Nikon users: Favorite Go-To Lens

[Misti]

What is your favorite all-purpose lens for a Nikon camera? What is the lens that stays on your camera 99% of the time, and what situations (low-light, indoors, outdoors, sports, portraits, etc) do you find it useful for shooting in?

[ravncat]

Favorite go to lens 24 1.4
Favorite All purpose lens 35 2.0
Lens on camera 99% doesn't exist

I use a set of primes and choose on focal length for composition I want, they are all adept for each subject outside of macro.

[kirbinster]

A lot of my shooting is spur of the moment stuff out of my car, so I typically keep my Nikon 28-300VR on my D700 when it is sitting next to me. The lens is amazingly sharp for a super zoom and gives me the right length lens for almost every shot. I have a lot of faster and better glass, but this lens is a jack of all trades and is really better than you would think.

[sk66]

There will be those that scoff, But on my D300 it was the 18-200 and on my D3 it's the 28-300 (same thing).

I have better, faster, more expensive, heavier lenses at my disposal....but those are/were my all purpose lenses.

[IABoomer]

Right now, the AF-S 35mm f/1.8 on my D5000, but that's my only lens. Still, I can see it being the default lens I'll keep on the camera even after picking up something like a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 for track/cross-country meets and maybe a 10-20 for landscape stuff.

[OsmosisStudios]

Nikon 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 DX. The best kit lens anyone has ever made. It stays on purely for the range, though I'll admit I sometimes wish it went out just that little bit more to 85.

[Shokinen]

Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 VRII

You get a wide angle (24mm equivalent on a FF system) and a good range for portrait with the same glass. I always start with this one and change if I cannot accomplish what I want with it.

[dcclark]

My 35mm f/1.8 stays on my camera *most* of the time (certainly not 99% however), mainly because of its small size and convenience factor. Since I hike/snowshoe/camp a lot, size and weight control my choice more than ultimate flexibility.

[zona5101]

an old school Nikon 35-135f3.5-4.5AF. It's a little soft but it is ready for most anything. Second lens found most often on the body is the 105f2.8dc because i love the images it makes.

[RLucas]

I am getting just about equal use out of my 35mm f/2, and my 85mm f/1.8. I think the 35 is leading at the moment because of tight space, and the minimum focus distance rocks!