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When to use a prime over a zoom with the same focal length covered?


11 years 6 months ago #257232 by Tennis Guy
I have a few extra bucks to spend so I'm shopping around for some new lenses. I've looked at many discussions on here to piece together an idea of what I want. However one question is still getting me.

So let's say you have a 24-70mm lens. Would it make any sense to have a 24mm prime? When would determine it was necessary to use the 24mm prime or a 50mm prime?
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11 years 6 months ago #257266 by Joves
Well when to use a prime over the zoom as with anything else is which works best with the subject. But no I would not get a 24mm prime just to have one. I would look to get a nice prime to compliment your arsenal of glass. For example a nice macro lens since I see you have a D90, the 105 is nice. It depends on what you really want to shoot, or what you shoot most that decides what you get.
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11 years 6 months ago #257374 by KCook
The obvious advantage of the prime is that it will usually have a faster aperture. If we want to split hairs, there can be more subtle differences: The prime may give a crisper image due to slightly less flare. The prime may be easier to manual focus. The prime can be less bulky, easier to work with at very close distances (prolly does not apply to telephoto however). The prime absolutely will not have zoom creep (drives me nuts with my old Canon 28-135). The prime will inoculate you against advice to never use zooms in critiques. :dry:

Also see -
www.photographytalk.com/forum/beginner-p...lenses-prime-vs-zoom

no help Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #257396 by Henry Peach

When to use a prime over a zoom with the same focal length covered?


When I want a faster and/or smaller lens, and I don't mind giving up variable focal length.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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11 years 6 months ago #257473 by MYoung
Do any of you shoot solely with primes?
Photo Comments
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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #257558 by Henry Peach

MYoung wrote: Do any of you shoot solely with primes?


When I shot film I only used fixed focal length lenses. I used a variety of cameras. For most I had a normal and portrait length lens. For a few I also had something wide (like a 35mm or 28mm on 35mm format). For instance with my 4x5 camera I carried 265mm, 150mm, and 90mm lenses (similar field of view to 90mm, 50mm, and 28mm on 35mm format). For my medium format SLRs I usually had the leaf shutter portrait lens. The flash sync speed on the bodies was really slow, but the leaf shutter lens allowed up to 1/500th flash sync.

I've been using zooms for about 6 years now. I find variable focal length very handy, but if I had to go back to just a normal and portrait length I think I'd do fine. Many of my favorite cameras don't even have interchangeable lenses.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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