Originally posted by house Normhead I like your continuous attempts at understanding primes. I read a frustration in your post on the topic and find it a bit funny but nice how you vent about it.
There are just so many different environments, photographic styles, personalities etc you can't really get to an objective conclusion's on the topic.
I'm firmly in the prime camp. All my cameras always had zooms. From my first compact to the kit lenses of my first DSLRs. Getting the da 35 was a revelation. My enjoyment of photography improved a lot. I prefer just having a single prime but I'm to much of a coward to do this whilst travelking forr instance and many subjects do require a number of focal lengths.
For me the advantages of primes are
- small . I like chunky camera, small lens. A prime is much more convenient in crowds etc whilst not taking pictures.
- fixed fl's steer your thinking and moving into fixed steps again ensuring the subject is covered in distinct ways. This comes at the expense of "perfect" shots. My photography is always serial .
- both the experience of shooting and handling a more "dumb" system and the actual photos have a sense of freedom.
Some people just can’t understand how no matter how much they pontificate, and how erudite they try to sound, they are farting in a windstorm. They might raise a good stink that they can enjoy, but it’s pretty much gone before anyone else catches wind of it.
I’ve had zoom lenses from time to time. I had a 43-86 Nikkor and 35-105 Tokina when I shot that brand, and almost never used them. Sold them both. I had a a Tokina 24-40 for a while, and let it go because I ended up not liking it.
I still have a Tokina 80-200/2.8 that is pre A series. I keep it in a drawer, and use it now and again, maybe once every few years.
When I bought my *istD, it came with an 18-35 or something. I sold it to a girl in Australia. I wanted to get it as far away from me as I could.
I got an 18-135 or some such with my K3. I sold it too.
I gave the 20-40LTD a try. It was on my camera once. Never used it after trying it in my back yard.
I had the 60-250. I used it so rarely that the SDM died twice and it was the first lens I sold when I sold off my APS-C lenses after getting a K1 and deciding that the last camera I would be using going forward was the K3, and that it was the last of that format I would purchase.
Zoom lenses just don’t work for some people, and it doesn’t matter how much bullying others do on the subject. Why people can’t get that and just shut up about it is beyond me. I can’t understand why this, of all subjects, would become a personal vendetta akin to the Hatfield–McCoy feud.
---------- Post added 03-30-19 at 10:16 AM ----------
Originally posted by Sandy Hancock As long as it is well balanced. And the photographer is strong enough.
That would be the within reason part......