zoom lenses and mental problems
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Henry
Well-known
It's all contextual for me. When I travel I think with primes, when I go photograph animals I use zooms.
As for above, I agree, personal enjoyment of the process is what leads to satisfying art. I don't make images everyone likes, I make images I like (when I get it right). Whenever I stop having fun I stop shooting (sometimes for years at a time).
As for above, I agree, personal enjoyment of the process is what leads to satisfying art. I don't make images everyone likes, I make images I like (when I get it right). Whenever I stop having fun I stop shooting (sometimes for years at a time).
back alley
IMAGES
some good mind poking ideas here...thanks to you all for starting me off on a fresh perspective.
peterm1
Veteran
Quite apart from the issue of whether to shoot with a zoom or with a prime I have a similar but somewhat different problem of choice. Over 20 or more years of shooting I have collected a formidable array of lenses (albeit mainly vintage and for the most part not terribly expensive ones - there are just so many good old lenses for actual users it is not really necessary to buy rarities or mint condition lenses.).
Especially now that practically anything can be mounted on mirrorless cameras, this creates an incentive to buy yet more of them when I ave the money to do so. And I enjoy shooting with them all - up to a point. But I have a surfeit of choice and will often dither interminably over whether to use this or that lens (or even a few of them) on a photo walk. Talk about first world problems!
Usually I just end up grabbing one or more at random and that often means going with tried and tested options. But occasionally I will elect to force myself to use an uncomfortable choice or will decide to stick to a particular marque for that day's shooting. Or I may chose a lens I do not often use for one reason or another just because it has been unloved. I realize I am spoiled for choice and am certainly not complaining. But I still cannot bring myself to sell many of these lenses - when I do I almost always end up regretting it.
Especially now that practically anything can be mounted on mirrorless cameras, this creates an incentive to buy yet more of them when I ave the money to do so. And I enjoy shooting with them all - up to a point. But I have a surfeit of choice and will often dither interminably over whether to use this or that lens (or even a few of them) on a photo walk. Talk about first world problems!
Usually I just end up grabbing one or more at random and that often means going with tried and tested options. But occasionally I will elect to force myself to use an uncomfortable choice or will decide to stick to a particular marque for that day's shooting. Or I may chose a lens I do not often use for one reason or another just because it has been unloved. I realize I am spoiled for choice and am certainly not complaining. But I still cannot bring myself to sell many of these lenses - when I do I almost always end up regretting it.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
For Me, primes keep Me focused on the Image
zooms to me, get me confused because You can so easily change the perspective
I lose sight of what I’m trying to capture
thats just Me...we all have different ways of seeing, shooting
zooms to me, get me confused because You can so easily change the perspective
I lose sight of what I’m trying to capture
thats just Me...we all have different ways of seeing, shooting
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I have no problems with zooms on Canon and Olympus.
I just use each and every zoom on its widest end. 😀
I just use each and every zoom on its widest end. 😀
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I don't think I would want a zoom lens on an Xpro any more than I want one on my Leica. I tried a Tri-Elmar, which is sort of a zoom, and sold it. Too big, heavy, and slow, and it got in the way of the finder. And I couldn't figure out the crazy DOF scales!
Zooms make a little more sense on an SLR (even though they are bigger and heavier than on a rangefinder). I sort of like the 17-35/2.8 on my Nikons, even though it is so heavy I can only use it for 35-40 minutes, before I have to switch to a prime. The advantage there is that I can quickly check to see if an extreme wide angle shot is going to work. If it doesn't, I can turn it back to a less extreme setting, without having to bother changing lenses. That's a time saver. It might even be a lens saver if it keeps me from dropping a lens on the concrete. The resulting aches and pains are treated with Aleve, CBD, Tylenol.
It's a classic case of having to choose between two alternatives, neither of which is perfect. Like with camera bags.
Zooms make a little more sense on an SLR (even though they are bigger and heavier than on a rangefinder). I sort of like the 17-35/2.8 on my Nikons, even though it is so heavy I can only use it for 35-40 minutes, before I have to switch to a prime. The advantage there is that I can quickly check to see if an extreme wide angle shot is going to work. If it doesn't, I can turn it back to a less extreme setting, without having to bother changing lenses. That's a time saver. It might even be a lens saver if it keeps me from dropping a lens on the concrete. The resulting aches and pains are treated with Aleve, CBD, Tylenol.
It's a classic case of having to choose between two alternatives, neither of which is perfect. Like with camera bags.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Joe, I think what your issue really is that while you feel the zooms have a use, you've continued to shoot the same way instead of modifying your style.
Zooms are useful in that while they may contribute to photographers sometimes getting overwhelmed by too many choices in framing a shot, you can't beat them for when something happens while you are taking some nice close shots with the wide angle, and in the distance suddenly a ship starts sinking (or just placidly sailing by but creating a lovely scene). They also help when trying to create separation of the subject from the background at the far end of their focal length, then quickly changing to a wider view for context.
One has to find their comfort zone with any lens/camera setup, and the only way to do that is to keep plugging away at it until you can come to a conclusion as to its usefulness. I'm always going back and forth from primes to zooms, and I appreciate what each one can give me in performance. Lots of times it just depends on what style of shooting I'm doing that day, but the main reason for my zoom usage is utility, plain and simple.
PF
Zooms are useful in that while they may contribute to photographers sometimes getting overwhelmed by too many choices in framing a shot, you can't beat them for when something happens while you are taking some nice close shots with the wide angle, and in the distance suddenly a ship starts sinking (or just placidly sailing by but creating a lovely scene). They also help when trying to create separation of the subject from the background at the far end of their focal length, then quickly changing to a wider view for context.
One has to find their comfort zone with any lens/camera setup, and the only way to do that is to keep plugging away at it until you can come to a conclusion as to its usefulness. I'm always going back and forth from primes to zooms, and I appreciate what each one can give me in performance. Lots of times it just depends on what style of shooting I'm doing that day, but the main reason for my zoom usage is utility, plain and simple.
PF
Dogman
Veteran
The Dogman's Free Photo Suggestions. Remember, you get what you pay for....
My suggestion is just to get out and shoot pictures of everything with whatever lens you have on hand. Take pictures of things that catch your eye, even the most mundane and unappealing thing you see. Ugly stuff can be interesting too. Various angles, various focal lengths if using a zoom. Look closely at the light. Spend some time actually looking at the subject and then spend some time studying the results. What do you like about the photos? What is wrong with the photos? Could you have done something different that would have made it better? Be self critical but don't overlook the good things present. Also consider the post production contribution. I'm not saying you can save a bad photo in post production but you can create an emotional response with how the photo is presented.
As for gear, you'll find the gear doesn't mean much in the end. If you like using a piece of gear, you'll do better pictures with it. Personally, I like primes on my Fuji XPros but I'll use both primes and zooms on my Nikon DSLRs. I like using this gear so that's what I use. It's just a means to an end.
My suggestion is just to get out and shoot pictures of everything with whatever lens you have on hand. Take pictures of things that catch your eye, even the most mundane and unappealing thing you see. Ugly stuff can be interesting too. Various angles, various focal lengths if using a zoom. Look closely at the light. Spend some time actually looking at the subject and then spend some time studying the results. What do you like about the photos? What is wrong with the photos? Could you have done something different that would have made it better? Be self critical but don't overlook the good things present. Also consider the post production contribution. I'm not saying you can save a bad photo in post production but you can create an emotional response with how the photo is presented.
As for gear, you'll find the gear doesn't mean much in the end. If you like using a piece of gear, you'll do better pictures with it. Personally, I like primes on my Fuji XPros but I'll use both primes and zooms on my Nikon DSLRs. I like using this gear so that's what I use. It's just a means to an end.
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