Lenses and Filters

Buying USED will give you better deals, however, be warned that used items usually do not have a warranty or any guarantees, which is problematic for such expensive equipment. Another option is to rent if you’re only need to use the lens once.

(XXmm) shows filter thread

Full Frame

The Viltrox 28mm f4.5 (43.5mm) is a very small pancake lens, nicknamed the “chip”. If you don’t mind the f4.5 and some trade-offs in terms of optical quality, it seems like a great EDC lens!

Using a teleconverter with a 70-200mm lens or similar will give you a cheaper, more lightweight supertelephoto setup. However, the IQ will not be as good as a dedicated supertelephoto lens.

Third-Party Lenses

  • Viltrox Air trio
    • Viltrox 20mm f2.8 (43mm, $176)
    • Viltrox 40mm f2.5 (52mm, $168)
    • Viltrox 50mm f2 (58mm, $199 $183)
  • standard Viltrox quartet
    • Viltrox 24mm f1.8 (55mm, $379 $322)
    • Viltrox 28mm f1.8 (55mm, $379 $322)
    • Viltrox 35mm f1.8 (55mm, $379 $322)
    • Viltrox 50mm f1.8 (55mm, $359 $305)
  • Viltrox LAB duo
    • Viltrox 35mm f1.2 LAB (77mm, $999)
    • Viltrox 135mm f1.8 LAB (82mm, $899)
  • portrait: TTArtisan 75mm f2 (62mm, $178) / Viltrox 85mm f1.8 (72mm, $399 $339)
  • wide: Viltrox 16mm f1.8 (77mm, $580 $493)

E-mount (Sony)

  • primes
    • standard trio
      • Sony 35mm f1.8 (55mm, $748)
      • Sony 50mm f1.8 (49mm, $248)
      • Sony 85mm f1.8 (67mm, $598)
    • Zeiss Sonnar duo (49mm)
      • Sony Sonnar T* 35mm f2.8 ZA ($598)
      • Sony Sonnar T* 55mm f1.8 ZA ($998)
    • compact G trio (49mm)
      • Sony 24mm f2.8 G ($598)
      • Sony 40mm f2.5 G ($598)
      • Sony 50mm f2.5 G ($598)
    • GM trio
      • Sony 35mm f1.4 GM (67mm, $1398)
      • Sony 50mm f1.4 GM (67mm, $1298)
      • Sony 85mm f1.4 GM II (77mm, $1798)
    • wide
      • standard: Sony 16mm f1.8 G (67mm, $798)
      • upgrade: Sony 14mm f1.8 GM (no filter thread, $1598)
    • macro: Sony 90mm f2.8 G (62mm, $1098)
  • zoom
    • Sigma duo
      • standard: Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN (67mm, $1189)
      • telephoto: Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 DG DN (77mm, $1489)
    • GM duo
      • standard: Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM I (82mm, $1698) or GM II (82mm, $2298)
      • telephoto: Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM I (77mm, $1998) or GM II (77mm, $2798)
    • Tamron duo
      • standard: Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2
      • telephoto: Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VC VXD G2
    • compact: Sony 24-50mm f2.8 G (67mm, $1098)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheapest: Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN (67mm, $949 $829)
    • cheaper
      • Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (82mm, $1399 $1199)
      • Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG DN (95mm, $1489)
    • best price/performance, but quite expensive: Sony 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G (95mm, $1998)
    • very expensive: Sony 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM (77mm, $2498)
    • ridiculously expensive: Sony 600mm f4 GM (drop-in filter, $12,998)

The Sigma 300-600mm f4 (drop-in filter, $5999) is a decent alternative to the Sony 600mm f4 GM at half the price and more versatility due to being a zoom, but is very heavy at over 9 pounds (about 4.5 kg)

RF mount (Canon)

  • primes
    • standard trio
      • Canon 35mm f1.8 Macro (52mm, $499)
      • Canon 50mm f1.8 (43mm, $199)
      • Canon 85mm f2 Macro (67mm, $599)
    • brighter aperture duo
      • Canon 50mm f1.2 L (77mm, $2299 $2199)
      • Canon 85mm f1.2 L (82mm, $2799)
    • wide: Canon 16mm f2.8 (43mm, $299 $279)
    • macro: Canon 100mm f2.8 L (67mm, $1199)
    • pancake: Canon 28mm f2.8 (55mm, $299)
  • zooms
    • compact trinity (77mm)
      • standard: Canon 24-105mm f4L ($1299)
      • wide: Canon 14-35mm f4L ($1399 $1299)
      • telephoto: Canon 70-200mm f4L ($1599 $1499)
    • standard trinity
      • standard: Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L (82mm, $2399 $2199)
      • wide: Canon 15-35mm f2.8 L (82mm, $2399 $2199)
      • telephoto: Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L (77mm, $2799 $2599)
    • upgrade trinity
      • standard: Canon 24-105mm f2.8 L (82mm, $2999)
      • wide: Canon 15-35mm f2.8 L (82mm, $2399 $2199)
      • telephoto: Canon 100-300mm f2.8 L (112mm, $9499)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheapest: Canon 100-400mm f5.6-8 (67mm, $649)
    • very expensive: Canon 200-800mm f6.3-9 (95mm, $1899)
    • ridiculously expensive: Canon 600mm f4 (drop-in filters, $12,999)

Z-mount (Nikon)

  • primes
    • standard trinity
      • Nikon 35mm f1.8S (62mm, $846 $696)
      • Nikon 50mm f1.8S (62mm, $626 $526)
      • Nikon 85mm f1.8S (67mm, $796 $696)
    • brighter aperture duo
      • Nikon 35mm f1.4 (67mm, $596)
      • Nikon 50mm f1.4 (62mm, $496)
    • compact lenses (52mm)
      • Nikon 28mm f2.8 ($296 $226)
      • Nikon 40mm f2 ($296 $226)
    • macro: Nikon 105mm f2.8 (62mm, $1046 $846)
    • pancake: Nikon 26mm f2.8 (52mm, $496 $396)
  • zooms
    • standard: Nikon 24-120mm f4 (77mm, $1096) / Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 (67mm, $899 $699)
    • upgrade trinity
      • standard: Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 (77mm, $2396 $1996)
      • wide: Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 (112mm, $2496 $1996)
      • telephoto: Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 (77mm, $2696 $2196)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheaper: Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (82mm, $1199)
    • very expensive: Nikon 180-600mm f5.6-6.3 (95mm, $1896)
    • ridiculously expensive: Nikon 400mm f2.8 (drop-in filters, $13,996 $12,996) or 600mm f4 (drop-in filters, $15,496 $13,996)
    • the zoomiest: Nikon 800mm f6.3 (drop-in filters, $6496 $5496)

L-mount (Panasonic Lumix)

  • primes
    • Panasonic quartet (67mm)
      • Panasonic 24mm f1.8 ($897 $697)
      • Panasonic 35mm f1.8 ($697 $597)
      • Panasonic 50mm f1.8 ($447 $247)
      • Panasonic 85mm f1.8 ($597 $397)
    • Sigma f2 trio
      • Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN (62mm, $639)
      • Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN (58mm, $639)
      • Sigma 50mm f2 DG DN (58mm, $639)
    • Sigma f1.4 quartet
      • Sigma 24mm f1.4 DG DN (72mm, $799)
      • Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN (67mm, $799)
      • Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN (72mm, $889)
      • Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN (77mm, $1199 $1099)
    • wide: Panasonic 18mm f1.8 (67mm, $997 $897)
    • macro: Panasonic 100mm f2.8 Macro (67mm, $997 $797)
  • zooms
    • cheaper: Panasonic 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 (67mm, $497, available as kit lens)
    • standard: Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN (67mm, $1189)
    • telephoto: Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 DG DN (77mm, $1499)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheapest: Panasonic 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 (77mm, $1097 $897) / Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN (67mm, $949 $844)
    • more expensive: Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG DN (95mm, $1489)

APS-C

1.5x crop factor

Lenses for Many Mounts

  • TTArtisan AF trio (under $150 each) (52mm)
    • TTArtisan 23mm f1.8 ($127)
    • TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 ($125)
    • TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 ($129)
  • Viltrox f1.7 Air trio (under $200 each) (52mm)
    • Viltrox 25mm f1.7 Air ($176)
    • Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Air ($179)
    • Viltrox 56mm f1.7 Air ($180)
  • Sigma quartet
    • Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN (67mm, $489 $409)
    • Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN (52mm, $599 $499)
    • Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN (52mm, $369 $314)
    • Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN (55mm, $529 $479)
  • portrait: Viltrox 75mm f1.2 (77mm, $580)
  • pancake: TTArtisan 27mm f2.8 (39mm, $149)
  • superzoom: Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS ($699)

Meike 33mm (52mm, $229) and 55mm (58mm, $199) f1.4 is a bit more expensive than the Viltrox lenses but have a wider aperture

E-mount (Sony)

  • primes
    • standard duo (49mm)
      • Sony 35mm f1.8 OSS ($473)
      • Sony 50mm f1.8 OSS ($348)
    • wide: Sony 11mm f1.8 (55mm, $548) or 15mm f1.4 G (55mm $748)
    • pancake: Sony 20mm f2.8 (49mm, $348)
  • zooms
    • standard
      • Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN (55mm, $609 $510)
      • Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (67mm, $699 $649)
    • wide (67mm)
      • Sigma 10-18 mm f2.8 DC DN ($659 $569)
      • Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD ($659)
    • cheap telephoto: Sony 55-210mm f4.5-6.3 ($298)

The Tamron 17-70mm is larger and more expensive than the Sigma 18-50mm, but has a longer range making it more versatile.

X-mount (Fujifilm)

  • primes
    • standard trio
      • Fuji XF 23mm f2 (43mm, $449)
      • Fuji XC 35mm f2 (43mm, $199) or XF 35mm f2 (43mm, $399)
      • Fuji XC 50mm f2 (46mm, $449)
    • upgrade trio
      • Fuji XF 16mm f1.4 (67mm, $999)
      • Fuji XF 23mm f1.4 (58mm, $899)
      • Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 (52mm, $599)
    • wide: Fuji XF 8mm f3.5 (62mm, $799)
    • macro: Fuji XF 60mm f2.4 (39mm, $649) or 80mm f2.8 (62mm, $1199)
    • pancake: Fuji 18mm f2 (52mm, $599) or 27mm f2.8 (39mm, $399)
  • zooms
    • standard: Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN (55mm, $609 $510)
    • wide (67mm)
      • Sigma 10-18 mm f2.8 DC DN ($659 $569)
      • Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD ($659)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheapest: Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f4-5.6 (67mm, $799) / Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 (67mm, $909 $799)
    • more expensive: Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 (82mm, $1499 $1299)
    • very expensive: Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f5.6-8 (82mm, $1999)

Z-mount (Nikon)

  • prime: Nikon DX 24mm f1.7 (46mm, $276 $226)
  • zooms
    • standard: Nikon DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 (46mm, $306)
    • superzoom: Nikon DX 18-140mm f3.5-6.3 (62mm, $636)

Note that there are very few options when it comes to Nikon DX lenses

M4/3 (Panasonic Lumix and Olympus / OM-System)

2x crop factor

  • primes
    • 35mm equivalent
      • Olympus 17mm f1.8 (46mm, $499)
      • Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7 (46mm, $597)
    • 40mm equivalent: Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (46mm, $297 $267)
    • 50mm equivalent
      • Panasonic 25mm f1.7 (46mm, $247 $147)
      • Olympus 25mm f1.8 (46mm, $499)
      • Panasonic Leica 25mm f1.4 II (46mm, $697)
    • 85mm equivalent
      • Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 (37mm, $397 $297)
      • Olympus 45mm f1.8 (37mm, $399)
      • Panasonic Leica 42.5mm f1.2 (67mm, $1597 $1297)
    • portraits: Olympus 75mm f1.8 (58mm, $899 $699)
    • wide: Panasonic Leica DG 9mm f1.7 (55mm, $497 $447)
    • macro: Olympus 60mm f2.8 (46mm, $549 $399)
    • pancake: Panasonic 14mm f2.5 (discontinued, find it used)

The DJI 15mm f1.7 is a rebrand of the Panasonic 15mm f1.7 for a bit cheaper. Note that 15mm is equivalent to 30mm, a bit wider than 35mm.

Also, the 45mm Olympus lens is equivalent to 90mm, a bit more zoomed in than 85mm.

  • zooms
    • standard: Olympus 12-45mm f4 Pro (58mm, $699 $499)
      • brighter aperture: Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro II (62mm, $999 $799)
    • telephoto: Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6 (46mm, $397)
      • brighter aperture: Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 (58mm, $1147 $947)
    • superzoom: Panasonic 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 II (58mm, $597 $497)
  • supertelephoto
    • cheaper: Panasonic 100-300mm f4-5.6 II (67mm, $647 $497)
    • very expensive: Leica 100-400mm f5-6.3 (82mm, $2295)

Filters

$ depends on size + type

  • filter sets
    • standard: K&F Concept Nano-X
    • magnetic: K&F Concept Nano-X Magnetic
  • filter pouch (holds 8 filters): ThinkTank MindShift Filter Nest

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