favourite focal length on a 35mm/full frame (Page 3): I don't think the 20mm is really all that versatile; you have to get extremely close when you want smaller objects (for example, a...

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

salewis wrote:

I also like prime lenses. One of my favorite wide angle lense is a 20mm f1.8 Nikon lense for full frame. This ultra sharp lense, while not an ultra wide angle, is very versatile.

I don't think the 20mm is really all that versatile; you have to get extremely close when you want smaller objects (for example, a flower, a dog or someone's face) to fill the frame. One time I've spend a weekend with nothing but a 20mm lens. It was perfect for some subjects, such as landscapes or broad street scenes. But often times a real struggle to make it work with other subjects.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

treadwl wrote:

My favorite lens is my Nikon 24-70 for general landscapes. I do find however that most shots are taken between 24-33mm in focal length. This summer on 2 occasions I would have killed for an 18mm lens as I just could not get what I wanted in my 24mm frame.

That said, I still love my 24-70 and will not be getting rid of it ever!!

Larry

Are you shooting full frame or crop?

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

corryhully wrote:

ok, my name is terry and i have been hooked on 28mm primes for years.
i have worn out many a shoe while zooming in on foot.
spent silly money on obscure glass to feed my addiction,
and see no change in the near or distant future :)

any one else afflicted by this poison of choice ?

I'm not addicted to any particular focal length but I am addicted to primes, having everything from 6.5mm to 2700mm... But my favorite, varies day-to-day, is either my 35mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.2. Ok, maybe also my 85mm f/1.4? Darn, can't forget the 135mm... or the 200mm f/2.8... or... Drat, how did I get dragged into this discussion :roll:.

bwa

rocketride Loc: Upstate NY

corryhully wrote:

ok, my name is terry and i have been hooked on 28mm primes for years.
i have worn out many a shoe while zooming in on foot.
spent silly money on obscure glass to feed my addiction,
and see no change in the near or distant future :)

any one else afflicted by this poison of choice ?

I'm really loving my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (the old version, not the 'Art' lens), and my 85mm f/1.8 Canon. Both have saved my butt in hand-held low-light work.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

At 28mm equivalent, my kit zoom lens is adequate. My shortest prime is 50mm equivalent, and my favorite prime is 100mm equivalent.

28mm FF lenses are also reasonably crappy when adapted to a micro four thirds camera.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

corryhully wrote:

ok, my name is terry and i have been hooked on 28mm primes for years.
i have worn out many a shoe while zooming in on foot.
spent silly money on obscure glass to feed my addiction,
and see no change in the near or distant future :)

any one else afflicted by this poison of choice ?

Anything between 14 and 300 mm on full frame is my prime territory. Actually, I like the "holy trinity" set of pro zooms (14-24 or 16-35, plus 24-70 and 70-200)... Throw in a 300 prime and a macro and a 50 or 85 fast prime, and I'm happy. On m43 format, 7-14, 12-35, and 35-100, plus 100-300. Oh, and the Leica 25 and 45 primes.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Back before zooms were good, I worked for a daily newspaper for a while. We used Nikon F, F2 and the FM. The 35mm f/2 was the most used, but I also had a 24, 85 (second favorite), 105, 180 and 300.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Back before zooms were good, I worked for a daily newspaper for a while. We used Nikon F, F2 and the FM. The 35mm f/2 was the most used, but I also had a 24, 85 (second favorite), 105, 180 and 300.

I still have an FTn and an F3, with 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 55/2.8, 70-210 zoom, and 135/2.8. My 105 was stolen, along with my 85, years ago.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

burkphoto wrote:

I still have an FTn and an F3, with 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 55/2.8, 70-210 zoom, and 135/2.8. My 105 was stolen, along with my 85, years ago.

You have my condolences.
My ancient 85 1.8 was also stolen along with some other equipment.
The only thing I remember was losing that 85.

:-( :thumbdown:

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

corryhully wrote:

ok, my name is terry and i have been hooked on 28mm primes for years.
i have worn out many a shoe while zooming in on foot.
spent silly money on obscure glass to feed my addiction,
and see no change in the near or distant future :)

any one else afflicted by this poison of choice ?

Corry, sorry, but we don't have the same affliction.
I don't have much use for a wide angle lens like yours, especially a 28! If I'm gonna go wide its in a zoom to be versatile!
If you go too wide, as in landscape, pretty soon your detail is all gone and you're lucky to even have a subject, or everything is all contorted.
When I go prime it's a fast one to use in low light, 1.4 or faster. Or it's BIG to get ALL the detail. My most used prime and lens of choice is a 200 f1.8 for both portraits and sports. Now that's an AWESOME prime, but it ain't no skinny walk-around!!! Don't have much use for your 28!!!
But Corry, don't be impatient. Hopefully you won't wear out too many more pair of those bespoken shoes of yours before you discover a REAL lens!! :lol: :lol:
SS

dar_clicks Loc: Utah

corryhully wrote:

ok, my name is terry and i have been hooked on 28mm primes for years.
i have worn out many a shoe while zooming in on foot.
spent silly money on obscure glass to feed my addiction,
and see no change in the near or distant future :)

any one else afflicted by this poison of choice ?

There is nothing wrong with using a particular prime lens. Although 24 mm is a favorite of mine, 28 mm is also a good one to use and I leave a 28 on a vintage rangefinder 35 mm camera most of the time. I have a 35 mm lens for another old camera -- also good to use. My Olympus C765 UZ has a wide-angle attachment that lets it go to 26 mm equivalent -- also excellent to use. I have an 85 mm for the Nikon F and I liked it so much that it and the 24 mm came to be my favorites. For several years I carried the F with its 85 with me every day, so even a prime 85 can be a good "walk around" lens. For my newer DSLR the first lenses I got included the 24 and 85 lengths (figured it was better than trying to modify the old ones).

To be clear, I also have some zooms -- just wanted to make the point that it is also enjoyable to use the primes! In fact it can be a good learning experience to do so.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

RichardSM wrote:

In the film days all but one lens were prime lens I still have them all and from time to time I still shoot film.The one exception is the 75-210mm FD push/pull lens. Now with digital SLR's on a FF I like 24mm prime meet all my needs!

I still have a shit-load of zooms from the film days,(60's and 70's), some of them are better than the ones you get now!

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

I tend to use a 35 as my close to normal lens on double frame 35mm camera. I also have a 21 and a 24 if I need wider. I knew a couple of working photographers whose primary battery on their Leicas was 28 and 90--it worked for them.

Lens choice is a matter of personal perspective. If everyone was the same I would never have had a job explaining equipment to my retail customers.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My current favorite is Nikon's new 300 f4. For me, its been a WOW lens. I still appreciate my old and new fixed focal length lenses as well as the holy Trinity. I tend towards the zooms at the shorter end, but my 50, 85, 105 and 180 still see plenty of use.

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

it would be a sad world if we were all the same, revel in your diversities :)