Episode 14: Lenses

Cameras are loads of fun, but it’s the lenses you use that make the magic happen. In this episode, Mason and Jeff look at the lenses they’ve loved and what they look for when they look for glass. Enjoy!

Mason Marsh's avatar Mason Marsh on February 23, 2022

Nothing in your camera bag influences the look of your photos more than the lenses you use, yet we tend to treat the glass we put in front of our sensors as an afterthought. In this episode, Jeff and Mason give lenses the respect they deserve. They take sides in the battle between primes and zooms, they weigh in on third party lenses and wax poetic about the lenses they’ve loved. Mixed in throughout are Die Hard movie references, so be ready for that. It’s a fun episode about glass, so fill up one and settle in.

 

Mason and Jeff’s Current Collection of Lenses:

* It’s worth noting that we have purchased all of our equipment with our own money. There are no secret deals or nefarious arrangements with manufacturers here. That said, some of the links below are affiliate links which means we receive a small commission if you decide to purchase something, but it doesn’t impact what you pay.

Jeff Uses:

• Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/85da3adf-bf03-45b7-beca-129392063661/touit-12mm.jpg" alt="" width="4789" height="2694" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Hanalei Pier, Hawaii with the Zeiss Touit 12mm lens.</p></div>
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• Fujifilm XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6R LM OIS WR Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/b5e8fa87-8270-4cd9-8d64-2d96149afac9/fuji-18-135mm.jpg" alt="" width="5910" height="3939" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Burney Falls, California with the Fuji 18-135mm lens.</p></div>
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• Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 Lens

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        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Still Life, Washington State with the Fuji 27mm lens.</p></div>
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• Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical Macro (Nikon mount with adapter)

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        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Macro with the Tamron 28-75mm macro lens.</p></div>
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• Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 XM Lens

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Puppy Love with the Viltrox 56mm lens.</p></div>
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• Tair-35 300mm f/4.5 “Russian Sniper” Lens

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Jeff’s Russian “FotoSnaiper” lens and its unusual mount.</p></div>
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        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Space Needle, Seattle with the Tair-35 300mm “Sniper” lens.</p></div>
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Mason Uses:

• Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/9c5d71d1-7386-4f8f-b97a-30c56164574b/Redwoods+14.jpg" alt="" width="3860" height="7126" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Avenue of the Giants, California with the Sony 14mm lens. </p></div>
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• Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/286fc439-dbd5-4b00-944c-d0708b67c7e3/Mobius+24.jpg" alt="" width="2500" height="1599" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Mobius Arch, California with the Sony 24mm lens.</p></div>
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• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/0e693ea7-c269-4a5f-b89d-7413e5d37d76/Bronco+50mm.jpg" alt="" width="6642" height="4428" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Bronco Shower, Washington State with the Sony 50mm lens.</p></div>
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• Zeiss Batis 85mm f/18 Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/81b5ee84-4382-4e1b-aff3-924a54e3415f/Melanie+85.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Healing Hands, Oregon with the Zeiss Batis 85mm lens.</p></div>
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• Sony FE 100-400mm f/4-5.6 GM Lens

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            <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a67a894fd36665ebe2d3fd/e2319d7a-925e-4ce3-83a4-25c54e18d672/Lighthouse+100400.jpg" alt="" width="9358" height="5760" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">

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      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class="">Pigeon Point Lighthouse, California with the Sony 100-400mm lens.</p></div>
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As with all of our episodes, we also record and produce video versions which we post to our YouTube channel. These are lightly-edited versions of the audio podcast, but the trade-off is you get to see our handsome faces while we opine. You’re welcome!

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Published by Mason Marsh

Mason Marsh is a Portland, Oregon-based photographer and educator who specializes in not specializing. He's been a newspaper photojournalist, aerospace museum educator, tall ship captain, tour guide and chimney sweep. When he's not busy taking care of his kids Cooper and Claire, he works in The Arcanum, writes, and leads photo workshops. He is never bored.

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