What lens should every photographer have?
Every photographer needs a great lens. Figuring out what lens should every photographer have isn’t too hard of a question to answer either. The answer depends on what camera brand you have, but is relatively straight forward besides that 1 factor.
For Nikon shooters, it’s the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
For Canon shooters, it’s the Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM
For Sony shooters, its the Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM
To learn more about these lenses and about what lens should every photographer have, read on!
Table of Contents
What Lens Should Every Photographer Have?
You’ll notice above that all the lenses listed are 24-70mm f2.8 lenses, and there is a very good reason for this. Regardless of which camera brand we’re talking about, the 24-70mm f2.8 lenses tend to not only be the best made, but also the most usable.
There are 2 factors you need to consider when deciding what lens should every photographer have:
- The practicality of the lens across all photography genres
- The image quality that the lens produces
24-70mm f2.8 lenses can be used across nearly all forms of photography. From portraits to architecture, and from weddings to landscapes, these lenses are utilized by all professional photographers.
Additionally, with an aperture of f2.8, these lenses are very fast and can work well in low light situations. These 2 qualities are very important in a number of different photographer genres.
Below you’ll find reviews and ratings for the best lens from each major camera brand.
What Lens Should Every Photographer Have: Nikon Photographers
For Nikon photographers, the 1 lens that every photographer should have is the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR.
Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
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
- Ideal focal lengths
- Superb image quality
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
What Lens Should Every Photographer Have: Canon Photographers
For Canon photographers, the 1 lens that every photographer should have is the Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM.
Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM
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
What Lens Should Every Photographer Have: Sony Photographers
For Sony photographers, the 1 lens that every photographer should have is the Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM.
Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM
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
Recommendations for What Lens Should Every Photographer Have?
What lens should every photographer have? Well, the best, most usable lens that you can afford for your camera. For the 3 major camera makers (Nikon, Canon, and Sony) that’s going to be their 24-70mm f2.8 lenses.
They’re all exceptional lenses that capture very sharp photos and are great for nearly all genres of photography. This 1 purchase can jump start any photography business since you’ll have a truly high end piece of glass.
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 lenses does every photographer need?
Ideally, every photographer will have a 24-70mm f2.8 lens due to their excellent quality and adaptability.
What 2 lenses should every photographer have?
A great combination would be a wide angle zoom lens with paired with a tighter zoom lens. Like a 16-35mm and a 24-70mm.