Zoom or prime.
Dec 12, 2018 22:19:16 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
PixelStan77 wrote:
Can't beat the quality of a Prime vs a Zoom
Depends on the lens. There are some fantastic zooms and some less than fantastic primes.
Dec 13, 2018 05:40:13 #
jwoj69 wrote:
For years I enjoyed using zoom lenses. But ever I switched to Canon's 24MB Cmos (Especially in my new camera, Canon 77D) I use prime lenses more often. I enjoy their sharpness as well bright apertures. I went little prime crazy, being few of them in the last couple months. I currently own 24mm f 2.8 Canon, 35mm f2.8 IS `Canon, 45mm USDD VC Tamron, 50mm f1.4 Canon, 85mm f1.8 Canon, 90mm f2.8 Tamron, 105mm f2.8 Sigma. I use them more often than my zooms.
Just the opposite!
Dec 13, 2018 05:47:28 #
rmalarz wrote:
Yeah, I used to be quite wealthy at one time. However, I spent some of my money on booze. I spent some of it on women. I guess I just wasted the rest.
--Bob
--Bob
Dec 13, 2018 05:56:36 #
PixelStan77 wrote:
Can't beat the quality of a Prime vs a Zoom
No longer true unless you are talking about inexpensive consumer zooms. A very good pro quality zoom can match a prime. But at a price.
Dec 13, 2018 06:24:21 #
jwoj69 wrote:
For years I enjoyed using zoom lenses. But ever I switched to Canon's 24MB Cmos (Especially in my new camera, Canon 77D) I use prime lenses more often. I enjoy their sharpness as well bright apertures. I went little prime crazy, being few of them in the last couple months. I currently own 24mm f 2.8 Canon, 35mm f2.8 IS `Canon, 45mm USDD VC Tamron, 50mm f1.4 Canon, 85mm f1.8 Canon, 90mm f2.8 Tamron, 105mm f2.8 Sigma. I use them more often than my zooms.
Best for best I think Primes will do better, and be faster. BUT, up to a 3x zoom there will be advantages in less changing of lens, and as an aid to composition, with less bulk and weight and better affordability. Printing up to 16" x 20", a difference should not be evident. Longer range zooms? maybe a different story.
Dec 13, 2018 06:40:06 #
mrtaxi
Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL
I have great prime glass both Canon L series and Sigma Art, but unless it’s going to be a studio or set shoot where I know the range and size, I generally bring my zooms and no prime glass. On my canon FF’s I have in Canon L series theses zooms, 8-15 fisheye, then 11-24 f4, 16-35 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8 & f4, 70-200 f2.8 mark iii , 70-300, 100-400 mark II , in Sigma 150-600 contemporary. My walk around is the 24-70. But for a weekend away I bring in addition the 11-24 & 70-200 with 1.4 extender and with just the three lenses I am covered. From 11-280mm. I would have to being tote not three lenses but at least 6. Today’s latest L series from canon are so good it’s very hard to see any difference even when blown up. Canon primes have the weight advantage and are faster. Sigma Art I find are almost as good and in some instances better but have a weight penalty but are cheaper. So with all the glass I am shooting about 90 percent of my shots with just 3 zoom lenses.
Dec 13, 2018 06:55:34 #
rdubreuil
Loc: Dummer, NH USA
Bipod wrote:
Speaking of the Nikon 300mm f/2.8, check out the MTF graph
at the bottom of the linked page--it's danged near perfect:
https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/f-mount/singlefocal/Telephoto/af-s_300mmf_28g_ed_vr2/index.htm
And sooooo fast....and contrasty.
But I rarely (if ever) need a lens longer than my old Nikon 200 mm, for the stuff I do.
Oh well.
at the bottom of the linked page--it's danged near perfect:
https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/f-mount/singlefocal/Telephoto/af-s_300mmf_28g_ed_vr2/index.htm
And sooooo fast....and contrasty.
But I rarely (if ever) need a lens longer than my old Nikon 200 mm, for the stuff I do.
Oh well.
With a price tag to go with it...
Dec 13, 2018 07:05:48 #
If I were forced to use prime lenses only, I would likely abandon the hobby. I find them more often than not limiting, and more often than not seem to have the wrong one on when I see the opportunity for a shot that interests me. Some say, "Zoom with your feet, primes will instill discipline in you as a photographer." I say balderdash. *Of course* they are optimal For certain situations and types of shots, at which time I "mission-specifically" gladly affix them.
Dec 13, 2018 07:51:24 #
Well, nothing wrong using primes. Those lenses tend to be faster than many zooms, better corrected for optical aberrations and in the majority of the cases sharper BUT an inconvenience is the fact that changing focal lengths important shots can be missed. What if you are shooting a landscape with a 35mm lens and all of the sudden you see a deer, lets say at 100 feet from you that you want to shoot while such deer is moving across the landscape. It is very possible that by the time you reach for your longer lens the deer is gone or shoot with your 35mm lens risking to have such a small image of the deer that it could be lost in the landscape.
Zooms are very convenient lenses and modern zooms are pretty well corrected and much sharper than they were a few years ago. I treat my zooms as if I had indeed different focal length lenses in one. I could set the zoom to 35mm and shoot landscapes moving around for the composition as if I had a prime or use it at 105 or 120mm and shoot portraits with it or go all the way down to lets say 18mm and use it as if I was shooting with a 28mm lens with my "cropped sensor."
Let me repeat it, nothing wrong shooting with primes but be aware of the conveniences of a zoom and the possibility of missing important shots with it.
Zooms are very convenient lenses and modern zooms are pretty well corrected and much sharper than they were a few years ago. I treat my zooms as if I had indeed different focal length lenses in one. I could set the zoom to 35mm and shoot landscapes moving around for the composition as if I had a prime or use it at 105 or 120mm and shoot portraits with it or go all the way down to lets say 18mm and use it as if I was shooting with a 28mm lens with my "cropped sensor."
Let me repeat it, nothing wrong shooting with primes but be aware of the conveniences of a zoom and the possibility of missing important shots with it.
Dec 13, 2018 08:13:38 #
PixelStan77 wrote:
Can't beat the quality of a Prime vs a Zoom
My lenses are mostly primes but my zooms are all fixed f/2.8 aperture. If your budget permits, avoid variable aperture zoom lenses - they are not made for serious photographers.
Dec 13, 2018 08:23:11 #
Dec 13, 2018 08:26:32 #
AndyH wrote:
Pity. I wasted mine on exes. But now that I have a photographer wife, it's a lot easier to justify the expenses.
Andy
Andy
Maybe polygamy is the answer: a wife who likes photography; another who likes expensive cars; another who likes to travel; another who likes... or... or... did I mention sex? Oops, getting off topic... so one who likes primes; another who likes zooms; one who likes Canons; one who likes Nikons; another who likes....
Dec 13, 2018 08:30:37 #
rmalarz wrote:
Yeah, I used to be quite wealthy at one time. However, I spent some of my money on booze. I spent some of it on women. I guess I just wasted the rest.
--Bob
--Bob
Dec 13, 2018 09:44:07 #
I use both. It just depends upon the subject and my mood. Quality zooms produce excellent results. As do primes.
Dec 13, 2018 10:27:56 #
jwoj69 wrote:
For years I enjoyed using zoom lenses. But ever I switched to Canon's 24MB Cmos (Especially in my new camera, Canon 77D) I use prime lenses more often. I enjoy their sharpness as well bright apertures. I went little prime crazy, being few of them in the last couple months. I currently own 24mm f 2.8 Canon, 35mm f2.8 IS `Canon, 45mm USDD VC Tamron, 50mm f1.4 Canon, 85mm f1.8 Canon, 90mm f2.8 Tamron, 105mm f2.8 Sigma. I use them more often than my zooms.
Yep. Since switching to a medium format system that only has prime lenses (at this point in its evolution), I find that I spend more time looking at a potential image from many angles and moving in and out. I almost never return to my original position to make the image. It seems to me, that zoom lenses tend to make us lazy photographers (or at least make me lazy).
This is not to say that zooms are irrelevant, just that I have changed my shooting style and I like the change.
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