[Poll] The One Lens to Rule Them All

Ok, so the Lord of the Rings reference is a bit dramatic. But photographers ask this question of each other all the time: “What lens could you not go without?” Imagine that you had to pick one lens for your camera for the rest of your life. Which lens would that be? Could you be completely satisfied with an 85mm f/1.4, or would you grab the 70-200mm f/2.8? Decisions decisions…

In speaking to instructors and photographers from all over the world, this is what I call the “desert island lens” question. It is of course a preposterous situation, but it’s interesting to hear the rationale behind choices from photographers of different backgrounds and professions. I put together a short list of some of the most popular lenses, each with their own merit. Any one of us would likely be happy with all these lenses for specific situations. They are all great lenses. But if you had to pick only one, which could you make work for the rest of your photographic career? Let us know in the poll and then tell us why in the comments section below.