primes VS Zooms

[felixkcsin]

huh? the question is quite simple then. so you use zooms and primes. but isnt there a majority, do you have a preference towards zooms or primes with the equipment you own? im sure there is a diversity of style where some believe only in using primes and can shoot a whole events (example a wedding) on just prime lenses. some prefer using a zoom, some using a mixture of both. i thought it would be interesting to find out what is ratio of such lenses for peoples shooting needs. i think most people land in the in between.

i actually stemmed this question from a previous thread which asked about the "ultimate FX lense". i thought it was interesting that 45% of those in the fx thought the 24-70 was the most essential lense for them. so i thought it would be interesting to break it down further.

i dont see how you could use a zoom as a prime lense and vice versa. because ultimately its a zoom lense or a prime lense.

Okay, I understand where you coming from and what you want to find out.

But I feel that the vote options incline to show the lens types people purchasing rather than using them, keep in mind that "to have it" and "to use it" are different story. So the figure of the votes only shows how many percentage of people "purchasing" this lens type, and this is only from small portion of clubsnap nikon community.

As many mentioned, it's personal reference and I believe it's also situational to use prime and zoom lens to fit to their shooting style and habit. So I rather go for the posts than the vote figures for this topic.

For me, I own a prime and zoom, and I always bring two lenses with me for any event. Because I prefer to shoot portrait, my prime is always on my D90, and I only change to zoom lens when the event will have a combination of portraits, scenery and group photos.

 

[Light Hunter]

My prefer list is 10-20mm, 17-55mm, 70-200mm. I thinking of adding a prime len but not sure which one is the DDMH die die must have prime lens;p

 

[weegk]

50mm 1.4? 85mm 1.4? 50mm 1.8?
See how much you willing to stretch your budget.

 

[CamInit]

Used to think fast zooms were nice, but the weight and size puts me off. I would pick a slower zoom (say, f/4 instead of f/2.8) complimented by faster light primes.

 

[Jeremy1]

Zoom Lenses are for lazy people :bsmilie:

For me I used both. Zoom lens for convenient & if I don't need the wide focal length, I will used prime. I only got 1 prime lens.

In future, I will stick to zoom lens. I feel it's more practical as it's covered a wider range. Waiting for the 24-120 F4 VR so that I can get rid of some lenses.

 

[jasonlm]

Zoom Zoom Zoom. Preferred to carry single lens that can cover multiple focal length

 

[jeff7id]

My choices are the TRINITY LENS : 14-24 f/2.8 + 24-70 f/2.8 + 70-200 f/2.8 VRII
With prime lens to shoot in low light : Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AFS G

So people "Nikon users who are also Clubsnap member and read this thread" have same personal preference with me.

mostly zoom lenses with a prime lens or two

 

[tehzeh]

Is 75mm or 85mm a more useable FOV as compared to 50mm on FF? I saw a lot people stating 85mm as their preferred prime and for crop sensor users, they prefer 50mm on their cameras.

 

[hotwork77]

Okay, I understand where you coming from and what you want to find out.

But I feel that the vote options incline to show the lens types people purchasing rather than using them, keep in mind that "to have it" and "to use it" are different story. So the figure of the votes only shows how many percentage of people "purchasing" this lens type, and this is only from small portion of clubsnap nikon community.

As many mentioned, it's personal reference and I believe it's also situational to use prime and zoom lens to fit to their shooting style and habit. So I rather go for the posts than the vote figures for this topic.

For me, I own a prime and zoom, and I always bring two lenses with me for any event. Because I prefer to shoot portrait, my prime is always on my D90, and I only change to zoom lens when the event will have a combination of portraits, scenery and group photos.

I sanction that Bro. Most times primes can also be used as "zooms" provided whether we are prepared to move closer or not. Zooms only give us a lazy option of "moving" while staying still.

In the end whatever we use boils down to individual preference.

 

[kentwong81]

Do you always bring out the zoom lens, ultra wide angle lens and prime lens together? Do you find it troublesome to keep changing lens when shooting?
For example, when you go oversea travel with backpacking, do you encounter situation whereby you want to shoot landscape with ultra wide lens, then a few minutes later you want to shoot portraits for your friend, and then later on you want to use super zoom lens to shoot something you can't easily move nearer?

 

[kriegsketten]

I maybe wrong, so please correct me if I'm wrong... for zooms, one can never enjoy the advantage of f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8... Something that I have not seen the zooms of current lens ranges can provide... The circle of confusion will never be as creamy, unless the background is REALLY..., REALLY far away from the subject... For zooms to have constant aperture of f/2...be prepared to fork out $$$$ and log the extravagant weight of larger glass elements around...

High quality Zooms have the versatility of variable focal length, at the sacrifice of light-weightness and aperture sizing. Whereas, Primes have the advantage of weight (over the same zoom class), coupled with large apertures which equates to thinner DOF (provided image at the biggest aperture is usable), the only major sacrifice is versatility...

Boils down to individual preference ultimately... but I can see why some good Primes are highly regarded lenses and cost an arm and a leg.

 

[stupidbloke]

I sanction that Bro. Most times primes can also be used as "zooms" provided whether we are prepared to move closer or not. Zooms only give us a lazy option of "moving" while staying still.

In the end whatever we use boils down to individual preference.

Untrue! walking backward and forward and zooming are two very different things. because when you move, you essentially change your perspective. For example take a full body shot from head to toe with an 18mm and a 50mm have contrasting results.

and yes everyone can agree its all about shooting style. i guess some like me have gotten used to carrying a 35 and a 50mm and changing all the time. some prefer the 18-200 type which cover every damn focal length.

 

[stupidbloke]

Do you always bring out the zoom lens, ultra wide angle lens and prime lens together? Do you find it troublesome to keep changing lens when shooting?
For example, when you go oversea travel with backpacking, do you encounter situation whereby you want to shoot landscape with ultra wide lens, then a few minutes later you want to shoot portraits for your friend, and then later on you want to use super zoom lens to shoot something you can't easily move nearer?

i didnt have a problem in vietnam. two of used shared 4 primes. two lenses each. and we didnt feel inadequate. because it was still lighter and took up less space then carrying a zoom

 

[baggiolee]

i find prime lens are hard to use in crowded events as u can't zoom with ur legs.

 

[hotwork77]

Untrue! walking backward and forward and zooming are two very different things. because when you move, you essentially change your perspective. For example take a full body shot from head to toe with an 18mm and a 50mm have contrasting results.

and yes everyone can agree its all about shooting style. i guess some like me have gotten used to carrying a 35 and a 50mm and changing all the time. some prefer the 18-200 type which cover every damn focal length.

Haha...I thought I can pretend to use the prime as a substitute "zoom" lens. You know lah...everyone surely will give way to old man like me if not I use my walking stick to nudge you young man. :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[tehzeh]

i find prime lens are hard to use in crowded events as u can't zoom with ur legs.

zoom with your upper body lorh! :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[Akatsuki]

on a personal note, i shoot with almost exclusively prime, even during events... i only use a telezoom for motorsports and aviation photography.

 

[Ben Ang]

my six work horse lenses are 5 primes and 1 zoom for wide angle. i dont shoot very much wide angle and the tokina 20-35 is perfect for my needs. other than that i ve got 35 f2, 50 1.2, 105 2.5 macro, 135 f2 all manual focus. just added a nikkor 58 1.4.

im trying out a tokina 80-200 f4 and its amazingly good so that might go in too.

but when i used to shoot events, zooms were a must. 12-24, 17-50, 80-200 2.8. stopped shooting events so those are gone liao.

 

[jeff7id]

my six work horse lenses are 5 primes and 1 zoom for wide angle. i dont shoot very much wide angle and the tokina 20-35 is perfect for my needs. other than that i ve got 35 f2, 50 1.2, 105 2.5 macro, 135 f2 all manual focus. just added a nikkor 58 1.4.

im trying out a tokina 80-200 f4 and its amazingly good so that might go in too.

but when i used to shoot events, zooms were a must. 12-24, 17-50, 80-200 2.8. stopped shooting events so those are gone liao.

I see a missing 85mm lens on your list.
A place for the new AFS 85mm f/1.4 G ?

 

[Ben Ang]

EXACTLY! haha.

that hole has been bugging me for a long time. i ve been wanting to get the 85 1.4 AIS, but v diff to find, AF one too ex. and din want to settle for the 85 f2(spoilt by the faster lenses liao). so have been waiting that one out. maybe when everyone replaces their AF-D with AF-S ill get the AF-D =D

o, forgot to add.. i ve got a 105 1.8 AIS on the way too =D

I see a missing 85mm lens on your list.
A place for the new AFS 85mm f/1.4 G ?