Am I crazy for only wanting 3 primes? (for now...)

**UncleVanya** · 05-06-2016, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by AggieDad

Can anyone explain to me why they are blaming a non-prime lens for making them lazy? I would think 35 mm is 35 mm whether it is a prime lens or wrapped inside an 18-55 mm lens. How does the lens make you lazy?

You could argue that the prime gives you a sharper photo. But I don't understand the lazy argument. And I also don't understand the "see things better" argument.

It seems I could as easily say the zoom encourages (causes?) me to look harder and think more about a shot because the lens gives me many opportunities and choices the prime doesn't give me.

Just wondering.

Don

I'm not speaking in theory - this is my experience and I see it in others that I know. I'm not saying it makes a lot of sense but let me walk you through a hypothetical example. I come upon an interesting shack. I frame it and zoom in and get the shot. On another day I come across something similar but I have the primes with me. I walk around the object and try various angles until I find one that works with the native field of view of the lens and fits my artistic vision. Could this have happened with the zoom - OF COURSE - but it's too easy to sit complacent where you first spotted your potential shot. Do I fight this and try to avoid it with a zoom - yes. Do I think I'm successful - partially yes.

I'm not the guy who claims you must use primes - I'm just a guy explaining why I think primes can sometimes spur people into more creative shots and thus they start to believe it's the only way to shoot. Personally I'm a photo whore - give me a lens (any lens) and a camera (any camera) and I will find something fun to shoot with it. My iPhone, my Android, my K-3, my LX7 my GX7... they all see time.

nomadkng · 05-06-2016, 03:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I come upon an interesting shack..... I walk around the object and try various angles until I find one that works with the native field of view of the lens and fits my artistic vision.

I do that every single time, whether I have a zoom or a prime, that's a requirement for getting the shot right. I learned long ago, your first angle may not be the best angle.

There's creative framing, low, medium, high angles, foreground anchor(s), flat field, panorama. Almost every single subject has these shots and more in anywhere from 30-180 degree arc.

If one is just walking up and ONLY taking the first shot and you are blaming that on the type of lens one carries in their kit, that's apples to oranges.

Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes of doing nothing but sitting there to get a feel for the scene, scout the avenues of approach, look for light play. And I haven't even taken my camera out of my bag. That's not because of what lenses I have in my kit.

**UncleVanya** · 05-06-2016, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by nomadkng

I do that every single time, whether I have a zoom or a prime, that's a requirement for getting the shot right. I learned long ago, your first angle may not be the best angle.

There's creative framing, low, medium, high angles, foreground anchor(s), flat field, panorama. Almost every single subject has these shots and more in anywhere from 30-180 degree arc.

If one is just walking up and ONLY taking the first shot and you are blaming that on the type of lens one carries in their kit, that's apples to oranges.

Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes of doing nothing but sitting there to get a feel for the scene, scout the avenues of approach, look for light play. And I haven't even taken my camera out of my bag. That's not because of what lenses I have in my kit.

I try to be that way myself but I am speaking from experience as to what I see and feel.

**AggieDad** · 05-06-2016, 08:03 PM

I have to admit that it is situational for me. If I am out by myself I am likely to wonder around looking for what I think will be the best shot. If I am with my wife, then the time I spend on a shot is likely to be a lot less.

So in my case it's my wife that determines the care I take on a shot, and in your case it's your lens.

**UncleVanya** · 05-07-2016, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by AggieDad

I have to admit that it is situational for me. If I am out by myself I am likely to wonder around looking for what I think will be the best shot. If I am with my wife, then the time I spend on a shot is likely to be a lot less.

So in my case it's my wife that determines the care I take on a shot, and in your case it's your lens.

Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens...

**AggieDad** · 05-07-2016, 05:54 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens...

Hmmmm... We may be onto something.

gda13 · 05-07-2016, 06:48 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens...

Originally posted by AggieDad

Hmmmm... We may be onto something.

Seems like the beginnings of the formulation of a hypothesis but perhaps there are other factors at play as well such as age or how long we have been married. For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots. We are only 7 years married, no kids yet and she is in her low 30s.

Maybe you have uncovered an interesting but disturbing trend

, although I do have zooms I rarely use them because I love using primes...will that change?

**AggieDad** · 05-07-2016, 07:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gda13

Seems like the beginnings of the formulation of a hypothesis but perhaps there are other factors at play as well such as age or how long we have been married. For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots. We are only 7 years married, no kids yet and she is in her low 30s.

Maybe you have uncovered an interesting but disturbing trend

, although I do have zooms I rarely use them because I love using primes...will that change?

Well, at 50 years I can guarantee you your wife will definitely NOT be your sherpa.

gda13 · 05-07-2016, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by AggieDad

Well, at 50 years I can guarantee you your wife will definitely NOT be your sherpa.

What???

You mean she will no longer be content so long as I take some photos of her too?

Jmhsnk · 05-07-2016, 01:55 PM

I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses.

**UncleVanya** · 05-07-2016, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Jmhsnk

I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses.

What I do is grab and carry a faster lens when I need one. But otherwise I just push the ISO and use DXO OPTICS to reduce noise. We are talking 1-1.5 stops.

**clackers** · 05-07-2016, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by Jmhsnk

I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses.

Then use the DA14 instead of the DA15, FA31 instead of the 30/40, and the FA77 instead of the DA70 ... come on, Jmhsnk, play along with the group! ☺

**clackers** · 05-07-2016, 02:22 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by gda13

. For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots.

If I asked my wife to act as my unpaid photography assistant, a proctologist would soon be required to recover my monopod, GDA.

Jmhsnk · 05-07-2016, 02:26 PM

I was thinking that keeping faster lenses around would be a good work around... though I must say I was hoping for a wonderful alternative I simply hadn't thought of as my budget would definitely love to keep lenses to a minimum.

Originally posted by UncleVanya

We are talking 1-1.5 stops

That's true, maybe I wouldn't miss it as much as I am thinking I would.

---------- Post added 05-07-16 at 02:30 PM ----------

Originally posted by clackers

Then use the DA14 instead of the DA15, FA31 instead of the 30/40, and the FA77 instead of the DA70 ... come on, Jmhsnk, play along with the group! ☺

I'd love to! But my wallet says no

The 30/40, 70 combo's definitely more common from the responses I've seen, so I wanted to see how people who went that route dealt with the speed of those lenses.

**clackers** · 05-07-2016, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by Jmhsnk

I've seen, so I wanted to see how people who went that route dealt with the speed of those lenses.

Well, you're either *serious* about speed - weight and cost - or not.

You can even go cheaper, super quick and heavy - Samyang 24mm f1.4, FA50 1.4 and Samyang 85mm f1.4.

The Limiteds are fantastic autofocus compromises. Remember that being Pentax, they're all stabilized - take that, Canikon!

05-07-2016, 02:19 PM	#57
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Jmhsnk I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses. Then use the DA14 instead of the DA15, FA31 instead of the 30/40, and the FA77 instead of the DA70 ... come on, Jmhsnk, play along with the group! ☺ Last edited by clackers; 05-07-2016 at 02:27 PM.

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05-06-2016, 02:08 PM	#46
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by AggieDad Can anyone explain to me why they are blaming a non-prime lens for making them lazy? I would think 35 mm is 35 mm whether it is a prime lens or wrapped inside an 18-55 mm lens. How does the lens make you lazy? You could argue that the prime gives you a sharper photo. But I don't understand the lazy argument. And I also don't understand the "see things better" argument. It seems I could as easily say the zoom encourages (causes?) me to look harder and think more about a shot because the lens gives me many opportunities and choices the prime doesn't give me. Just wondering. Don I'm not speaking in theory - this is my experience and I see it in others that I know. I'm not saying it makes a lot of sense but let me walk you through a hypothetical example. I come upon an interesting shack. I frame it and zoom in and get the shot. On another day I come across something similar but I have the primes with me. I walk around the object and try various angles until I find one that works with the native field of view of the lens and fits my artistic vision. Could this have happened with the zoom - OF COURSE - but it's too easy to sit complacent where you first spotted your potential shot. Do I fight this and try to avoid it with a zoom - yes. Do I think I'm successful - partially yes. I'm not the guy who claims you must use primes - I'm just a guy explaining why I think primes can sometimes spur people into more creative shots and thus they start to believe it's the only way to shoot. Personally I'm a photo whore - give me a lens (any lens) and a camera (any camera) and I will find something fun to shoot with it. My iPhone, my Android, my K-3, my LX7 my GX7... they all see time.

05-06-2016, 03:18 PM - 1 Like	#47
nomadkng Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,448	Originally posted by UncleVanya I come upon an interesting shack..... I walk around the object and try various angles until I find one that works with the native field of view of the lens and fits my artistic vision. I do that every single time, whether I have a zoom or a prime, that's a requirement for getting the shot right. I learned long ago, your first angle may not be the best angle. There's creative framing, low, medium, high angles, foreground anchor(s), flat field, panorama. Almost every single subject has these shots and more in anywhere from 30-180 degree arc. If one is just walking up and ONLY taking the first shot and you are blaming that on the type of lens one carries in their kit, that's apples to oranges. Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes of doing nothing but sitting there to get a feel for the scene, scout the avenues of approach, look for light play. And I haven't even taken my camera out of my bag. That's not because of what lenses I have in my kit.

05-06-2016, 04:55 PM	#48
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by nomadkng I do that every single time, whether I have a zoom or a prime, that's a requirement for getting the shot right. I learned long ago, your first angle may not be the best angle. There's creative framing, low, medium, high angles, foreground anchor(s), flat field, panorama. Almost every single subject has these shots and more in anywhere from 30-180 degree arc. If one is just walking up and ONLY taking the first shot and you are blaming that on the type of lens one carries in their kit, that's apples to oranges. Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes of doing nothing but sitting there to get a feel for the scene, scout the avenues of approach, look for light play. And I haven't even taken my camera out of my bag. That's not because of what lenses I have in my kit. I try to be that way myself but I am speaking from experience as to what I see and feel.

05-06-2016, 08:03 PM	#49
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	I have to admit that it is situational for me. If I am out by myself I am likely to wonder around looking for what I think will be the best shot. If I am with my wife, then the time I spend on a shot is likely to be a lot less. So in my case it's my wife that determines the care I take on a shot, and in your case it's your lens.

05-07-2016, 05:08 AM	#50
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by AggieDad I have to admit that it is situational for me. If I am out by myself I am likely to wonder around looking for what I think will be the best shot. If I am with my wife, then the time I spend on a shot is likely to be a lot less. So in my case it's my wife that determines the care I take on a shot, and in your case it's your lens. Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens...

05-07-2016, 05:54 AM - 1 Like	#51
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	Originally posted by UncleVanya Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens... Hmmmm... We may be onto something.

05-07-2016, 06:48 AM	#52
gda13 Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,108	Originally posted by UncleVanya Lol. Not entirely, I carry a zoom when I'm with the wife, maybe there is more to this than the lens... Originally posted by AggieDad Hmmmm... We may be onto something. Seems like the beginnings of the formulation of a hypothesis but perhaps there are other factors at play as well such as age or how long we have been married. For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots. We are only 7 years married, no kids yet and she is in her low 30s. Maybe you have uncovered an interesting but disturbing trend , although I do have zooms I rarely use them because I love using primes...will that change?

05-07-2016, 07:53 AM - 1 Like	#53
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	Originally posted by gda13 Seems like the beginnings of the formulation of a hypothesis but perhaps there are other factors at play as well such as age or how long we have been married. For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots. We are only 7 years married, no kids yet and she is in her low 30s. Maybe you have uncovered an interesting but disturbing trend , although I do have zooms I rarely use them because I love using primes...will that change? Well, at 50 years I can guarantee you your wife will definitely NOT be your sherpa.

05-07-2016, 10:18 AM	#54
gda13 Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,108	Originally posted by AggieDad Well, at 50 years I can guarantee you your wife will definitely NOT be your sherpa. What??? You mean she will no longer be content so long as I take some photos of her too?

05-07-2016, 01:55 PM	#55
Jmhsnk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 61	I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses.

05-07-2016, 02:13 PM	#56
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by Jmhsnk I've read through a few threads like this where the 15, 30(or 40), 70 (or 77) combo seems hugely popular as the all-purpose kit. Something that doesn't really come up though is the lack of speed - the fastest of those lenses is f/2.4, which isn't bad but isn't particularly fast. How does everyone deal with that? I'm tempted to head towards the same kit, but I feel like I'd miss my faster lenses. What I do is grab and carry a faster lens when I need one. But otherwise I just push the ISO and use DXO OPTICS to reduce noise. We are talking 1-1.5 stops.

05-07-2016, 02:22 PM - 2 Likes	#58
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by gda13 . For example, my wife will frequently serve as both a lens carrier and an extra set of hands to facilitate lens changing while patiently waiting and even encouraging me to take whatever time I need to frame my shots. If I asked my wife to act as my unpaid photography assistant, a proctologist would soon be required to recover my monopod, GDA.

05-07-2016, 02:26 PM	#59
Jmhsnk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 61	I was thinking that keeping faster lenses around would be a good work around... though I must say I was hoping for a wonderful alternative I simply hadn't thought of as my budget would definitely love to keep lenses to a minimum. Originally posted by UncleVanya We are talking 1-1.5 stops That's true, maybe I wouldn't miss it as much as I am thinking I would. ---------- Post added 05-07-16 at 02:30 PM ---------- Originally posted by clackers Then use the DA14 instead of the DA15, FA31 instead of the 30/40, and the FA77 instead of the DA70 ... come on, Jmhsnk, play along with the group! ☺ I'd love to! But my wallet says no The 30/40, 70 combo's definitely more common from the responses I've seen, so I wanted to see how people who went that route dealt with the speed of those lenses.

05-07-2016, 02:36 PM	#60
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Jmhsnk I've seen, so I wanted to see how people who went that route dealt with the speed of those lenses. Well, you're either serious about speed - weight and cost - or not. You can even go cheaper, super quick and heavy - Samyang 24mm f1.4, FA50 1.4 and Samyang 85mm f1.4. The Limiteds are fantastic autofocus compromises. Remember that being Pentax, they're all stabilized - take that, Canikon!