XF18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS lens by Fujifilm

I have romanticized prime lenses sufficiently at this point, but I’d like to also make the case for having at least one zoom lens in your kit. Truth be told, I originally picked up this lens when I used to live a life full of video calls and needed the framing flexibility for my camera-powered webcam without adjusting the positioning of the camera mount.

But that in essence is what a zoom lens is great for: staying put while still having full control over how to frame the shot. Today, the 18-55mm is a permanent fixture on my overhead camera rig, which satisfies the use case to a T. With the flexibility to zoom in and out, I don’t have to worry about adjusting my mounts. And anything that cuts my setup time down is a winner in my books.