What 3 lenses should every photographer have?
What 3 lenses should every photographer have? Well, with 3 lenses you can cover pretty much every focal length a photographer should ever need. Ideally, a wide angle zoom lens, a medium telephoto zoom lens, and a super telephoto zoom lens would be the best 3 lenses to have.
This article will answer the question ‘what 3 lenses should every photographer have’ from each of the 3 major camera brands, Nikon, Canon, and Sony. Below you’ll find reviews and recommendations from a professional photographer.
Table of Contents
What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have?
There is a great answer to the question of what 3 lenses should every photographer have and it’s pretty simple to figure out. Owning these 3 types of lenses will ensure that you have every focal length you could ever need. You’ll want one of each of the following:
- A wide-angle zoom lens
- A medium telephoto zoom lens
- A super telephoto zoom lens
You’ll want a wide angle lens for a number of different genres. If you plan to take photos of real estate, architecture, or landscapes, a wide angle lens will be an absolute necessity. On top of that, having a wide focal length allows you to get very close to the subjects you’re photographing.
A medium telephoto lens is going to be great for things like portraits, product photography, and street photography. Many times these lenses are the best produced since they are right around the 35mm – 50mm focal lengths.
The super telephoto lens is going to be helpful for any situations where you might be far away from your subject. Think weddings, nature photography, or sports photography.
Combining all three of these lenses in your kit will allow you to shoot literally any genre of photography. They also will compliment each other well while you’re on a job and give you the flexibility you need to capture great images.
So, what 3 lenses should every photographer have? The answer is right below.
What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have: Nikon Photographers
Nikon 16-35mm F4 ED VR
One of Nikon’s best wide angle lenses on the market. At 16mm it’s very wide, but not quite a fisheye which isn’t very usable in professional photography.
I’m a Nikon shooter myself, and I use this lens on a near daily basis. I highly recommend it to anyone that wants a wide angle zoom lens from Nikon.
Pros:
- Perfect wide angle focal lengths
- Strong build quality
- Extremely sharp
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
Featured in our article What Lens Should Every Photographer Have, this is easily one of Nikon’s best lenses available today. This lens is excellent for a lot of different types of photography.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Nikon lens
- Excellent build quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Superb image quality
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Nikon 70-200mm F/2.8E FL VR
One of the best super zoom lenses that Nikon produces, this lens is beloved by many Nikon photographers.
It’s extremely sharp and gives you the ability to be further away from your subject. It’s great for sports, wildlife, and weddings.
Pros:
- One of the best Nikon lenses on the market
- Extremely sharp
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Heavy
What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have: Canon Photographers
Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM
The Canon EF 16-35mm f4 is an extremely sharp lens at a price that’s a great value. This lens offers everything that you could want in a wide angle zoom lens.
If I shot Canon, this lens would be my first purchase. I’ve used it a number of times and have always been impressed.
Pros:
- Extremely sharp
- Good wide angle focal lengths
- Great build quality
Cons:
- Slightly Expensive
Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM
Featured in our article What Lens Should Every Photographer Have, this is one of the best Canon lenses on the market regardless of what genre you photograph.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Canon lens
- Extremely sharp photos
- Very versatile across genres
- Ideal focal lengths
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS III USM
This 70-200mm f2.8 lens from Canon is famous for being extremely sharp and is beloved by Canon photographers, especially those that need to be further away from their subjects.
It’s ideal for weddings, engagements, sports, and wildlife. I’ve personally used it to photograph ice hockey and can confirm its excellent quality.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Extremely sharp
- Amazing image quality
- Great focal lengths
Cons:
- Heavy
- Somewhat expensive
What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have: Sony Photographers
Sony FE 16-35mm F/2.8 GM
Easily the best wide angle zoom lens that Sony produces, the FE 16-35mm f2.8 is one of the best wide angle lenses, regardless of brand.
At f2.8 this lens is exceptionally sharp. If I were to switch to Sony, this lens would become my workhorse immediately.
Pros:
- Premium Sony lens
- Excellent build quality
- Very sharp
- Perfect wide angle focal lengths
Cons:
- Expensive
Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM
Featured in our article What Lens Should Every Photographer Have, this is one of the best Sony lenses on the market. This 24-70mm f2.8 is extremely versatile and exceptionally sharp.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Sony lens
- Great for multiple genres of photography
- Excellent value for quality provided
- Ideal focal lengths
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS
This 70-200mm f2.8 lens from Sony is truly an amazing piece of glass that Sony has become known for.
In addition to its incredible image quality, it gives you the ability to be further away from your subject which makes it ideal for weddings, sports, and wildlife.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Extremely sharp
- Incredible image quality
- Great focal lengths
Cons:
- Heavy
- Expensive
Recommendations for What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have
What 3 lenses should every photographer have? Well, regardless of what camera you use, if you purchase a wide angle zoom lens, a medium telephoto zoom lens, and a super telephoto zoom lens you’ll have every focal length you could possibly need. Virtually all professional photographers will have these 3 lenses in their kits.
The lenses listed above are some of the best lenses that each brand produces. This means that they are a bit expensive, especially if you’re planning to buy all 3 at the same time. But avoid the urge to purchase a cheaper lens. It’ll cost you more in the long run.
It’s a much better idea to buy 1 or 2 of the lenses now and make sure you get the best quality you can. Each of the lenses above will last a decade easily and likely much longer. Opting for a cheaper lens means needing to replace it sooner, which will be more expensive in the end.
Finally, check out our Gear page to read more articles just like this with up-to-date product reviews for gear across all photography genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 3 essential camera lenses?
A wide angle lens, a medium telephoto zoom lens, and a super telephoto zoom lens. With these 3 lenses you will have every focal length covered.
What lenses does every photographer need?
The best lens for every photographer is a 24mm-70mm f2.8 lens. Check out our article featuring this exact question: What Lens Does Every Photographer Need?
How many lenses does the average photographer have?
On average, a professional photographer will have anywhere between 3 to 6 lenses. Although, many times only 2 or 3 are absolutely needed.