I understand and sometimes it is just fun to walk around with a 50mm lens for 35mm or 80mm for 6x6 taking photographs not thinking about changing lenses. That is the point of the thread.
heh -- I didn't realize that. It's not ethics. I use primes when I need faster and (usually) less distortion. I don't have any zooms that go to f/2 or wider and the ones I have often want an extra stop down from their wide open before they get as sharp as a 50mm prime at f/2. I also use them because they are smaller and lighter (usually) and for other personal reasons. But I have a crapload if zoom lenses, and they're great when they're great.
The core premise from the thread title -- that 50mm is great -- I guess that's philosophical. Yes, a 50mm prime is awesome, let me count the ways...
This is a great way to think about it. And it isn't too far off what works for me.
For 35mm I've always shot Nikon. Digital and before. The 50mm 1.8 is an absolute miracle combination of cheap and super good image quality. The 1.4s are nice, too, though a touch more expensive if still pretty cheap.
I tend to always have a 50mm (1.4 for low light, but i have 1.8s too).
I have a 105dc for long. The 105 is a favorite lens for portraits.
For short I have a 28mm.
So 28 / 50 / 105... half / normal / double.
It's just a good formula. If I'm walkin' around I grab the 28, but have the 50 in my bag. if I'm going to be shooting people I have the 105, but have a 50 in my bag. For just general photography I always have a 50 on. Anything longer or shorter tends to be a specialty thing.
Don't get me wrong, I like 35mm, just like 28 better. I OWN an 85 that's a wonderful lens and I use it a bunch when I don't want to deal with the weight and size of my 105. But as I am thinking about what I do most, half / normal / double really is the core of my kit.
I sdopted half/normal/double for all my different formats and it never let me down; nice way to get away with minimal cost and weight and manufacturers seems to produce the best glass for that combo too.
I agree about using your legs, but what happens with a 50mm sometimes is when I use my legs to move back to capture a scene, a lot of intervening stuff shows up in the foreground and often ruins the shot
You need all the lenses, all the cameras and all the films you can carry.
I have more than I can carry, though. Should I get a wheelbarrow, too?
I love how photographic enthusiasts consider the choice of lens focal length to be an issue of Ethics or Philosophy.
(note the sub-forum we are in).
Philosophy I can see. As for Ethics, I remember old guys from my youth who considered using zoom lenses to be cheating. Generally the same guys who considered cropping from full frame to be somehow dishonest.
use your legs
While whale-watching?
Zoom with your feet works great until it doesn't.
It is not true that whoever dies with the most lenses wins.I own over 50 lenses and none of them is a zoom.
It is not true that whoever dies with the most lenses wins.
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