anyone using primes rather than zooms?

[fontmoss]

I think possibly AliB is using predominantly primes? Possibly another member. Anyway, anyone using primes rather than zoom lenses? i use a 35mm nearly all the time but have a 50-150 at the longer end because I presumed it would be a lot harder to use a prime and shuffle about when at the longer end, thoughts? This is partly motivated by a consideration of shifting the 50-150 and replacing with a 85mm but that could be madness.

[AliB]

Lol, I still shoot a heck of a lot on zooms too, I just love playing with primes though. If I'm shooting a reasonably static object that allows me the space and time to use a prime to it's max, then it would be my weapon of choice (if only I could afford all that f1.2 lovlieness but alas it's 1.8's)

If it's on the move shooting then it'll have to be the zooms unless I really need the extra aperture op the primes.

If you are confused now spare a thought for me trying to make my mind up. Oh heck, I'll take the lot! :)

[Carl V]

With the exception of a 100-300mm zoom, all my lenses are primes. For wide-angle work right up to short telephoto, I prefer fixed lenses rather than zooms - but that's down to personal preference.

[cowasaki]

I vastly prefer the primes but use a zoom to fill in the gaps ;) I have an 18-200 so that covers virtually the entire range I require but if I can use the 50 or 105 then I will. Just got rid of the 85 to get another 50 due to lack of AF but once I have my new camera I will be getting more primes.

[welly]

All primes at the moment. 24, 50, 60 and 85.

[Merovingian]

Prime to zoom ratio of 2:1 for me personally

[Rovers_Andy]

yep 135 and 400, occasionally use 24-70

[sdb123]

I have 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 primes and a 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom. I prefer prim,e lenses for the shorter focal lengths for some reason...

[HoppyUK]

I think Ed Bray is stocking up with some very juicy L primes ATM.

On the other hand, I recently sold three primes which have been replaced by one zoom.

[Ajophotog]

I have in my normal arsenal 4 primes and 3 zooms which I suppose I use the primes more due to my macro tendencies.

[daugirdas]

If I could afford, I'd get a few primes including 85/1.2, 35/1.4, 24/1.4, 135/2.0, 200/2.0 300/4. The reality dictates a different story, and I am moving to 70-200mm zoom (just sold the 200mm prime). Having just seen what the old 80-200mm is capable of (minus some minor AF speed and consistency issues - I am very picky) I have no doubt the primes could be replaced if f/1.2 or f/2.0 are not required.
Having said that 24-70mm is less impressive zoom (still very good), and 16-35mm doesn't get the best reviews.

[Canon Bob]

End to end primes for me and the only zoom to get an outing is the MP-E65.

Bob

[chewyuk]

Mixture really:

50 1.2, 300 2.8
10-22, 17-40, 70-200 2.8

Quite happy with my lense set-up at the moment.

[Steve Smith]

Every lens I own is a prime except for the Sigma 28-300 on my Nikon F601 which my wife uses.


Steve.

[Marvin d martian]

For me its mainly primes, apart from a 100-300 f4 the rest are all primes. 14, 24, 50, 85
Much prefer using primes.

Mart

[DizMatt]

primes for quality, zooms for general use.
the exception is my tamron which is very versatile and f2.8 which I need for some things.
primes are the way forward though for anything I would consider more serious for me as I can't afford the better zooms which give you the quality, like L glass

[Blapto]

The only zoom I use is the Sigma 10-20, because there's no prime that wide.
Nikon (crop digital and film): 35, 50, 105, 300
Mamiya RZ67: 65, 110
Leica M5: 21
Sinar F2: 90, 150, 210

Basically, any of the Nikon (film), Mamiya or Sinar setups with the Leica in my bag lets me cover from super-wide to short tele. The Nikon Digital setup lets me do super-wide to long tele by itself.

That said, I still want to buy more lenses!

[alexisonfire]

Recently got rid of all my zooms bar the 80-200 (as its prime sharp). If i had the money for the nikon 24-70 i would still have one of those though.

Currently using a 24mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8 & 85mm f/1.8 absolutely love them all :D

[Knikki]

If I am using the Nikons manual focus then 90% of the time I will use primes

If I am using the EOS 1 then I only have two zooms. Seems that SF prime Canon lens are hard to get hold of. Or is it just me? :suspect:

If using the Digi then zooms as I only have 1 prime for that

[tdodd]

I'm mostly a zoom man. Primes have their place - I have a 50/1.4 and an 85/1.8 but I seldom use them. To date I have not used the 50/1.4 at all. It's just in the bag as a low light emergency/backup lens if one of my f/2.8 zooms won't cut the mustard during a wedding. The 85/1.8 does get an airing once in a while as a short, fast telephoto lens for shooting action and/or while wishing to travel light and/or exercise some discretion and not wield a heavy 70-200/2.8IS. Of course it will also do double duty at a wedding if I can't get by with f/2.8.

For anything else I have f/2.8 zooms covering 16-35, 17-55, 24-70, 70-200 and slower zooms covering 10-22 and 100-400.

I did buy a 28/1.8 but it was rubbish and had to be returned. I replaced it with a 24/1.4L and that was worse and met the same fate. Right now I am very disillusioned with Canon's fast/wide primes and will stick with what works well, rather than spend a small fortune on a niche product that appears not to.

I'm in no hurry to get another lens, especially as the next one on my list is likely to be a 500/4, and I have no intention of paying today's prices for one.

For my purposes I find the primes to be niche products that suit a very specific purpose. 99% of the time a zoom offers me far more flexibility to meet my needs.

[EdBray]

I think Ed Bray is stocking up with some very juicy L primes ATM.


I currently have two zooms 12-24 Sigma (of which there is no prime with a similar AOV) and the 24-70L, I have got 4 primes at the moment, 50mm f1.4, 85L, Sigma 105 Macro, and the 135L. I had thought about swapping the 24-70L for a 24L and 35mm f2 but I have decided that its versatility as a walk around lens is worth keeping it.

My next lens will be something a little more specialised, such as the MPE-65, TS-E 24L or a longer lens probably 500mm or above.

[nickwatson]

35L 80% of the time, 70-200mm the rest. Mainly because I use the 35 as an all-rounder, the 70-200 for sports.

[Gonetae]

Only have 18-55mm and 70-300mm zooms atm but currently saving the pennies for a canon 400mm L prime for bird and wildlife shots after seeing the great image quality it can achieve.

Tommy

[fontmoss]

very interesting cheers for the replies. the 50-150 is a great lens but tbh although its half the size and weight of a comparable zoom like the 80-200 i still dont cart it about that often and i thought maybe with an 85 (admittedly no lightweight but still smaller again) i might keep the 35 on the camera and 85 in my bag as i carry my camera all the time, it just lives in the messenger bag i cart about. something to ponder at any rate, keep the replies coming