Go-To Lens in hunting pack

[Pacohunts]

Howdy!

Just picked up a Sony A7iii and curious what kind of lens you guys are packing on your hunting trips. Just to keep the weight down I’d probably only take one lens.

Curious what set ups you guys packing into the mountains and any favorite shots too.

 

[charliebravo77]

I've shared my thoughts on lenses/focal length in a couple replies in this thread:

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/which-lens-to-take-on-upcoming-hunt.235203/post-2361522

and

Which lens to take on upcoming hunt?

Newbie camera owner here and also new to western hunting. Heading out to Colorado for an OTC 2nd rifle hunt and I keep debating on whether or not to bring along my camera or just stick with my phone for photos (iPhone 11 pro). I have a Sony a6600 with two lenses: the Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens...

rokslide.com

Short answer is if I have to choose one lens it's probably going to be something in the area of 35mm FF equivalent. Somewhere between 28mm and 50mm prime lens in as fast of an aperture as possible. If I am 100% certain I need the extra range a 70-200/2.8 is hard to beat but they are big and heavy.

 

[Pacohunts]

Helpful, thanks!

 

[tpm231030]

I carried a mirrorless and at wide angle 14-30 with me last year. The problem wasn't the lens choice, but access. I always wore my ruck and had my bino harness on my chest so inevitably, my camera was always stuck in my ruck. I was looking into alternate carrying solutions but ultimately resorted to upgrading my cell phone. Hate saying that. But, the camera/lens you've got is the best one, and moments I wanted to capture usually involved the candid-in-the-moment-not-wanting-to-take-my-ruck-off type. I love cameras, but bring it with a plan to get to it when the perfect shot presents itself...otherwise it'll just take up space in your bag.

 

[idcuda]

I have an asp-c camera (a6400) and the Tamron 17-70 is hard to beat. I usually have a Sony 70-350 with me too, just in case.

 

[JDL21]

Long time photographer and Sony shooter. The 24-105 f4 G is a great all around lens. Wide enough for landscapes and photos in camp, and zoomed in enough to compress that beautiful mountain range in the background for a sense of scale. The IS system works great for low light too (just might have to ask your buddy to be still for a second.)

 

[tim tarras]

I would take a look at the Tamron 35-150 with a F2/2.8.

 

[THLR]

Long time photographer and Sony shooter. The 24-105 f4 G is a great all around lens.

I use the very same lens.The images in the below is captured on that lens attached to a Sony A7C. They are stills taken from youtube film THLR LRB 364.






The "performance roof" I most often bump into with the 24-105 is the wideangle, I find myself wanting to capture "more" in the frame so would like to have 16-20mm lower end but would not have less than 50-70 upper end and not slower than f4 constant.
This is probably 50-70mm

This is same frame on 24mm


This image is from a Sony APS-C 11mm f.18 and the quality just isn't there, so would like to see this done on a better lens/ fullframe

This is 24 and it just doesn't give the same sense of space as the above.


I am currently looking at a wideangle f2.8 (or better) and a 70-200 f2.8 to compliment my setup.

 

[Lioutdoorsman]

I run Fuji xh2 with the 16-80mm kit lens I love it

 

[rpdoutdoors]

regardless of platform id probably not bring primes, for me id opt for a travel lens of sorts something with wide range while loosing too must f stops

Heavier than primes but I like the idea of an 18-135 in the F4 range

 

[canyonhunter47]

Tamron 28-200 for E mount is a good option. It’s not blazing fast and you might wish you had those extra 4mm on the low end, but it’s pretty good across the board. Kind of a jack of all trades master of none lens

 

[rpdoutdoors]

Tamron 28-200 for E mount is a good option. It’s not blazing fast and you might wish you had those extra 4mm on the low end, but it’s pretty good across the board. Kind of a jack of all trades master of none lens

that’s a great idea for Tamron 28-200, I really like their image stabilization, also their price point is hard to beat !

 

[canyonhunter47]

that’s a great idea for Tamron 28-200, I really like their image stabilization, also their price point is hard to beat !

Just so you know, that particular Tamron does not have its own stabilization. Sony has stabilization built into all or most of their full size E mount camera bodies though

 

[BertDaKat]

I use the very same lens.The images in the below is captured on that lens attached to a Sony A7C. They are stills taken from youtube film THLR LRB 364.


View attachment 630240
View attachment 630241
View attachment 630242
View attachment 630243
The "performance roof" I most often bump into with the 24-105 is the wideangle, I find myself wanting to capture "more" in the frame so would like to have 16-20mm lower end but would not have less than 50-70 upper end and not slower than f4 constant.
This is probably 50-70mm
View attachment 630245
This is same frame on 24mm
View attachment 630246

This image is from a Sony APS-C 11mm f.18 and the quality just isn't there, so would like to see this done on a better lens/ fullframe
View attachment 630244
This is 24 and it just doesn't give the same sense of space as the above.
View attachment 630247

I am currently looking at a wideangle f2.8 (or better) and a 70-200 f2.8 to compliment my setup.

Have you seen the new 20-70 f4 from Sony?

 

[THLR]

Have you seen the new 20-70 f4 from Sony?

I did now!
Most likely that lens will do a very good job with the film style I have.

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[44thStateSender]

If I can only take one lens, it's a 24-70. If I can take two, add a 70-200mm. If you're hunting out of the truck, something super fast, like a 50mm prime 1.2f or 1.4f opens a lot of possibilities.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I just switched from a crop sensor to mirrorless and dont have as many lenses as I used to. So for me currently its my Sony 24-70 f2.8 a little heavy but picture quality is great.

 

[Wilderlife]

I shoot an Olympus micro 4/3 mirrorless system.

For most of my photography I like the 12-40mm f2.8, but for strict hunting and one to have in the pack that covers a lot of bases with focal length, especially for solo bowhunting, I like the 14-150mm f4.0-5.6.

 

[Krisrieder]

I personally like the 24-70 range. Otherwise if you have room, 100-400

 

[RoseAllen]

70-200 with 2x teleconverter.