Why use prime... or why use zoom?

I say use the 135 L for this assignment! It is perfect for it. Trust me, the day I shot with this lens is the day I handed my 70-200f4 over, never to desire it on a camera again. AF, Sharpness, Color, Contrast, Bokeh, speed etc are all far superior on the 135L.

broad day light, leave the zoom on. easier to get the right shot with your zoom versatility. low light, switch to your 85 to gain those few precious stops.

off-topic: KevC, how cold is it in Toronto lately? i'm going next weekend.

Thanks for all the inputs. I love having the convience of having all those focal lengths packed into one zoom. It's not that I'm lazy and disliek footzoom (i still do, when i want different perspectives), it's just easier.

ChopstickHero: It's varying Yesterday it was as cold as 3deg in the morning but the afternoon it got to a comfortable 18-22deg. Today it'll be around 15deg I think.

Check it out here:
http://theweathernetwo​rk.com …es/can/Pages/CA​ON0696.htm

Kev, if you would get the 28mm f/1.8 and, maybe, even the 135 f/2, you would have a perfect set of primes. You already got two very fine primes, 85 f/1.8 and 50 f/1.8, and your two zooms are a good blend with your primes too. The 28 and 85mm are in my future acquisition list.

I'd rather take primes if the shooting environment allows. I'd pack lighter with primes and swap lenses in occasions. My 17-40mm zoom is an excellent walkabout lens, but it can't reach the sharpness and compactness of a prime.

For portrait work, I would use the 85 f/1.8. I typically like to shoot single portraits around f/2.8 - but I guess f/4 would work as well with the zoom. It sounds like you can control some aspects of the shooting environment, then foot-zooming would not be much of an issue. Also, I find the 85 doesn't scare the subjects as much as a long, and in your case white zoom lens.

If I was a pro (making a living from photography) I would be more apt to use zooms; get the shot is always the mantra for pros!! Since I am just a happy amateur who enjoys taking pictures and doesn't worry about if I get the shot, I use prime lenses 99% of the time. I do own two zooms and they are excellent quality and convenient but I just get more enjoyment using primes and I always know that I am getting the best possible IQ at that particular FL. I don't mind changing lenses even though I tend to go out with one prime and hope for the best......I rarely take my camera bag since it is way too heavy!!

Luckie8 wrote in post #2082670
prime is for low light conditions

Only for low light conditions?

cjm wrote in post #2083576
Zooms are for people with 1 body and like to photograph more then change lenses.
Primes are for people with 2 or more bodies and like to photograph and not change lenses.
(OK maybe not scientific but seems to be the trend with 100% prime useres)

And for us people with one DSLR and both zoom and prime lenses?????

cjm wrote in post #2083576
All depends how many cameras you have.

Huh?

cjm wrote in post #2083576
Oh I forgot the usual blah I hear about primes, because they're sharper... yeah ok.

It's a fact important to some.

Lightstream wrote in post #2083759
It depends on your shooting philosophy, I guess. Some folks say primes make them more creative. Others like me believe the zoom gives them the freedom to frame and realize the vision (because I pre-frame shots in my mind and I demand the gear keep up not the other way around). Some folks like Coke, some folks like Pepsi. There is no right or wrong answer - only that some would have you think there is a wrong answer.

Best reply in this tread.

For outdoor shooting in good light - you can't beat the versatility of the 70-200 f/4 - and I would challenge anyone to tell images from this lens from images from a prime, except at max aperture in low light - which you said was not an issue.

I love my zooms, but the gear head in me lusts after primes too....but to be honest I'd most always take the zoom.

I don't know. My 2 most used lenses are the 200f/2.8L and the 135f/2.0L. A prime is really just a manual zoom. When I have to I will use the 85 f/1.8, not because of the quality, just because of the low light ability. The 85 really is lackluster in the vividness of the colors, unlike the 2 above primes.

Use two bodies. Prime on one, zoom on the other. Then you get the best of both worlds or two primes on two diff bodies. It depends on your style, how erratic the situation is, etc.

Primes if anything over 300mm(although there is the sigma 120-300 f/2.8 ) pretty much if its 2.8 speed.

I like my primes, i feel the quality and bokeh is better than my zoom... but i do have a lack of glass