Ditching a walkaround zoom, or am I crazy?

More and more I'm using my sigma 30mm for a "walkaround" because of its speed and weight. Anyone else using a normal prime for their everyday lens?

My 17-40 is only used for landscapes/architectur​e basically now. Maybe it's time to turn it in for an UWA..

There is something quite liberating about wandering around with a prime definitely, nto sure I could give up the zoom though.

Anything that doesn't get used in my kit gets sold after a very short period of time. Might as well put the money that's sitting there in the form of gear towards other gear you'll actually use....

Generations (well, maybe 2 generations) of 135 format film photographers (35 mm) were happy doing just that, except of course, it was with a 50 mm lens. Ultimately, this is why the 50/1.8 is such good value for money.

I am considering the same thing. Well, not entirely, but the most part. I'm considering selling my Tamron 17-50, even though it is one HECK of a lens. I have the Sigma 24-60 f/2.8 as well, and it's almost (but not quite) as sharp, and has better bokeh. For a lens that I don't use that often, it seems more logical to pocket the money. I'm still on the fence about that, but I find myself using my manual focus primes most of the time in that range, rather than the 17-50. I'll keep the 24-60 so I have autofocus in that range if I need it, but I'll mostly use my primes.

My entry into SLR photography was a 17-85 f4-4.5 IS USM. A month or so later i got the 70-200 F4L plus a 1.4x TC. Now I use the 70-200 90% of the time between those two, and I probably use the 70-200 90% of the time at 280mm for birds. As that focal length is rather short I currently have to be a ninja, however I will probably buy a prime lens like the 400mm f 5.6 for birding purposes.

Back to the point. I went through the photos I had taken with the 17-85mm. 90% of the time it was jammed at it's widest setting, the remainder of the time was at around 30-35mm. As that lens is only really average at 17mm and I'd really like to go really wide, I have just placed the lens on eBay. I will use the funds to purchase a wide angle zoom (sigma 10-20mm or similar).

I plan to purchase a 30ish mm prime for the rare occasion that I need it. In my opinion I'd pocket the money and put it towards what you'd use the most.

I've wondered myself if I could realistically use a wide prime as my walkaround. I'm going to give it a try and see how it works out.

Welcome to the board noodle_snacks!

I have sold off 2 of my zooms 24-70 and 70-200 and am currently stocking up on my primes. If I am not sure what I am going to shoot then I take the 50 1.4 out with me. If I have a little better idea and I can I take the 135 2.0 out as my walk around I will. Up until this point I haven't said oh I wish I had that zoom back. I just look for the best shot with the equipment that I have and in some cases I was able to get the shot because of the faster prime than the slower 2.8 zoom. Now just saving up for the 85L for my walk around.

I am contemplating the exact same thing! (well not quite)

Since purchasing my Sigma 10-20, i haven't used the 17-50 in months(i used it much like noodle_snacks). The Tamron is awesome and as sharp as an L lens - but this means nothing if its not getting used.. thinking very hard about selling it and using the money to stay alive

I'm very odd, on my film cameras I wouldn't dream of wandering with anything but a 50mm prime, I don't even own another lens for some bodies but whenever I grab the 40D and go for a walk around town, I always put on the 24-105 and have the 10-20 in my pocket. I can't explain why.

I traded my 24-105 for a 35L and I've don't miss having a "normal zoom".

i don't have a typical "walk around" zoom. Only the sigma 30 as well, although my uwa is the tokina 12-24 so it gets a little further into the normal range, and probably gets more use as a walkaround.

I've been using my sig 30 primarily for a while. I have two 50's, but they are good for portraits. My 50 super tak I use sometimes just because I love the pictures it's produces. My last lens is a 50-135. It's a useful range for me to have zoom, also for portraits or events.

I'm going to add a 11-16 next year, but only because there's no prime in that range for the price, heh

FlexiPack wrote in post #5896863
I've wondered myself if I could realistically use a wide prime as my walkaround. I'm going to give it a try and see how it works out.

30mm is NOT a "wide" lens on a 40D.

On a 40D (or any other APS-C DSLR), 30mm is a "normal" focal length - almost identical field (angle) of view as a 50mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

i so often ditch the grip, stick the 50 on the 40 and go out and about with only that. Between lugging the bub around and not having as much time when out and about to dick around with my camera kit - im finding that compromise is the theme at the moment and im enjoying being 'stuck' on a focal length - opening up some creativity.

Im considering 35 - 50 - 85 prime combo as an option to zoom... the 85 is on the way (1.8) and one day ill look into wide prime - seems the siggy is a ripper but id need compatability with 5d ff. 35L i suppose

Although i dont think i would completely ditch the zoom. - i do like shooting at wider apertures generally which is why i just love the primes... just got to be careful not to overdo it!