Prime or zoom lenses -- does it even matter these days?
Feb 4, 2024 09:08:25 #
I have 4 tamrons, all zooms and all G2's. I tried a 45mm prime and having zoom for so long didn't I didn't use it too much.
Feb 4, 2024 09:36:58 #
EJMcD wrote:
You don't think that portrait could have been done just as well or maybe even better with today's quality short range f2.8 zoom?
Doesn’t matter what the facts are, people believe that somehow the mundane is made glorious by esoterica
Feb 4, 2024 09:52:04 #
agillot wrote:
The zoom lens makes you more creative , you can adjust the picture to show what you need , that force you to look at what you are doing before taking the shot , and adjust .
Zoom lenses do not make you more creative. They merely make it easier to get different versions of the same shot without having to move.
Creativity has little or nothing to do with equipment. In fact some of the most creative people are those with limited equipment that still find a way to get the shot.
Feb 4, 2024 09:58:06 #
Delderby wrote:
The goal posts have moved. Lens Technology has been concentrated on improving zooms. There are now "Prime Zooms" and "Super Zooms".
"Good enough" belongs to the 21st century and the modern generations, rather than the 20th century and the pursuit of excellence.
"Good enough" belongs to the 21st century and the modern generations, rather than the 20th century and the pursuit of excellence.
Feb 4, 2024 09:59:16 #
btbg wrote:
Zoom lenses do not make you more creative. They merely make it easier to get different versions of the same shot without having to move.
Creativity has little or nothing to do with equipment. In fact some of the most creative people are those with limited equipment that still find a way to get the shot.
Creativity has little or nothing to do with equipment. In fact some of the most creative people are those with limited equipment that still find a way to get the shot.
Feb 4, 2024 10:03:27 #
JZA B1 wrote:
I understand that prime lenses usually offer higher image quality. But given the fact that people use smart phones to take pics these days and quality seems to be good enough, does it even matter that primes offer slight advantage while having major disadvantage of fixed focal length?
Do you still use primes at all? For what purpose?
Do you still use primes at all? For what purpose?
I cannot imagine not having my EF 100mm and 50mm lenses. I probably use them the most. I shoot with a 5DMarkIV and the nifty fifty (1.4) works so well when I want something light weight to carry. I am amazed at the quality considering the price. I also prefer macrophotography so Canon's EF 100m works perfectly for me.
Feb 4, 2024 10:54:41 #
Feb 4, 2024 10:56:42 #
Artcameraman wrote:
And you don't have to move to change perspective.
Changing the focal length and changing your position relative to the subject is not the same thing.
Feb 4, 2024 10:58:55 #
Feb 4, 2024 11:04:51 #
Artcameraman wrote:
True. What else is new?
And thus zooming with your feet isn't the same as zooming with your lens. Depending on what you want you may have to do one or the other.
Feb 4, 2024 11:43:55 #
agillot wrote:
The zoom lens makes you more creative , you can adjust the picture to show what you need , that force you to look at what you are doing before taking the shot , and adjust .
Yes
- an optical crop has to be better than a digital crop - or to go wider than first view - impossible for digital! A medium zoom provides more options than a bagful of primes. 
Feb 4, 2024 12:42:25 #
Randyfrieder
Loc: Long Island, New York
EJMcD wrote:
Never underestimate the quality and versatility of today's zooms. My 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 80-400, and 200-500 get much more use than my primes. My primes are limited to a 50 1.4 and a 105 Macro.
I am a working professional. I can’t use primes, because I need the flexibility to zoom in or out to get my shot.
I don’t have time to swap out the lenses.
Of course, the latest zoom glass from Nikon for my Z9 are truly terrific.
And, the f Mount trinity glass works perfectly with the ftz2.
My latest purchase is the Tamron 35-150 f2-f2.8, which has become my favorite lens.
I wish it had more range on the wide end, though.
The Z mount 24-120 is an ideal choice/range for event photography, but the f4 maximum aperture is a problem focusing in dark venues.
Ymmv, imho, 📸 Regards, Randy 📸
I have never been comfortable with prime lenses, because I feel very limited, not being able to compose my shot in the camera, if I can’t get closer or further away from the scene.
Feb 4, 2024 12:53:56 #
Randyfrieder
Loc: Long Island, New York
FTR:
Many decades ago, Nikon introduced a zoom lens, the infamous 43-86. It was a terrible lens, poor image quality. Really bad. (I still have one)
That one zoom lens is responsible for the whole “zoom lenses are not as sharp as prime” controversy.
The quality of lenses, including zoom lenses, have become a whole lot better than that fatal 43-86 mistake.
I don’t have any problems taking sharp, dynamic photos, with incredible detail, with my zoom lenses.
I feel that many of the latest Z mount zoom lenses, on my Z9 couldn’t be any better!!
I am very happy with zoom lenses, I like to be able to compose my shot, in camera. but I understand that some people don’t feel the same way.
That’s why there are so many choices.
To each their own.
If you are able to move closer or farther away from your subject, with a prime, that’s fine. I don’t always have the luxury of that on a wedding or event shoot.
Ymmv, imho,
📸 Regards, Randy 📸
Many decades ago, Nikon introduced a zoom lens, the infamous 43-86. It was a terrible lens, poor image quality. Really bad. (I still have one)
That one zoom lens is responsible for the whole “zoom lenses are not as sharp as prime” controversy.
The quality of lenses, including zoom lenses, have become a whole lot better than that fatal 43-86 mistake.
I don’t have any problems taking sharp, dynamic photos, with incredible detail, with my zoom lenses.
I feel that many of the latest Z mount zoom lenses, on my Z9 couldn’t be any better!!
I am very happy with zoom lenses, I like to be able to compose my shot, in camera. but I understand that some people don’t feel the same way.
That’s why there are so many choices.
To each their own.
If you are able to move closer or farther away from your subject, with a prime, that’s fine. I don’t always have the luxury of that on a wedding or event shoot.
Ymmv, imho,
📸 Regards, Randy 📸
Feb 4, 2024 14:26:20 #
Dean37
Loc: Fresno, CA
EJMcD wrote:
Never underestimate the quality and versatility of today's zooms. My 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 80-400, and 200-500 get much more use than my primes. My primes are limited to a 50 1.4 and a 105 Macro.
I use f/2.8 zooms because of their versatility, no need to change lenses when you can capture objects that appear for only a moment. In the case of low light I do have a 50mm f/1.2 and a couple of other primes, but I don't think I have used any primes for at least 2 or 3 years.
The 14-24mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.8, 35-70mm f/2.8 D and 80-200mm f/2.8 cover 99% of what I photograph. The other 1% are covered by the 50mm f/1.2 or my Tamron SP 250-500mm f/5.6-6.3 manual focus oldie.
Feb 4, 2024 14:40:06 #
Dean37 wrote:
I use f/2.8 zooms because of their versatility, no need to change lenses when you can capture objects that appear for only a moment. In the case of low light I do have a 50mm f/1.2 and a couple of other primes, but I don't think I have used any primes for at least 2 or 3 years.
The 14-24mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.8, 35-70mm f/2.8 and 80-200mm f/2.8 cover 99% of what I photograph. The other 1% are covered by the 50mm f/1.2 or my Tamron SP 250-500mm f/5.6-6.3 manual focus oldie.
The 14-24mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.8, 35-70mm f/2.8 and 80-200mm f/2.8 cover 99% of what I photograph. The other 1% are covered by the 50mm f/1.2 or my Tamron SP 250-500mm f/5.6-6.3 manual focus oldie.
Do you see a difference in sharpness between the 28-70 and 35-70?
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