Prime Lens Usage Suggestions Needed
Nov 13, 2014 09:47:43 #
When I was shooting film cameras I used a 35mm lens as my walking around lens but then found I liked the 28mm lens better. I would suggest using the 35mm lens as your walking around lens to see what it can do for you. Sometimes you need to simply force yourself to use it as you are so used to the zoom lens. Put on the 35mm lens and give yourself a designated time period to use it, say for a month. Use it as much as you can, inside and out, to let you be familiar with its limitations. If you like it then keep it. If it is lacking in some areas then you might consider selling it on UHH then buying maybe a 28 or smaller.
Dennis
Dennis
Nov 13, 2014 10:21:17 #
I shoot all day on a D800 with a 2.8 24-70. Awesome lense...but big and obtrusive. I put a 1.8 50 on and then I have an intimate walk around lense with beautiful.bokeb that doesn't weigh me down or intimidate my subjects. Primes are great if you have an assistant and several bodies and you're shooting a cover for Vogue. For the rest of us, I loce a good zoom with great glad; much quicker. Still, I travel with a 20 and a 50 in my bag...they're light and will fit in my pocket. I especially like the 50 for shooting intimate video interviews using the camera body mic...the lense and the mic both make me get tight to the subject and the 24-70 would be overwhelmin in such a setting.
Nov 13, 2014 10:23:07 #
sirlensalot
Loc: Arizona
This is a highly desirable lens for some wedding photographers who use a wider angle in a low light setting. For this purpose, would speculate it is used more on a FF than APS-C body. Personally, I would have a hard time selling any 1.4 lens. Wish I had those tough choices to make. Lo
Nov 13, 2014 10:25:19 #
I shoot mostly primes, have 6 of them from Sigma 35mm f1.4 as well as 3 Carl Zeiss/Sony lenses (50mm f1.4, 100mm f2 Makro-Planar, 135mm F1.8 and others. If I were you, given the high ISO capabilities of your camera I would sell the 35mm lens and either the 24-70 or the 24-105 depending on which you feel gives you better IQ. With the money from selling the 2 lenses I would suggest purchasing a 70-200 f4 or a Carl Zeiss/Canon 135mm manual lens. The 135mm Carl Zeiss lens is great for landscapes, street photography and head/shoulder portraits. If you use that 135mm lens you will find a significantly better IQ than your zooms and it will open up new horizons for you.
Nov 13, 2014 10:27:09 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
LFingar wrote:
That would be the smart thing for me to do. Now, if the weather would just cooperate for more then a day or so. Rain & clouds, and then clouds & rain!
Or you could set your zoom at 35mm and leave it there. :)
Nov 13, 2014 10:30:37 #
Good advice all, especially about putting it on my camera and forcing myself to use it. I think I will drive into town and do just that as I walk the streets and riverfront. Thanks everybody.
Nov 13, 2014 11:18:57 #
LFingar wrote:
To start with, my one DSLR body is a 6D. On the sh... (show quote)
It is obvious to me that you are using the zooms more often.
Nov 13, 2014 11:39:26 #
I had a similar situation: 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 plus a 35mm 1.4 and a 50mm 1.4. I only used the 35mm twice and traded it back to the store, the zooms are just fine. I kept the 50mm, because every once in a while I get into a mood that says: "today I'm going to shoot 50mm" and the lens does great and I have a good day with it.
Nov 13, 2014 11:56:31 #
Zooms make you lazy and that leads to the wrong or, at least, not the best perspective in your image. Use your feet to get into the best position for perspective and then you can think about the Focal length and selecting the appropriate prime. If you're happy with slightly worse IQ, you can instead use a zoom to frame your composition.
Nov 13, 2014 12:02:28 #
When I was younger (40 years ago) I ONLY used prime lenses, branding all zooms "junk". Compared to current zooms, they probably were. As a conservative and slow adaptor, I purchased some modern zooms and now have Nikon's "Holy Trinity" which, I admit, I rely on heavily. I've still got my, mostly older, primes, and I still use them for low light or when the situation warrants. A couple of my favorites are the new 85/1.4G (you just can't take a bad portrait with that!) and my 180/2.8D, because its light, somewhat fast and somewhat long. Now that i'm indoors for basketball I'll use the 28, 35, 50, 85 and the 180. Ok, the 70-200 comes along, but I actually prefer to use a non-zoom for Basketball. My $ .02!
Nov 13, 2014 12:33:23 #
Xantoz
Loc: Delaware
50mm and 100mm work well for me. Canonl L glass. The 50 can be soft at times. Antique Hasselblad love the 85 and 125mm may have to find the 85 for the Canon 5d m3.
Nov 13, 2014 12:35:09 #
cjc2 wrote:
When I was younger (40 years ago) I ONLY used prim... (show quote)
Interesting that you mention basketball. One of the things I am considering doing is adding a 7DII and EF70-200mm f/2.8 L II to my collection and start shooting the local basketball games. Just as a hobby, but I plan to talk to the athletic director at the high school to see if I can act as a semi-official photographer since they don't currently have anyone. That's one reason why I'm trying to decide if I want to sell the 35.
Nov 13, 2014 12:38:55 #
Xantoz wrote:
50mm and 100mm work well for me. Canonl L glass. The 50 can be soft at times. Antique Hasselblad love the 85 and 125mm may have to find the 85 for the Canon 5d m3.
I hear you. When I bought my first SLR, a Yashica TL Super, in '69 it came with a 50mm, if I remember correctly, plus I bought a 135mm to go with it. Served me very well.
Nov 13, 2014 13:07:09 #
Opinions, you ask? Mine is that if I had it and it wasn't hurting me some way, I'd be keeping it for low-light situations.
Nov 13, 2014 13:13:42 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
Peekayoh wrote:
Zooms make you lazy and that leads to the wrong or, at least, not the best perspective in your image. Use your feet to get into the best position for perspective and then you can think about the Focal length and selecting the appropriate prime. If you're happy with slightly worse IQ, you can instead use a zoom to frame your composition.
You are only as lazy as you want to be, can't blame the lens.
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