No one is saying that it is impossible to take good pictures using that lens (and since buying it it's become by far my most used lens). What I am saying is that it is a pointless limitation to build into a system that's biggest benefit is in the variety available. Just because a 24mm landscape looks nice doesn't mean a 15mm lens capturing the same scene wouldn't look better. And the benefit of buying a camera with a changeable lens is that you can make that decision for every shot.
For what it is worth, until relatively recently almost all my photography was produced using a 50mm - that is how I learned. I know how to make use of the limitations of a single lens as well as most. But now I am taking it more seriously I have a kit to ensure I don't miss out on the best shot due to a lack of equipment.
I really don't shoot at 14mm or 300mm very often. They're there for when I want them.
Absolutely, I do not disagree with your reasoning. But it's geared towards how you do things, and your needs. It's great that you take things more seriously and get the equipment you need for that; but it doesn't mean that anyone else can't be serious about it and still not have a UWA lens.
Also, you said about the 24-105:
"It isn't wide enough for landscape, long enough for wildlife or fast enough for portraiture. It's a good walkabout lens - nothing more.". I've taken landscapes with it. I've taken portraits with it. They all came out great. So that statement is true for you, not in general. Could the landscape have been better using a UWA lens? Who knows, it's a subjective view after all.
I personally don't like to stack up equipment for the "just in case" case. Mainly because I don't like to spend lots of money on stuff that's just laying around. For me, there's more value in having two lenses that get used equally and covers what I need, rather than having 5 lenses out of which 3 are just there because "I might want them".
There's also a big difference between
want and
need. Sure, I
want a 16-36L lens, but I do not
need it. So I'm not going to buy it just because I might want it that one day where I'm out in some cool landscape scenery. Because I know I can get the shot I want with what I have; it's my style of photography after all.
Anyway; now that I've successfully had my morning coffee, argued over cameras on the Internet, and argued with the lady for disturbing her reading - I'm going to grab my camera and ONE lens, and go take some pictures.
unless bellair is abit more forthcoming with some answers to questions posed by the TP members who have taken the time to post on this thread in the attempt to give some guidance with the question he posed. (which he has failed to do :bang
