[meta]

My choice is the Canon LTM 1. 4 ... light, fast with fabulous bokeh, subject isolation and rendition. Pancolar 1.8 would be #2.

[naidadad]

It's always good to watch your stream! Thanks!

[JanVotava]

Great choice! I happen to own Zuiko 55m f1.2 and I love it! Just as said - wild open, but very sharp even slighly stopped down while retaining character.