Am I crazy for wanting primes?

I shot 800 shots for my sister in laws wedding this last weekend, I brought everything in my sig minus the kit and I really gave each lense hell, or so I thought. I just ran everything thru exposureplot and noticed that the bulk of my images were at 50mm, a whopping 489 of the group, followed closely by 70mm and then 200mm.


It was a good learning experience for me as it was the first time that I took my flash out and used it exclusively (LOVE!). I didnt find myself wanting anything faster than F4 the entire time. Instead I wanted shallower DOF. I found many times where I would have (according to DOF calc and eyeballin it) 4-6ft of DOF, which often times focus wouldnt be quite where I want it (user error). Outdoors, I love my 70-200 in every way, I dont mind standing way back for portraits either. Ive tested this lense extensively, and have shot with it nearly as much as my 50mm in far less time of owning it but I cant help but think that there is a better kit setup for me.


So Ive been tossing the idea around between switching to a 30 to 35mm prime and a 85 to 135mm prime in its place since nifty really left me wanting something a little bit wider. It asked people to step back and together more often than I want to remember.

One thing thats been sticking in the back of my head is macro. With my P&S I loved macro, its all I did with the thing, so Ive been toying around with the idea of the 100mm macro, or 85 and tubes or even the 135L and tubes and maybe at a later date getting a 100-400 or 300L to fulfill my wild life needs as my 70-200 has been leaving me wanting more reach.

I could sell the 70-200 F4L IS and net fairly close to the used value of a 35L, or I could go with the Sigma 30 and add the 85 1.8 and tubes, or spend a little extra and get the 135L along with it.

Im pretty scared to go with the Sigma, too many horror stories, maybe if I had a 50D... If the news is reporting alot of shootings in a neighborhood I tend to stay away, even if a few people live there safely and love it.

So what am I to do? My alternatives are to keep the 70-200 and save more for something wider and faster, or sell. I know I could sell all my gear and come out clean with a 50D and Sigma 30mm without worring about the focus issues, but the wife wants the xti...ugh

That is complicated.. I really like my 70-200 focal length.. I say GET BOTH! You know you want to!!

Well it seems like you are in a pickle. Are you planning on shooting more weddings? What will your primary focus be. I find I am all over the place in the focal lengths that I use. I find that I try and get a good range when I am out there. I have not done a wedding where I was a photographer ONLY, so I'd say with certainty you need to see what will do you well. If you are at 50mm, then 70 and 200 you have a few choices.

1. 17-55 2.8 & 70-200 2.8 IS
2. 30mm 1.4 or 35mm 1.4L Canon & 70-200 2.8 IS
3. 30mm 1.4 & 85 1.8 & 135L & 200 2.8/1.8/2
4. Keep what you have in the short, and replace the 70-200 4L IS with the 2.8L IS
5. Sell everything and draw??

You aren't crazy for wanting primes. If you take pictures at many varied focal lengths, the zooms are great. Personally I like my portraits at 100mm, and I find myself using the 200mm focal length heavily as well. Knowing this I have both Canon 100mm primes and the 200 2.8.

You mentioned Macro... the 100mm 2.8 is great! Takes nice portraits wide open as well. The 100mm 2.0 and 85mm 1.8 are faster, but no macro. You did mention heavily using the 70mm length. You may consider the 60mm 2.8 macro. Possibly the sharpest lens Canon makes. Of couse the 200mm 2.8 L is terrific as well.

For wide angle, I hear nothing but good things about Canons 35mm 2.0. From what I hear, the fast Sigma 30mm is better IF you are lucky enough to get a good copy. From what you wrote, I think a nice combo might be the 100mm 2.8 macro and the 35mm 2.0. Also if a 200mm leaves you wanting more reach, don't forget the 1.4 X extender teleconverter.

I would think that buying a prime at a focal length you find you use the most would be best (instead of selling off your zooms to go all prime). Zoom, for out-and-about stuff (if your worried about getting the shot at the correct FL you've decided on) and bust out a prime for the DoF control/low light shots).

I'm personally in the group that's not too worry about reach/correct focal length. I find that if I have an interesting subject, I try to make it work with the prime I have in hand.

Consider that you will be spending time swapping lenses all the time and missing shots. If you are going to shoot weddings, by all means get primes, if you wish, but also get another body.

My personal opinion is that it is ultimately the final product that counts and now how or what was used to get it. Making it as easy as possible to capture as many "good" images as you can is what you should be striving for.

I would never recommend selling off zooms to replace with primes. Just about everybody I know who's done that has bought zooms again in certain ranges. The best way is to just add primes to your kit as you can afford them and keep the zooms for now. If you find, after honing and establishing your photographic style over many thousands and thousands of shots in many different situations (which usually takes years) you are STILL finding that you just aren't using a specific zoom lens any more, then you can sell it safely.

BTW, the sigma 30 is an awesome, awesome lens and a great high quality purchase. If you get one and if it's off, just send it in to Sigma. It's not that hard to do. The 85 1.8 is also fantastic, but I find it a bit too long to use on a 1.6 crop for anything indoors.

you'll miss the convenience of the zooms!

Get primes and extra body.....Rich

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 on one body, Canon 85mm f/1.8 on another body. I've been doing this on my last few shoots and it works out REALLY well. I love my 70-200mm f/4, but when I want to shoot (and travel) light, the 30/85 combo works wonders!

I wouldn't sell the zooms to go prime only. I think both have their place. I have a few of both and everytime I think of selling a zoom, I end up using it the next day. I'd simply save and add to your gear list. You can get some great primes for a reasonable price.

Zooms make me lazy. Primes don't.

Primes also allow for better photographic styling. All of my favorite photographers use primes and I do too.

I use primes 98% of the time these days, so I don't think you're crazy.

no.

i like using primes when i'm doing my own stuff. afterall, they're brighter, sharper, and sometimes smaller and lighter. furthermore, most of them also do not have extending barrels, which i hate cause they only let dust in.

so yeah, i'm more of a prime person.

timnosenzo wrote in post #6797240
I use primes 98% of the time these days, so I don't think you're crazy.

...or maybe we're all crazy.