We are all idiots who deserve to be kicked in the face...

[cbass]

I encourage everyone to listen to ads. The corporations know what's best for us! They are smart, right? What are you holding onto that ancient Leica for? Go out and buy the latest 7.5 megapixel/zoom/AF WonderCam! Right now! Since I'm such a nice guy I'll give you $100 for that crummy old M3 and the fixed focal length 50mm... 😉

Personally, I prefer avialble light landscape & street shooting and shoe leather is my zoom. However, some folks may do just fine with mid-range consumer zooms, especially if they were shooting pictures of children.

However, I learned a lot about zooms when my wife suprised me at the holidays with a compact Panasonic FZ1 digicam. This little thing has a fast 35-420mm (!!) constant 2/8 zoom lens (a Leica Vario-Elmarit) and I am having tons of fun taking pictures with it that my SLRs and RFs could only dream of. The FZ1 is especially suited to wildlife (especially birds) and sports photography. I am learning new methods with the FZ1 that I might never have tried with the heavier glass SLR zooms.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I've learned that zooms have their place in the phtotgraphic world, but are not necessarily the best choice for all photography. I see them as specialized tools. Yes, I do wish that manufactuers would place more emphasis on primes but their job is to sell cameras, not create photographers. I say use whatever lens you want -- just have fun and make pictures! 😀

 

[Sonnar Brian]

My favorite Zoom is the 11-element version of the Nikkor 43~86 F3.5 Zoom.

Ad and Marketing people: I saw FZ-1 and immediately thought FuZzy-One. Someone had a sense of humor.

Chris, is that a Minolta Hi-Matic 9? I have had mine since 1969. Took a lot of mowing lawns to save up for one!

 

[Stu :)]

Back in the day when I used 35mm SLRs, I preferred primes (favorites where the Canon EOS 50mm/1.4 and 100mm/2.8 Macro). However the 20-35mmL and earlier 35-80mm got treated like a dual prime lens. The lens was always shot using one extreme of focal length or another, very rarely did I shoot with lens zoomed at some between those focal lengths.
Henry (a fellow photography student) laughs at me when I walk backwards and forwards for a shot with a zoom lens on the camera.

Currently the only zoom I own and use is the monstrous Schneider 140-280mm Variogon for my 'Blad. The only reason why I got it is because it was cheaper than a Zeiss 150mm Sonnar (yes camera stores here are MAD).
Now if a small child on a swing was to bang into me with that lens on the camera, I tell you now the kid will be coming off second best.

Stu 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

OT: As to hi-matic 9, wgat happens if you set only the aperture or only the sh speed to "A"?

 

[Doug]

Using primes with a rangefinder is not a virtue but a virtual necessity. How many zooms are there if you wanted to use one?

Hi Bob; pretty good point! They are few... The best known is the Leica Tri-Elmar, I think. And Konica also had something of that type for the Hexar RF. "Multi-focals"? Unarguably a zoom, Zeiss made the Vario-Sonnar 35-70 for Contax G.

Somehow the Tri-Elmar doesn't seem so zoom-like, offered as three focal lengths in one big slow heavy expensive lens. It automatically switches the viewfinder framelines to match the focal length selected, and I think that's what makes it usable in the absense of a zooming viewfinder. The Contax G does have a zooming viewfinder. Say, I wonder if there'll be a "Tri-Sonnar" from Zeiss via Cosina for the new Zeiss-Ikon camera?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Pherdi:
The Hi-Matic 9 works in either programmed mode OR manual mode. You have to set the shutter speed and F-stop both, no Multi-function aperture/shutter preferred. The Meter stays active and you get an EV reading that you then set using the shutter/aperture combination. It also has a great easy-flash where you set the GN and shutter speed, it sets the aperture as you focus the camera.

 

[cbass]

Brian, it's my Hi-Matic 7. I love it, although the RF is sli-i-i-ghtly out of alignment. IMHO the Hi-Matics are very under-rated. They are very capable instruments, especially in low light. Bought mine three years ago for $28. Only had to mow one lawn.

Pherdinand, I don't know what happens if you set only one of the dials to A because I've never tried it. Maybe I should. My meter still works well but I almost always use sunny-16 or hand-held.

 

[RML]

Kinda depends on what one's taking pictures of. When I'm using an RF, my style of shooting makes me think in the focal length (usually 35-40mm). But when getting paid to shoot a wedding, people and events are moving too fast and many times you can't block family members view so a 28-105mm AF zoom is what I choose.
For portraits, where you control the distance, I choose an 85mm prime lens. For landscapes, again it's not moving, I use an appropriate WA lens (20 to 50mm prime lens).
Heck if you like what the results are, it's the right choice ~ ; - )

This is probably the most comprehensive guide to the "what-lens-should-I-choose" question!

 

[pradeep1]

Are we such a small subsection of photogs that we are insignificant, or have they just decided that we are too intelligent to be worth advertising to?

YES, and YES