anyone using primes rather than zooms?

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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.
 
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! :)
 
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.
 
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.
 
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...
 
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On the other hand, I recently sold three primes which have been replaced by one zoom.
 
I have in my normal arsenal 4 primes and 3 zooms which I suppose I use the primes more due to my macro tendencies.
 
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.
 
End to end primes for me and the only zoom to get an outing is the MP-E65.

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


Steve.
 
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
 
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
 
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!
 
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
 
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? :cautious:

If using the Digi then zooms as I only have 1 prime for that
 
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.
 
HoppyUK said:
I think Ed Bray is stocking up with some very juicy L primes ATM.
Click to expand...

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