When I first heard the expression, the “Holy Trinity” of lenses, it was in reference to three Canon L prime lenses, the 35mm f/1.4, the 85mm f/1.2, and the 135mm f/2. After Googling the phrase, I see that everyone’s “Holy Trinity” is different. Some use the term to describe a series of zoom lenses, and some use it to refer to three different prime lenses. So I guess everyone has their own spin, but for me, it’s the Canon 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.2, and 135mm f/2, and I’ve found it to be perfect for travel.
Move from the “Nifty Fifty” to L Lenses
What makes this the perfect threesome for me? First, I have new love for the 50mm with my purchase of the Canon 50mm f/1.2. I am certain there are other 50mm lenses which are sharper, but I love the look of this lens. It did not come easily because I pretty much abandoned the 50mm focal length with the purchase of my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8. When I purchased that lens, I passed my 50mm f/1.4 to my daughter to replace her 50mm f/1.8, and used the 24-70 for pretty much everything I shot.
Moving from Zoom to Prime Lenses
However, over time, I appreciated the image quality I was getting with prime lenses. I started with the 35mm f/1.4 and found it to be a great focal length for landscape shots. I have tested Canon’s 24mm f/1.4, and it is a wonderful lens, but I found that I rarely shot that wide except when inside cathedrals in Ireland.
My next prime lens purchase was the Canon 200mm f/2.8. It was nice to have the reach and it was a nice price for an L lens, but it was a bit too long for my taste. I opted for the Canon 135mm f/2 and fell in love. It was gorgeous for shooting portraits and for details while traveling.
Rounding Out the Trinity with the Canon 50mm f/1.2
The final piece in the puzzle was the Canon 50mm f/1.2. That is the lens which allowed me to toss aside the crutch of the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8. I still use the 24-70 but have found that I reach for the 50mm more often than not.
What about Canon’s 85mm f/1.2? I did give it a try. I rented it for our June 2017 trip to Nevis and it’s beautiful. I love the images from it. What I didn’t love was first, the price tag, and second, the weight. There is a significant difference in the weight and balance of the 50L on both my film and digital SLRs as compared to the 85L.
Our next big trip will be in August to London, and I expect that I will have to keep weight to a minimum. If I pitch one of the lenses (and I would have a tough time doing that), I’ll probably take only the 50L and the 135L, as those account for most of my shots while traveling and I can do pretty much everything I hope to do with those lenses.
What’s your “Holy Trinity” of lenses for travel? Are they prime or zoom lenses? I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts in the comments.
All film processed and scanned by the best photo lab ever, Richard Photo Lab.
Interested in film photography? Check out our sister site, Film Road Trip! Want to learn more about what gear we use for travel? Take a look at what’s in our camera bag.