ONLY two lenses forever!

In this video I discuss the ONLY two lenses I would keep over any other for the rest of my life if I had to choose. It is also my goal to help somebody new to photography with their lens purchasing decisions.
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👀 Check out my first video about the Ricoh GR3X pocket camera here: • Ricoh GR3X, Why I Boug...
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🌐 Find me at
Website - www.ryanrootphoto.com/
Instagram - / ryanrootphoto

[@intrinsicimagery]

Yep. My super minimal wedding kit is the same.

[@ryanrootphoto]

You get it! Cheers 📸

[@RandumbTech]

I find myself grabbing the 20-70 more often because having 20 is really really nice - plus it’s smaller/lighter and I usually shoot at 5.6 anyway so f4 doesn’t bother me. I find the 2.8 isn’t fast enough in the situations I find myself. I’d also opt for an 85, but prefer the 1.8 for size/weight advantage.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Great thoughts and thanks for sharing! Ah, yeah… I’d rather gain more on the wide and lose some on the tight, so a 20-70 does make a lot of sense.

[@jumpmansz]

Came in to say this exact pairing. Love having a zoom that starts at 20mm. I have the tamron 20-40 and just wish it had a bit more reach. Then pair with an 85 but at that length, f1.8 is more than enough

Sigma 16-50 f2.8 and a zoom telephoto would be more than enough for me.

[@drchtct]

This is versatile on paper but too large for me to take my camera out regularly. 35 1.8 + 85 1.8 does the job, crop in if you need. Alternatively Sigma 18-50 2.8 on APSC is gold if you need a zoom, so small yet still bright. If you need something very wide, you also have a 24mm and 13mm on a phone. The ultrawides are usually bad on phones (but still a big help for skycraper cities like NY, just don't photograph people) but the 24mm main lens is often good.

[@cyano3d]

I love my sigma 18-50 its so peak. I am getting some cheap manuals to start film making with them and not pay a lot for the speed Like the 7artisan 7.5mm fisheye, ttart 10, 35 and 50mm

[@ryanrootphoto]

I agree, a cost of full frame IS the weight, which is why I purchased the Ricoh GR3X pocket camera (which I love). I owned the Sigma 18-50 when I had the Sony A6600 and loved it. I am actually considering buying that entire kit again because it’s just so damn compact.

[@ryanrootphoto]

@@cyano3dThat Sigma 18-50 is incredible

[@dukecha]

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 for client work Helios 44-2 for passion projects

[@ryanrootphoto]

I obviously love my 24-70GM2, but if I could do it over again I'd probably get that newer Sigma 24-70 II lens.

[@masterchaos8671]

Tamron 20-40mm sita on my A7CR 95% of time, with Apsc mode it’s basically a 20-60mm, pretty good for my needs.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Ugh, jealous of that A7CR 😩

[@kiselyo13]

Solid video, thanks for your thoughts! I've made thousands of photos on my 35 1.8 on a Nikon crop. Now it's almost half a year I switched to Fuji and rocking this 27 1.2. Basically same thing, just a little wider, which I figured I prefer more.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Thank you! Yeah, can't beat a good 35. Not that I need to, but at some point would like to get myself a Fuji. Thanks for watching!

[@Your_Egyptian_Papi]

Great simple video My dream gear are a Sony A6700, a Sigma 18-50 f2.8, a Viltrox 75 f1.2

[@ryanrootphoto]

Appreciate it! I agree, the 6700 is such a great camera

[@NetvoTV]

What do you think of Nikon Zf + 28-400mm f4-8, 14-30mm f4 and Voigtländer 50mm f1, would you change anything to this? What ohoje do you use, would you just use your ohone as the ultrawide and 24mm and the tele with your camera as the no need to change lens setup, had yo checked Sony Xperia 1 VI, its quality is natural and it has a 2X 2:1 macro on the tele lens and not the tyoical crop on ultrawide on other brands of phones, do you think macro is neccessary because often I see people don't make much differences of macro picture from each other and or education purposes to explore the macro world, you can just google it isn't it? Also hey Ryan, my name is Johnny and I'm a freelance logo designer, currently I'm looking for more works, do you love to have a logo for your channel's branding to have a memorable graphic based monogram logo to help your audience recognise and follow your channel easier? I would love to design a photography themed logo inspired by your direction for you! Let me know if you interested to make it happen! :-)

[@DavidStella]

Excellent choices, I own both and a few others as well. What I personally gravitate to for my client photography work is the 24mm f1.4 GM and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN. For my travels it mostly depends on where I’m going, but nowadays I tend to bring along the 14mm f1.4 GM, the 24-70mm GM II, and the 70-200mm GM II.

[@Narsuitus]

Here are my two forever lenses for full-frame cameras: 35mm f/1.4 85mm f/1.4 or 90mm f/2 28-70mm f/2.8 80-200mm f/2.8 Here are my two forever lenses for APS-C cameras: 23mm f/1.4 56mm f/1.2 16-55mm f/2.8 50-140mm f/2.8

[@ryanrootphoto]

Looks like you got it worked out! I owned that 16-55 on the APS-C and loved it. Pricey but damn good!

[@cccycling5835]

When I used to do weddings and other events I could get away with a 28/35mm 1.4 prime and a 70-200 f2.8 zoom. These days I do more landscape and sport/nature/wildlife. Three lenses (although I own four/five). A 20mm 1.8G, a 50mm 1.8G, and my two portrait lenses the 70-200 and the amazing Nikkor 85mm 1.4G, one of my dream lenses. Most days though, I use a 28mm (Ricoh GRiii) and either the 50mm 1.8 or the 85mm 1.4 as my walk around street/portrait kit. If I had to choose ONLY two lenses, gun to my head? 20mm 1.8G and the 85mm 1.4G. 100% (although I would miss the 50mm normal perspective)

[@ryanrootphoto]

I’m looking at getting myself a 20 prime next! Also, I love my Ricoh camera as well, it’s fantastic

[@jaimejrking]

Sigma 28-45 F/1.8 + Samyang 35-150 F2-2.8 ❤️

[@gamebuster800]

Ah yes the heavyweight kit

[@slglasius]

35-150, a dream come true. 50mm 1.4 prime and a 17-28. All I would ever need, rest is just for fun

[@ryanrootphoto]

Nice! Got to love that focal coverage all in one kit 👌

[@slglasius]

​​@@ryanrootphoto85 dg dn is a very nice lens btw some of my best pictures are with this lens. Works nice for (indoor) sports too. Don't need it, but still love this lens. Same for the 24

[@ryanrootphoto]

@@slglasius Agree! There's just something special about it

[@halimrahman]

I am more of a mix-and-match for the day's purpose. Outdoor festivals: Only one is enough. Tamron 35-150mm Indoor events: Sony 35 F1.4, Sony 20-70 (room and small space) and Tamron 35-150 (key speech, normally in a bigger hall) Outdoors for fun: 35mm F1.4 and 50mm F1.2 (as normally it involves portrait) and 20-70 on the video camera. Tight space due to weight and can only take one lens, I'll go for 20-70.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Oh, for sure, its all situational. I'm with you on that 35mm. I use my 35mm GM for a lot of things but that sucker really shines for indoor shoots. Love it.

[@yes_senpai8880]

Sony 70-200 F2.8 GM II and Sony 50 F1.4 GM. I love my Sigma 24-70 2.8 ART as well, but I'll just have to make do with the 50 in this scenario.

[@andrewbueno3935]

Zoom wise I would do my 24-70 and 70-200 2.8. Primes only would be my 35 1.2 and 105 1.4.

[@ryanrootphoto]

A lot of people seem to love their 70-200, a lens I’ll have to pay more mind to

[@camerabaka]

On my Nikon D700, I'd carry the 20-35mm f2.8 and the 50mm f1.4 (If I could have a 3rd lens when traveling, it'd be an 85mm f1.8).

[@ryanrootphoto]

Ah, nifty 50 guy. I get it!

[@alphaandomega2709]

Sony 20mm f1.8 Sony 24-70 gm ii Sony 50mm f1.2 :) complete set 😊

[@ryanrootphoto]

Love it. I need to get my hands on a good 20mm 👍🏻

[@GINOxRED]

Same here! Except for the 50, I'm rocking the 40mm 2.5 G since that's my fave focal length. Hope one day we'll get a faster 40 on E-Mount.

[@eugeneb457]

I like to travel and use the tamron 20-40mm f 2.8 and 50mm f1.4

[@ryanrootphoto]

Oh heck yeah. Zoom for the win with travel 🏆

[@PatrickSchraner]

I do more casual and travel photography in my free time, so I would take a 24-105mm f4 and a 35mm f1.4. It gives you a lot of flexibility to shoot whatever you want on your trips and also lets you shoot envirinmental portraits with nice depth of field if you want to.

[@ryanrootphoto]

Sounds about right!

[@NAM3L3555]

In the last events I used 28-75 2.8 and the sigma 85 1.4 paired with sony a7iv and a7riii and I can do almost everything and dont touch the 50 1.2 gm 😅

[@ryanrootphoto]

Looks like we’re generally in the same camp! The 85mm is the best offset to that zoom focal range

[@davez911]

Im currently on 50 1.4 GM, thinking about buying a second lens to get different perspectives in my portrait work. 24-70 gm ii is pricey, but probably will have to get it, since anything blow prime-like quality (tamron, sigma) didn't satisfy me :(

[@ryanrootphoto]

I hear that 50gm is a great lens. Yes, the 24-70 gm2 is very pricey. I justified its cost at the time but I will say that if I were to start over at this point I would most likely buy the new Sigma 24-70 version 2. I honestly could shoot exclusively on Sigma lenses at this point, but that’s just me. Thanks for watching!

[@tanmaysakpalofficial]

Lovely video 🙌

[@ryanrootphoto]

Thank you! Hope you like my future videos as well

[@sethjohnson123]

Def a fan!

[@ryanrootphoto]

I'm thinking about starting a website for people like you, something like onlyfans .com or something? I don't know, still working the idea out.

[@kokotek8999]

for me : 24mm gmaster & 85gmaster

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

For me versatility is key. Therefore I would have to go with my RF24-70 2.8 and my RF100-500. Nowadays I very rarely use something else.

[@ryanrootphoto]

I'm loving these comments because I'm realizing how many people would forego primes altogether and just use a couple of zooms. I mean, why not when they are just that good?

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

@@ryanrootphoto Exactly! And with modern software like DxO PureRaw I can easily control higher ISO levels.

[@TheArchitarik]

Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM II + Sony 40 f2.5 G for street

[@SpookyAssGhost]

For zoom and basically all around 24-70 and 70-200. For primes 35mm for everyday/ portraits and 85mm 1.2 mainly for portraits

[@ryanrootphoto]

35/85 are my favorite primes as well 👍🏻

[@ronnierl587]

Sony 16-35gmii and 85 sigma.

[@ryanrootphoto]

That damn 16-35, so great. 85mm gang all the way 🤟🏻

[@AStCG1989]

35mm 1.4 and 70-200 gm ii

[@LouisLuzuka]

You are a hero ❤

[@ryanrootphoto]

This may be the first (and last) time I've ever been called a hero, so, I'll take it!

[@StoicJason]

Canon 28-70 f2 and 135 f1.8

[@ryanrootphoto]

Looks like a lot of us are in that 24 (ish) to 70 (ish) camp but differ on the second lens. I must say I’m curious about the 135mm focal length, will have to get my hands on one at some point.

[@Povstreetphotgraphy]

im a big fan of a zoom thats why i bought tamron35-150 and a tamron 17-28

[@ryanrootphoto]

Nice!

[@ErikTyler]

Great take, 24-70 all day

[@ryanrootphoto]

Yes sir

[@Galeidan]

Hard, but if I had to ... RF 28-70mm f 2 L USM RF 50mm f 1.2 L USM

[@ryanrootphoto]

Solid!

[@theonex9953]

100 percent agreed

[@ryanrootphoto]

Heck yes! 👏

[@matiscrap]

Sony 35mm f1.4 GM and Sony 70-200 f2.8 GM II

[@ryanrootphoto]

I also love my 35 GM!

[@mynameisnotcory]

14-24 2.8 and the 24-70 (bonus 70-200 2.8) idc what body you shoot

[@ryanrootphoto]

Zooms throughout all the focal ranges! I can see it

[@mynameisnotcory]

@@ryanrootphoto but lets be real, im gonna throw a 105 macro and a 35 or a 50 1.8

[@gamebuster800]

Only two lenses? 16-25 (not a typo) and 24-70.