Favorite walking around lens poll (zoom vs. prime): So far, I use the 18-105mm zoom kit lens, but i'd like to hear what you all grab to go out and about with, prime or zoom? Thanks...

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

So far, I use the 18-105mm zoom kit lens, but i'd like to hear what you all grab to go out and about with, prime or zoom?
Thanks,

Jeffrey

tripsy76 Loc: Northshore, MA

I do love when this question surfaces. It's always interesting to see what people are shooting with. My 80% always on lens is my 50 1.2L. It skips around the city with me most of the time.

renomike Loc: Reno, Nevada

New2blog wrote:

So far, I use the 18-105mm zoom kit lens, but i'd like to hear what you all grab to go out and about with, prime or zoom? Thanks, Jeffrey

Jeffery....For just general shooting I usually use my EFS 18-135 IS F3.5, if I hope to see some wildlife, I take my EF70-200mm F2.8L IS USM, which I shot hand held most of the time.

Mike

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

tripsy76 wrote:

I do love when this question surfaces. It's always interesting to see what people are shooting with. My 80% always on lens is my 50 1.2L. It skips around the city with me most of the time.

That's quite the lens, and a great image posted, thanks.

1eyedjack

I like my 55-200mm, sometimes i need some reach.

tripsy76 Loc: Northshore, MA

New2blog wrote:

tripsy76 wrote:

I do love when this question surfaces. It's always interesting to see what people are shooting with. My 80% always on lens is my 50 1.2L. It skips around the city with me most of the time.

That's quite the lens, and a great image posted, thanks.

Thanks! The only other walk around I use on a regular basis is my 70-200 f2.8 IS

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole Baaaston.: Newby I see you use an 18 to 105 while Tripsey uses either a 70-200 f2.8 IS Cannon or a prime 50mm f 1.2 L Cannon. I think if you're just wandering around, whether in a city or out in the scenic "Boonies", a variable leaves you prepared for short or long shots. New2, you have to match that with how much light you need according to the light available at that time of day and where you are wandering. I always, for my prime or variable, try to get the widest aperture possible, which tends to give me the most options wherever or whenever I may want to shoot. So if I imagine I'll be shooting fairly close-in street watching stuff I'll use my 50mm f/1.0L or my 85mm f/1.2L. If out in the boonies a single prime lens can be a frustration since you have little idea as to what your subject might be, how far, how big, so a variable lens is likely more practical if you only want to carry one lens. Balance that with the fact that if the prime lens and the variable are of basically similar quality, as are Tripsy's, the prime will provide the slightly better shot -- although you couldn't tell it without some heavy testing -- but that is the reality. That is why I have never gone out with a single lens; I'd rather pack at least one on the body and at least a couple in the "gadget bag" just in case I need a longer or a wider(shorter mm) lens. Once in a while, if I'm roaming the wide open country I'll have on my 100 - 400 4.5-5.6 L, and it's fun to play with, but it's not the world's finest lens if you want to really blow a shot up. Oh, and the IS on Tripsy's 70 - 200 gives him, in essence, the equivalent of another f-stop, which surely helps in low light. Another factor for you to consider as you ponder what lens(s) to take with you for a certain kind of a shoot is whether your capture area is a full 35mm size or an APS-C reduced size, which changes the effective length of any lens you mount, since you are reducing the capture size to roughly 67% of the standard 35mm full frame digital capture area. So a 50 mm lens on a full frame digital capture camera will act more like a 75 or 80 mm mimi-tele lens on a reduced digital capture area APS-C body. Another factor is, in my estimation, it is better to have 2 good lenses than 4 or 5 average or poor ones. Now only you can cogitate, calculate, and decide where you want to go. Good luck, have at it, and have fun!
Michael O'

tripsy76 Loc: Northshore, MA

Michael O' wrote:

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole Baaaston.: Newby I see you use an 18 to 105 while Tripsey uses either a 70-200 f2.8 IS Cannon or i prime 50mm f 1.2 L Cannon. I think if you're just wandering, especially around, whether in a city or out in the scenic "Boonies" a variable leaves you prepared for short or long shots. Newby, you have to match that with how much light you need according to the light available at that time of day and where you are wandering. I always, for my prime or variable, try to get the widest aperture possible, which tends to give me the most options wherever or whenever I may want to shoot. So if I imagine I'll be shooting fairly close-in street watching stuff I'll use my 50mmf/1.0L or my 85mmf/1.2L. If out in the boonies a single prime lens can be a frustration since you have little idea as to what your subject might be, how far, how big, so a variable lens is likely more practical if you only want to carry one lens. Balance that with the fact that if the prime lens and the variable are of basically similar quality, as are Tripsy's,
the prime will provide the slightly better shot -- although you couldn't tell it without some heavy testing -- but that is the reality. That is why I have never gone out with a single lens, I'd rather pack at least one on the body asnd at least a couple in the "gadget bag" just in case I need a longer or a wider(shorter mm) lens. Once in a while, if I'm roaming the wide open country I'll have on my 100 - 400 4.5-5.6 L, and it's fun to play with, but it's not the world's finest lens if you want to really blow a shot up. Oh, and the IS on Tripsy's 70 - 200 gives him, in essence, the equivalent of another f-stop, which surely helps in low light Another factor for you to consider as you ponder what lens (s) to take with you for a certain kind of a shoot is whether your capture area is a full 35mm size or an APS-C reduced size, which changes the effective length of any lens you mount, since you are reducing the capture size to roughly 67% of the standard 35mm full frame digital capture area. So a 50 mm lens on a full frame digital capture camera will act more like a 75 or 80 mm lens on a reduced digital capture area APS-C body. Another factor is, in my estimation, it is better to have 2 good lenses than 4 or 5 average or poor ones. Now only you can cogitate, calculate, and decide where you want to go. Good luck, and have fun!
Michael O'

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole B... (show quote)

Generally I agree with you. And as far as the zoom vs. prime I don't leave the house with both. Depending on what I'm doing, (film/fashion/Broadcast/Advert), I have a small arsenal of "go to's" But if I was to choose a single lens, I use either my 50, or my 70-200. If it's vacation, or a shoot, then were talking about pelican cases with equipment (bodies, lenses, lighting, sound, etc.)
By only using 1 lens, I lose the "This is my job" feeling, and go back to remembering why I chose to do this. I love it.

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

tripsy76 wrote:

Michael O' wrote:

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole Baaaston.: Newby I see you use an 18 to 105 while Tripsey uses either a 70-200 f2.8 IS Cannon or i prime 50mm f 1.2 L Cannon. I think if you're just wandering, especially around, whether in a city or out in the scenic "Boonies" a variable leaves you prepared for short or long shots. Newby, you have to match that with how much light you need according to the light available at that time of day and where you are wandering. I always, for my prime or variable, try to get the widest aperture possible, which tends to give me the most options wherever or whenever I may want to shoot. So if I imagine I'll be shooting fairly close-in street watching stuff I'll use my 50mmf/1.0L or my 85mmf/1.2L. If out in the boonies a single prime lens can be a frustration since you have little idea as to what your subject might be, how far, how big, so a variable lens is likely more practical if you only want to carry one lens. Balance that with the fact that if the prime lens and the variable are of basically similar quality, as are Tripsy's,
the prime will provide the slightly better shot -- although you couldn't tell it without some heavy testing -- but that is the reality. That is why I have never gone out with a single lens, I'd rather pack at least one on the body asnd at least a couple in the "gadget bag" just in case I need a longer or a wider(shorter mm) lens. Once in a while, if I'm roaming the wide open country I'll have on my 100 - 400 4.5-5.6 L, and it's fun to play with, but it's not the world's finest lens if you want to really blow a shot up. Oh, and the IS on Tripsy's 70 - 200 gives him, in essence, the equivalent of another f-stop, which surely helps in low light Another factor for you to consider as you ponder what lens (s) to take with you for a certain kind of a shoot is whether your capture area is a full 35mm size or an APS-C reduced size, which changes the effective length of any lens you mount, since you are reducing the capture size to roughly 67% of the standard 35mm full frame digital capture area. So a 50 mm lens on a full frame digital capture camera will act more like a 75 or 80 mm lens on a reduced digital capture area APS-C body. Another factor is, in my estimation, it is better to have 2 good lenses than 4 or 5 average or poor ones. Now only you can cogitate, calculate, and decide where you want to go. Good luck, and have fun!
Michael O'

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole B... (show quote)

Generally I agree with you. And as far as the zoom vs. prime I don't leave the house with both. Depending on what I'm doing, (film/fashion/Broadcast/Advert), I have a small arsenal of "go to's" But if I was to choose a single lens, I use either my 50, or my 70-200. If it's vacation, or a shoot, then were talking about pelican cases with equipment (bodies, lenses, lighting, sound, etc.)
By only using 1 lens, I lose the "This is my job" feeling, and go back to remembering why I chose to do this. I love it.

quote=Michael O' New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy7... (show quote)

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

Michael O' wrote:

tripsy76 wrote:

Michael O' wrote:

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole Baaaston.: Newby I see you use an 18 to 105 while Tripsey uses either a 70-200 f2.8 IS Cannon or i prime 50mm f 1.2 L Cannon. I think if you're just wandering, especially around, whether in a city or out in the scenic "Boonies" a variable leaves you prepared for short or long shots. Newby, you have to match that with how much light you need according to the light available at that time of day and where you are wandering. I always, for my prime or variable, try to get the widest aperture possible, which tends to give me the most options wherever or whenever I may want to shoot. So if I imagine I'll be shooting fairly close-in street watching stuff I'll use my 50mmf/1.0L or my 85mmf/1.2L. If out in the boonies a single prime lens can be a frustration since you have little idea as to what your subject might be, how far, how big, so a variable lens is likely more practical if you only want to carry one lens. Balance that with the fact that if the prime lens and the variable are of basically similar quality, as are Tripsy's,
the prime will provide the slightly better shot -- although you couldn't tell it without some heavy testing -- but that is the reality. That is why I have never gone out with a single lens, I'd rather pack at least one on the body asnd at least a couple in the "gadget bag" just in case I need a longer or a wider(shorter mm) lens. Once in a while, if I'm roaming the wide open country I'll have on my 100 - 400 4.5-5.6 L, and it's fun to play with, but it's not the world's finest lens if you want to really blow a shot up. Oh, and the IS on Tripsy's 70 - 200 gives him, in essence, the equivalent of another f-stop, which surely helps in low light Another factor for you to consider as you ponder what lens (s) to take with you for a certain kind of a shoot is whether your capture area is a full 35mm size or an APS-C reduced size, which changes the effective length of any lens you mount, since you are reducing the capture size to roughly 67% of the standard 35mm full frame digital capture area. So a 50 mm lens on a full frame digital capture camera will act more like a 75 or 80 mm lens on a reduced digital capture area APS-C body. Another factor is, in my estimation, it is better to have 2 good lenses than 4 or 5 average or poor ones. Now only you can cogitate, calculate, and decide where you want to go. Good luck, and have fun!
Michael O'

New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy76 from good 'ole B... (show quote)

Generally I agree with you. And as far as the zoom vs. prime I don't leave the house with both. Depending on what I'm doing, (film/fashion/Broadcast/Advert), I have a small arsenal of "go to's" But if I was to choose a single lens, I use either my 50, or my 70-200. If it's vacation, or a shoot, then were talking about pelican cases with equipment (bodies, lenses, lighting, sound, etc.)
By only using 1 lens, I lose the "This is my job" feeling, and go back to remembering why I chose to do this. I love it.

quote=Michael O' New2blog from N, Cal and Tripsy7... (show quote)

quote=tripsy76 quote=Michael O' New2blog from N,... (show quote)

Ah, Tripsy, been at this game since my first Leica 111F in 1953, Don't we all love to be immersed in it !!! I have a broad back and have never had enough sense to pack as light as possible. Have walked days across the Sahara packing the same survival gear as the pararescues PLUS my 10 pound gadget bag with Rollie and Leica w/4 lenses. I'm too ornery to die young, so what the heck. I just suffer-- and love it all.....especially the photography........Michael O'

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

Tripsy, do you have some of your images posted on-line somewhere that I can enjoy them? thanks.

tripsy76 Loc: Northshore, MA

I have a bunch of stuff all over here, and I currently in the process of creating an online gallery/store to view collections. So for now, I'm pretty much restricted to my website which is composite and nature stuff. It's on my page, and you're more than welcome to take a look if you would like. I will be putting things back up hopefully soon!

randymoe

I have a D7000 and many lenses, but I always leave the house with my Coolpix P7000. Not the best camera, but it has a 18-200mm zoom starting with F2.8. It fits in my shirt pocket (barely) and is quick to shoot. I like it just fine, but I recommend the Canon S95, despite the fact it is so small, my brother and his wife had to add a extra removable grip.

If I had the money, I would have a Fuji X100 with a leather cover.

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

If I'm traveling I'll take my Nikon 18-200 mm and Sigma 10-20mm lens. If I'm doing nature (ie Birds) I'll use my Nikon 500mm f-4 prime and my Nikon 70-200mm f-2.8 zoom lens. I also use a 1.4X and a 2X Teleconverter with them. If I'm doing close-up photography, I use my Nikon 70-200mm lens with various extension tubes. Arnold

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

On 24x36mm, film or digi, 35/1.4 or 50/1.5. I find zooms too slow in maximum aperture AND too slow to use: the time I spend tweaking focal length means that I'm more likely to miss the moment. With a prime, there's more incentive to be in the right place at the right time.

But for street photography, although I normally prefer 35 and 50, I've used just about every lens I possess at one time or another. There are examples here from 15mm to 300mm: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20street.html

Cheers,

R.