# Every Lens I Actually Use (and Why) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLHea7f8YtM Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/sLHea7f8YtM Generated: 2026-03-07T14:09:43.952+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The creator primarily uses wide-angle prime lenses like the Sony 20mm f/1.8 and the Sony 11mm f/1.8 for their versatility, sharpness, and light-gathering capabilities, while also maintaining a few specialized lenses like the 18-105mm f/4 power zoom for all-around travel utility and the Helios 58mm f/2 for artistic swirly bokeh effects. **Key Points:** - The creator names the Sony 20mm f/1.8 as their favorite lens of all time, praising its small size, light weight, sharpness, depth, and versatility across vlogging, weddings, and talking-head content. - The Sony 11mm f/1.8 is highlighted as a fantastic focal length for vlogging, which acts like a 16mm equivalent on a crop sensor, but can be overridden to produce a "crazy fisheye effect" in full-frame mode. - The 18-105mm f/4 power zoom lens serves as the creator's all-around travel option, valued for its constant f/4 aperture and self-contained zooming mechanism which maintains gimbal balance. - The Sony 55mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.8 are used together for podcast side angles, with the 85mm being excellent for portraits due to subject isolation and creamy background blur, despite having a poor minimum focusing distance. - The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is highly recommended as a great value option for YouTube creators needing sharp, bright lenses for talking-head content that provides a blurry background. - The creator keeps the kit lens (f/3.5-5.6 variable aperture) primarily as a control to compare image quality against upgraded lenses, rarely reaching for it otherwise. - The Helios 58mm f/2, a Soviet-era lens, is used for its artistic character, providing a unique "swirly bokeh" effect because it lacks modern lens coatings that combat flaring. **Context:** The video details the collection of lenses the content creator currently uses and explains the specific rationale behind keeping each one in their toolkit, emphasizing that this collection has developed intentionally over time as their focus shifted from freelance work like weddings to primary content creation for their channel. The discussion centers around Sony mirrorless bodies, focusing heavily on prime lenses for their optical quality versus zoom lenses for convenience, and includes several lens swaps during the presentation. ## Detailed Analysis The creator showcases a diverse lens collection, starting with their most-used prime lenses: the versatile Sony 20mm f/1.8, which is small, sharp, and used for almost everything, and the Sony 11mm f/1.8, which offers a wide perspective perfect for vlogging, especially when utilized in crop mode for a 16mm look or overridden for a fisheye effect. For general utility and travel, the 18-105mm f/4 zoom is essential because of its constant aperture and non-extending barrel ideal for gimbals. For portraiture and B-roll, the creator relies on the well-worn Sony 55mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.8, noting the 85mm's excellent subject isolation but poor close-focusing ability. Less frequently used lenses include the 70-200mm f/4 (a former wedding staple), the 24-70mm f/4 (kept for completeness), and the budget-friendly Sigma 16mm f/1.4, which is a frequent recommendation for beginners. For specialized use, the creator employs a cheap Meek macro adapter instead of an expensive dedicated macro lens, the Helios 58mm f/2 for artistic swirly bokeh, and the heavily scratched Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 primarily for modifying a snoot light projector, acknowledging it is largely nostalgic now. Finally, the standard kit lens is kept only as a benchmark for image quality comparisons against higher-end investments. ### Favorite Primes - Sony 20mm f/1.8 used for versatility and sharpness - Sony 11mm f/1.8 offers 16mm crop equivalent or fisheye override - Both feature bright f/1.8 apertures for excellent depth. ### Utility and Zoom Options - 18-105mm f/4 is the lightweight, constant aperture travel lens with non-extending power zoom - 70-200mm f/4 is kept for freelance/testing but not regular content use - 24-70mm f/4 is kept mainly to complete an f/4 set. ### Portrait and B-Roll Selection - 55mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8 form a podcast side-angle combo - 85mm excels at portraits and subject isolation but struggles with minimum focusing distance. ### Value and Specialty Lenses - Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is a top recommendation for value in talking-head YouTube content - Kit lens (f/3.5-5.6) is used only as a control standard for comparison. ### Artistic and Legacy Gear - Helios 58mm f/2 provides unique, artistic swirly bokeh due to lack of modern coatings - Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is a nostalgic, heavily used Canon mount lens now only used to modify lighting projections - The 3D-printed Diso lens, made from a disposable camera, forces focus purely on composition by removing technical controls.