In a recent post, I mentioned having less interest in modern digital gear. I had thought this was due to the competency of all modern gear regardless of brand.
After years of gear churn that has taken me through every single modern brand save the high end medium format studio cameras that are above my budget or use case. The more mainstream offerings like Olympus, Pentax, Nikon, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Leica, and Fujifilm. Even relative outliers like SIGMA and RICOH. I think that is all of them. Have owned them all. All are documented in this space. But…
While it is true that most are competent enough to be used as my main system, after a few recent photo sessions I am starting to realize that a lens is behind this change of heart more than any camera brand.
Before I begin to elaborate further I will make what may seem to be a rather bold statement.
While near any modern camera made in the last few years has the features I need I will only choose a mount that has this lens available.
Personal choice. And as of this writing that is two mounts. Sony FE and Nikon Z.
Use another brand and have found a lens that suits you? Great.
But this is the lens for me. The why could take paragraphs of yammering but for me it comes down to one simple sentence.
It is the only lens I need for my photo sessions.
That is it. For quite a few photo sessions recently it is the only lens I used. And for the few photo sessions where another lens was used I could have just as easily used the 35-150mm. I really just trucked out the other lenses just because I had them. Only in situations with the lowest of low light could I try and make a case for faster primes, but in all honesty the 35-150mm would do fine courtesy the high ISO competence of modern digital cameras. Instead of a lot of blathering, I will share images taken with the lens instead.
Two of the very first images taken when I picked up the 35-150mm at my local camera shop.
First wedding with this lens.
Second wedding.
For these weddings above the 35-150mm stayed on my main camera and has remained that way ever since.
Closing thoughts.
A lens fit for any occasion. Portrait, event, product, people, things, near, far, etc. For any session I could make do with:
- This lens.
- Any compatible body made in the last few years.
- A trigger.
- A V1.
- To be used on the body for mobile work or as a rim flash.
- An AD300.
- Main light for portraits.
That is it. That is all I need. And I know this because not long after I purchased this lens that is all I have used since.
Well done Tamron.
And oddly this calming effect has impacted all of my gear acquisition shenanigans across the board. There has been a purchase here or there on the film side, two so far this year, but there is nothing on the horizon. Across the board contentment. This rational thinking has caused a couple of friends to ask if I am ok. And the answer is yes. Yes, I am. Took me a while to get acclimated to my new surroundings but I rather like it here.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 