All prime?

Been all prime for a couple months, it's been fun but I have missed a zoom. I just picked up a 16-35 and a 70-200 2.8IS and will say it's real nice to get them back...An all prime lineup sure can make you think, which is good and bad....sometimes, I just didn't want to think about it, just wanted to shoot. Anyways, just thought I'd put this out there, anyone else go all prime and stay there or maybe do the same as me, go all prime then decide you missed having at least 1 zoom?

i recently added a 17-40 again but mostly used it at 17mm and 40mm.....and the 80-200 i mostly use at 80 or 200mm.

not sure what that says about my need for primes

If I never went anywhere and only used my camera in a studio then all primes is a great way to go (money no object, of course). Otherwise I believe that at least one good zoom is a requirement. If you are "out and about" fumbling with lenses is a good way to miss great opportunities based on my own experience. If I only had ONE zoom it would be the 24-105 L on a full frame or the 17-55 f/2.8 IS on a 1.6 crop. Otherwise I'm quite happy with my current crop of zooms.

I live your site it is very clean

I have started my drift towards an almost all prime line-up. Just got an 85 1.8 to go with my 200 2.8 and 50 1.8. I find that it keeps me from trying to "get every shot" and instead concentrate on what I can get and work with what is there. Yes, I am "missing" some shots, though I am also getting ones that I never would have thought to get with a zoom.

With that said, my next buy most likely will be a 17-50 2.8 Tamron , as I don't shoot all that much in the wide zones and can't see spending what the good wide primes cost. After that, probably a 30 1.4 Sigma and after that.....and after that.... It never ends does it?

im still debating the same...

first el cheapo primes
then added the zooms
now the L primes...

I have the 70-200 and I have never used it really never..just the test shots..
I dont know why neither

Now Im debating aswell hardly myself to replace the 24-70 with 35L and 17-40 and get rid of my zooms...

I hear different story's all the time.

People going for prime and then going back to zoom..

I just dont want the weight anymore

Another thread making me thingking..

Risto

The only zoom I have is the 17-40. I've been tempted at times by the 70-200, but in general I'm quite happy with my lens selection. I guess for me, primes rule.

I'm all prime.
24 1.4L
35 1.4L
85 1.2L

Seriously think'n 14 2.8 II soon.
No plans for any zooms.

I was all zooms 16-35, 24-70, 70-200. Then sold the 24-70 and bought the 200 and 50 1.4. After that I loved the primes and used them much more than the zooms. After using the 135L I am hooked on primes and looking now what I should do with the 70-200 as its not getting a lot of use.

sas8888 wrote in post #4510174
looking now what I should do with the 70-200 as its not getting a lot of use.

I love my primes, but you could always just send it to me, I could figure out what to do with it!

I divide my shooting into two types, and I choose based upon which one I am doing...I choose a zoom as a very convient walkabout lens, for vacation snapshots or family event snapshots, and I will choose the known-excellent prime for shots which are intended to be 'technically the best I can achieve'. But I am not afraid to select a zoom for even critically finicky purposes since the modern zoom is a miracle compared to the first zooms of the 60's and 70's!

Wilt wrote in post #4510243
I divide my shooting into two types, and I choose based upon which one I am doing...I choose a zoom as a very convient walkabout lens, for vacation snapshots or family event snapshots, and I will choose the known-excellent prime for shots which are intended to be 'technically the best I can achieve'. But I am not afraid to select a zoom for even critically finicky purposes since the modern zoom is a miracle compared to the first zooms of the 60's and 70's!

i think most of us who were forced to use all primes in the past actually can appreciate the modern zoom .

after spending a few years on this forum i've seen many a guy (and gal) in the process of finding themselves go all prime but eventually return to their senses .

a combination of primes and zooms makes the most sense to me .

ed rader

All my primes are excellent wide open, except for the 50mm and 85mm; they need about one stop down.

Yes, as Ed says, a good combo is probably best. Zooms do compete well against primes these days. Then there is the whole travel light thing vs. speed. I have more primes than zooms by far, but the zooms do get a lot of use.

I have a nice blend, although I like the results of the primes much more than the zooms. Personal preference I suppose.