QUOTE(shootkk @ May 3 2010, 12:11 PM)
In an effort to make the thread more photography related without yakking about hauls and wishlists and going OT, I have a topic up for debate. Hope you guys can put in your 2 cents worth...
Taking an image or making an image?Nowadays, zoom lenses are all the rage. No photography forums lack any mention about lenses like the 24-70 f2.8 or the 70-200 f2.8 lenses. Then there's the 16-35mm or the 11-18mm.
There's nothing wrong with these lenses of course but I feel that zooms tend to make you shoot in a more hasty fashion. Zooms can sometimes be impatient and lacks 'personality'.
Primes on the other hand, tend to make you work for a picture. It does not allow you to 'take the easy way out', so to speak.
Zoom lenses tend to make the photographer more pre-disposed to
taking an image as opposed to
making an image. How do I explain this?
If you have always used and zoom lens and seldom used a prime, you will no doubt have this habit:
- You see a scene in front of you that you want to take some pictures of. You raise your camera to your eyes and then you zoom in and out trying to find a frame to shoot.
That's taking an image. Not making one.
If you had a prime, you know you cannot zoom. You see a scene in front of you and you begin to think. How can I get this image here inside the frame? Do you want to show everything? Or will part of it suffice? What angle will work the best? You begin to 'look' for a picture before you even raise the camera to your eye. When you have a rough outline of what kind of picture you want, you then move yourself into position to get that image.
That's making an image.
The difference? When you are out making an image, you have to have a picture of the final result in your head (at least roughly) before you press the shutter. When you are taking an image, you just zoom in and out until something looks good and you press the shutter. There's no pre-conceptualized image in your head.
Does it matter? That depends. If you're happy just to click away and have images that is sharp, clear and noise-free, then it matters little. If you want to tell a story or show something a little differently, then it makes a world of difference.
For that reason, I think that every photographer should learn to live with using just prime lenses before opting for zooms. Especially premium zooms with constant aperture. Once you have learned the basics of photography with the 18-55mm kit lens, ditch it for a 28mm or 30mm prime if you're on APS-C, a 50mm prime if you're on full frame and shoot with that for an extended period before deciding on your next lens purchase.
You can get a 28mm/30mm/50mm prime for less than RM800 and I believe it would be the best investment you can make.
Do you agree or disagree? State your reasons why and let's discuss.
LOL, it like another discussion, using burst mode are noobs, using singleshot drive and manually burst with ur finger tapping are Pro.... so, use manual!
shootkk: (or anyone else): shootkk, this is not directly to u, but just MY Opinion (u can choose to ignore)...
to me, those mumbo jumbo talk and discussion are pure crap, its just talk to make u sound smarter, not shoot better. there is no right or wrong in photographing or making painting shooting editing tak'ing' or creat'ing', magically appear'ing' or anyth'ing' to do with a photo.
the arguement saying u use prime u are better? or more pro, or better learning or
'classified' u as better? that is big BS to me. i do not expect myself to swap 200mm, to 85mm or 35 then 20mm during a wedding job. does that makes me a noob(ok not so harsh, but 'taking') a picture?
journalism may use prime* but of all journalism photo i see, non are super nice(iq) as those shoot for advert in mag by zoom lens. how to justify?
coming back a little to the discussion point, zoom lens gave people versatile, not title of 'taking a picture', technology is so wonderful, use it... impossible u know u have 7fps, u go use single shoot drive and manually use ur hand to burst because using fps is noob mode?
alright...
(my opinion of primes is they can get better aperture then standard zoom, although tech had let zoom caught up with F2.8(up to 200mm)... prime is when i do need the aperture below F2.0)
okay, serious talk here: there are people, who are experienced (who i like to call pro) knows a 'zoom lens' like knowing their wife... coz, when using a 24-70 F2.8(lets say), when shooting a subject, they know how much they need to zoom (distance vs zoom plays a role in determine DOF without changing aperture) and still walks in front to compose with the 'zoom' then set the appropriate required aperture (dof) to shoot... , like i said before, zoom are versatile, many learners might just did what u quote, "
you just zoom in and out until something looks good" but how many would next think about the DOF appearing to the result? who many would turn down to F8 to shoot at 50mm?(so u get the subject, perhaps small or big but near to be sharp)
prime or zoom lens do not give u(not u shootkk) right to brand people...
*edit; eh, i check there is not [ spoiler] in my reply, but why is my reply spoilered? lol
*edit: fixed, thanks to the mod who helped...
This post has been edited by ieR: May 3 2010, 06:13 PM 
May 3 2010, 04:29 PM
Quote
funding for other things? 
Thats why i have decided instead of bring my 1750F2.8 lens to my trip, I choose to just bring my 50mm prime + UWA (11-16 im refering d tokina i target to buy) ... I think I will be spending too much time figure what focal length i wan to shoot if i use a zoom lens during my trip. Even the UWA also considering almost fix since 11-16 really not much difference.
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