Zoom vs Prime

[Bill Pierce]

When zoom lenses began to first appear for still cameras, they weren’t as good as they are today. It was just something you accepted if you needed a zoom lens. Now that they’ve been around awhile, they’ve gotten better, better optically and better because of in-camera corrections possible in digital cameras. Still, prime lenses often have a faster maximum aperture, smaller size, lower cost and, even today, with their fewer elements and simpler formulas optimized for a single focal length, better image quality. Still, my guess is, the majority of folks favor a a zoom over multiple fixed focal length lenses.

So which do you favor, zoom or prime? I lean in the direction of prime lenses not only because I often shoot in dim light, but, more important, because I don’t want to be deciding what focal length to use while I’m taking a picture. By the way, I also preset focus and exposure. Most of the photography I do sinks or swims on when you press the button, and I don’t want any distractions. That would be a pretty foolish attitude for a landscape photographer where just the right frame can be more important than just the exact moment.

So where do you fall in this pantheon of lens users, and, of course, WHY?

 

[back alley]

i prefer prime lenses…zooms can be more flexible but i find them more distracting and as you say…"I don’t want to be deciding what focal length to use while I’m taking a picture."

 

[benmacphoto]

It depends on what I'm working on that day.
For video work I use primes.
I use primes for their image quality and faster aperture.
And with my work I usually need macro capability that zooms don't offer.
For stills I use a zoom for the speed they offer, with being able to change focal length quickly.
And for personal work/walking around I use primes.
Due to the smaller size and image quality.

 

[BillBingham2]

If it's interchangeable prime, prime, prime, prime, prime. The few times I've used a zoom I've found finding the "right" focal length an extra pain (time delay) as our friend from the great white north.

On compact cameras I can go both ways (e.g. Ricoh GRD III, Sony X100 III). I really enjoy having the a choice of long when I want it. Though in compact it's not long enough (100mm EF) for what I'm really looking for (300mm EF). So I don't take all of the pictures I can, sad in one way but part of time. (Is there a picture of tree that falls in the woods if you're not there?)

I think there are a lot of way to frame an image, some of which I think is dependent upon what lens you are using. I'm not sure if having everything be a nail is good or not. I used to carry a bag-load of SLR glass and switched to three lenses on an M. It was liberating as while I could not capture the wide variety I did before, I was more in the moment, having fun. Thinking about which lenses to use when I had too many choices was like taking the family to the drive through, way too long as people change their mind.

Perhaps I'm a Metro-Lens-Chooser, not sure. Need to check what's in the man purse, ah, satchel, ah, messenger bag, Camera Bag. Yeah, that's it, camera bag!

Nice question Bill!

B2

 

[Pioneer]

Primes are certainly favored, but I do use zooms occasionally.

I have a very nice 24-48mm f3.8 Vivitar zoom for my Minolta that I use a lot when shooting on the street. It has great character.

The 45-80 and 80-160 Pentax 645 zooms are stunningly good lenses that I use frequently as well.

Finally I have a terrific 90-180mm flat field Vivitar in K-Mount that is a terrific, and very flexible, macro.

After that the pickings get a bit slim for me.

 

[thegman]

I tend to use primes as they are generally smaller and come attached to cameras I like. If they were smaller and came on the nice cameras (a zoom Rolleiflex would be quite something), then I'd certainly be interested.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Some pretty spectacular quality available with quality zooms, now -- I'm thinking the L-series I use in my daily newspaper work.
My preference is primes (for all the reasons you state so well) for my personal work (mostly film) but I've used both for DSLR video.

I have to think it would take the world's most dedicated pixel-peeper to tell the difference between a shot made on, say a 24-105 L-series zoom and their wonderful 40mm pancake lens.

 

[02Pilot]

Acknowledging the flexibility offered by zooms, I really prefer primes at least 95% of the time. It's more about having one fewer thing to think about than anything else. Of course, the fact that I shoot most of the time with rangefinders and fixed-lens cameras sort of predisposes me to primes anyway, but even with SLRs (digital or film) I find primes more intuitive and quicker to shoot with.

 

[Samouraï]

Primes! And I prefer lenses that are naturally well-corrected and designed. I dislike in-camera digital corrections based on principle and refuse to correct in post or enable in-camera correction.

 

[kshapero]

I use only zoom. It is called my feet. And as long they keep working I will stick to primes.

 

[gilgsn]

Primes. Except for sports or nature photography, I do not think more than two or three lenses are necessary. I have a 35mm for my M4-P and I plan on getting a 90mm. That will cover 99% of my needs, with 85% coming from the 35mm.

Gil.

 

[segedi]

This just reminded me that I have a zoom to sell.... My only one!

 

[GaryLH]

I prefer primes, but I do like the 24-85 or 24-120 zoom range when out and about w/ my wife or family. If I am using primes, I tend to have max of two lenses. The smaller size and lighter weight are really my primary reason..

Plus for animal, nature, and nature photography, I sometimes will use tele zooms.

Gary

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Currently own six 50mm primes. One regular 35mm and one 100mm macro. And two zooms, which are used less comparing to primes.

Still, my guess is, the majority of folks favor a a zoom over multiple fixed focal length lenses.

Folks here? Zooms on RFs, folders and TLRs? 🙂

Majority overall favor mobile phones with cameras in them. Where lens is ....

 

[Darshan]

Primes, as I have trained my eye to gauge a scene in focal lengths of 35, 40, 50 etc. Now I cannot work with zooms, it will be very distracting.

 

[dasuess]

Ditto, primes only for me. It's worked for over 40 years, so no changing now.

 

[michaelwj]

... Still, my guess is, the majority of folks favor a a zoom over multiple fixed focal length lenses....

I think this is true but swinging. Most photos are taken with phones, which are prime lenses. Most young folk only know that, and if they migrate to a dedicated camera, the prime may seem like the obvious choice. Of course, I could be (and usually am) wrong.

Michael

 

[willie_901]

I prefer primes.

For gigs I rarely have flexibility about where I can put the camera. So a zoom is practical girl controlling the Angie of view. When I do have flexibility in where I put the camera as far away as possible and use the longest possible focal length.

Otherwise I always use primes. I usually carry one (27mm/APS-C). Of course for certain projects I carry different primes. I don't like to carry more than two

 

[willie_901]

I think this is true but swinging. Most photos are taken with phones, which are prime lenses. Most young folk only know that, and if they migrate to a dedicated camera, the prime may seem like the obvious choice. Of course, I could be (and usually am) wrong.

Michael

Intersecting insight about smart phones and primes.

 

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143218

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143218

On my now large size, 35mm cameras,usually primes.
The 50mm Collapsible Summicron for my M.
In SLR mainly primes, often the 55mm Micro-Nikkor.

But i also shoot on P/S Compact Digital where the zoom lens is standard.
I love the zoom there!
I have zoom up to 12x!
Macro built in.
Anti shake built in..
My most used camera is the tiny digital.
So in usage I say zoom.😀