Prime walkabout Lens

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raythefab

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Is there a Prime that could be used as a walkabout Lens or are they too limited:)
 
I survived a weekend with basically just using the 50/1.8 from Canon. I am on 400D, which is 1.6 crop.

It was self-imposed, I wanted to play with it and stretch myself a bit. (but I must admit, I did change to my 28-135 a couple of times, but the wife wanted some souveneir shots, picture of the theatre etc. which would have required a serious bit of walking and tourist dodging with the 50)
 
Some people would say too restrictive, others would say it forces you to think more about the shot and be a little more creative. :)

I often just have a 50mm on my FF camera.
 
Probably not Ray, although primes are excellent, and I use them a lot, I rarely leave the house with just 1 prime lens with no other lens.

One option is to buy the nifty fifty (50mm f1.8) as a second lens when you are out and about, it's so small you can pop it into your pocket, it's a lovely sharp lens.
 
I loved my 50 f/1.8 with my 40D, it's a great and very versatile lens if you don't mind using your legs to do the framing. Can be a bit tricky for candid portraits (but that just makes you engage with your subjects :) ).

Have a 50 on my D700 and love it even more, but then I am a UWA junkie and it's just that bit wider. I do have to get very familiar with the folk I want to take candids of though. This requires tact, diplomacy and a dollop of cheek!
 
I use my 50 on my 50d as a walkabout quite often, it's a bit long for somethings, and short for others but I find its speed can turn a snapshot into a portrait
 
Thanks all for your time im going to think seriously about the nifty 50:)
 
Well I have my 35mm lens arriving soon and will be trying this for a while (on a cropped sensor). I have a specific walking around lens, but since I like the idea of this lens and having to move around a bit more for the right shot.

I was reading on here, about an old photographer, very famous (me and names :() that shot most of his work with a 50mm prime, so cannot be that bad!
 
Whilst my 24-70 was in for repair last month (and still is. :bang:) I just used a 50mm f1.4 for the London Street Challenge and I seemed to cope pretty well. As said, it does make you think more and encourages creativity although it can be restrictive if you need wide angle shots, especially buildings where it's not always easy to stand far enough away.
 
:)if its any help, all ive had for the past year is a 40d, a nifty fifty, and a 50mm macro, so no zoom or anything :) ... what can i say... its been an interesting year, ive learnt a hell of a lot about how to interact with subects and how to frame shots, as i havent had the conveniance of diferent focal lengths... and ive been very pleased with some of my shots:) ... but this was just because of money... at the time i had no money to buy another lens, and i havent since then...
its been a good learning experiance, but i would never choose to do it:p far to restricting...nothing more frustrtaiting than not being able to fit enough in the frame(where you cant just move back), or seeing an animal and having it run off before you get close enough..., but hey! one day il get that zoom lens:p
hope you find a prime that works for you
nathan
 
Went for a walk yesterday with a 28mm prime on a 35mm film camera (i.e. no crop) and no other lenses. Interesting!
 
grahamc said:
Well I have my 35mm lens arriving soon and will be trying this for a while (on a cropped sensor). I have a specific walking around lens, but since I like the idea of this lens and having to move around a bit more for the right shot.

I was reading on here, about an old photographer, very famous (me and names :() that shot most of his work with a 50mm prime, so cannot be that bad!
Click to expand...

I'm fairly sure you mean Henri Cartier-Bresson.

I do most of my photography with a normal lens. 35mm on the D300, 50mm on the FM2n, 80mm on the 6x6 and 110mm on the 6x7. I really enjoy it and I find I get great results.
 
Blapto said:
I'm fairly sure you mean Henri Cartier-Bresson.

I do most of my photography with a normal lens. 35mm on the D300, 50mm on the FM2n, 80mm on the 6x6 and 110mm on the 6x7. I really enjoy it and I find I get great results.
Click to expand...

You are right, heres the photo I keep thinking of.... piccy

Just been for a walk with my new 35mm F1.8 and a very nice, fast lens. Very impressed. Will see what the photos look like tonight, cannot download from SD card at work.
 
I'll be using my 100mm Macro as a walkabout quite a lot. It's not wide enough for most people, but I'm not a fan of the wider angles, so doesn't bother me so much. 100mm gives me a decent length for candids (although I'm on a 5D, so don't benefit from the crop factor) and it's got the macro....
 
Sigma 30mm f1.4

The Sigma is a great lens and on a 1.6 sensor crop it is pretty close to being 50mm.

Using it is like going back to the 80's where everyone had a 50mm & the f1.4 makes it very useful.

Not many people know this...
Although it is a prime it comes with manual wide angle and zoom
You walk further backwards or further forwards :lol:
 
Change of mind you guys have my mind in a whirl:thinking: so im going to read reviews but the siggy 17-70 i sold on here was a gem so i may backtrack to that one yet:D
 
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