dck45 Loc: El Dorado Hills, CA

I'm considering switching from zoom lenses to primes for an upcoming trip to Europe. 3 prime lenses (28,50 and 85) should be much faster,sharper and lighter than the zooms they replace. What I want is some sort of 'preview' device to use to determine what each focal length will look like without mounting it on the camera. In the past, I've found I wind up mounting each lens to preview the shot. This results in much lens fumbling, etc. I think I've seen film directors with a small lens around their neck which I assume is for that purpose, but I can't find anything offered for sale. Any ideas?

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Check this one out:

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

I believe the filming industry uses the viewer more for compostion and framing the scene.

The more you use your lens, the better you get at predicting which focal length you will choose. With today's higher quality zooms, I would go with a 24-70 2.8 lens. It will provide you with both the image quality you want, and the focal lengths you want to cover. It will also provider you with a bit more at the wider end for shots inside of buildings and tighter situations. It will also save you the weight of having to carry around three separate lenses and having to swap them all of the time. But it is up to you.

Just practice with whatever you buy, that will be your best tool. If you buy the zoom, you won't require the previewer or the two extra lenses to tote around.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Frame wider than you wish the final photo to look like. Do your final work in p/p. If your initial photo is sharp enough, it will allow for the necessary cropping. This will remove any need to frame your photo exactly.

le boecere

Rookie, here, wanting clarification:

OP writes "prime lenses (28,50 and 85) should be much faster,sharper and lighter than the zooms they replace".

You write; "I would go with a 24-70 2.8 lens. It will provide you with both the image quality you want....". Am I to interpret this to mean that, in your opinion, "...today's higher quality zooms.." are the IQ equal of/to zooms?

Bill_de Loc: US

I think you are looking for a "Director's Viewfinder"

http://www.google.com/search?q=director's+viewfinder&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADFA_enUS433&gws_rd=ssl


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Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

The IQ of the high-end zooms are excellent. Many professional photographers ego (Marc Meunch) use them for their scenery work. One high quality zoom would be well worth looking into as an option to carrying around three lenses that would take up space and time interchanging. Also the 24 would provide additional mm of wider angle for the capturing of archetectural subjects in Europe. And the 2.8 aperature is a reasonable speed lens. He could pick up a 50 1.4 for not much money as well for those times he wants to just go with one light fast lens. Just an option to consider.

He was also looking for a previewer for the lenses. This tells me he has not done a lot of shooting to be able to judge which prime lens would work for a particular situation. This would also cricumvent that issue as he would only have to have the one lens that would cover all of the shooting. He can preview with the lens he has on the camera.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

I just got an 18/135mm for my Canon , and could not be more pleased...

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It depends on what you have, and what camera you are using these with. Most primes are full frame lenses, and many are F2.8 or faster. They are also pretty expensive.

A good zoom, like a Nikon 24-70 F2.8 has image quality that rivals prime lenses. Their 14-24 provides better image quality than what is possible with their primes that cover that focal length.

Changing lenses in the field is a pain, and invites dust and junk to land on your sensor.

That being said, I will use two standard kits - 14-24, 24-70 and an 80-200, or, depending on the nature of the trip and subject matter, I might take a 24, 45 and 85mm tilt shift lenses. These are very sharp, have a huge image circle (no vignetting and very little CA), and offer the extra feature of controlling converging verticals and depth of field with shifts and tilts respectively. Either kit fits into a single medium sling bag. Sharpness and detail is comparable all the way around.

Yackers Loc: Norfolk, UK

I tried using prime lenses for a European trip a few years back and I have to say I struggled with composition somewhat. Streets are narrow and tight, and moving around isn't always easy (a lot to do with the amount of people) and I found switching between lenses not only cumbersome but a worrying experience (there were several times I got bumped in to and nearly dropped the lens!).

Rather than prime lenses I now use 2 zoom lenses for all my European photography - a Canon 16mm - 35mm F4 and a Canon 24mm - 70mm and take two cameras so I don't have to switch lenses. I find the image quality of these 2 lenses simply awesome.

The 2 zoom lenses are versatile and I can capture photos quickly and effortlessly (which gives me more time to enjoy the cities and soak up the culture) and I don't have the worry of dropping a lens.

I note you are thinking of taking a 28mm lens. European cities are quite tight and I think you will want to go wider than 28mm. In Venice and Verona last year I didn't go any narrower than 20mm (and mostly shot at 16mm). Just something for you to think about before you go......

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

1. You don't mention the brand.
2, I wouldn't waste my time, especially if traveling. What you spend on 3 cheap primes, you could get A pretty decent zoom that takes less space and is lighter than the three primes!
Just my 2 cents. ;-)
SS

Edit: Yackers is right on! Don't get to romanticized by this photography/prime lens thing. That's pretty old school thinking!

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Good suggestions as well since the poster is traveling in Europe, most likely taking photos of architecture, the tilt-shift is a good suggestion.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

:thumbup: :thumbup:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

http://nofilmschool.com/2011/08/directors-viewfinder
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Directors-Accessories/ci/5724/N/4028759376

This is why I prefer to use zoom lenses. You get the lens and the viewfinder all in one.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Look, your going to Europe to enjoy and take pictures of your trip to have for years to come. Are you a professional? Are you going to sell your photographs to travel companies? Are you going for pleasure or as a professional photographer? If you answered NO to these questions then take a medium zoom and enjoy yourself. I take a 10-20 and a 18-300, the 18-300 is used about 90% of the time. You are over thinking this whole thing, number one, enjoy yourself, two, take some snapshots of the things you want and three, make sure you get a lot of shots of you or you and your partner with those things you like in the back ground. SO, go, enjoy yourself and have a good time, and remember, it's not the equipment stupid, it's the experience.