I've been using a Sony A6600 for over a year now and my go-to lenses are: Sigma 18-50 mm 80% of the time, Sigma 16 mm 1.4 for conference calls, landscape and astrophotography, Sigma 56 mm 1.4 for portraits.
This is literally what I’m planning on getting from my first set up. in your opinion if I get the Sony eight 6600 should my first lens be the Sigma 18 to 50 or the sigma 56 mm?
I bought my first camera in the beginning of the year and tried to use the kit 28-70 for around 4 months. When I went to Switzerland for a trip to do some landscape photography. I found that whenever that I zoom in or zoom out, I always felt that I wanted more than just the 28-70, especially on the telephoto side. 28-70 felt kinda dull to me, so I bought a 70-200 f4 g and the 20mm 1.8 g and I don't think I need any other lens
Ive been having this conundrum as i look to change systems. I feel like a 24-70mm would be best bang for buck but also at the same time, i find myself shooting at 35mm or needing more than 70mm so i think im going to go for a 35mm and an 85mm F1.4
Brother Pat, I have been into photography for about 8 years and have never really understood what the term “fast lens” meant. You simplified it perfectly for my smooth brain lol. Thanks a bunch!😂🥰😁
My go to lens is the Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. I often also use the Sony Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. That's it. 11 years ago I started shooting with a kit zoom and just got used to it, still love the images that cheap kit Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 lens got me with my used D50. My style has developed but my zoom lens still fits what I do. I feel it gives me freedom to photograph just about anything (I do different kinds of photography), whereas the 55mm, sweet as it is, does not.
I've been using my 24-70mm GM II and cannot be more than happy about it (I use mostly for landscape, but it doesn't stop me from shooting portraits). Now thinking of getting 70-200mm GM II (again, for landscape mostly). We shall see. Great job on this video, Pat! Loved it
@@pigreatlor I’ve never had any of those and didn’t get a chance to compare. I would say this - if you’re posting in social media - go less expensive. If you know you’d want to make some cool prints - maybe go with GM. Again, just my opinion
My kit as a hobby photographer (my friends consider me one, but I don't do gigs or use pro-glass). Nikon 24-120mm F4 - My D750 kit lens that takes 90% of my photos. Super versatile, results are consistently awesome, just wish it was faster. Literally don't NEED anything else... Nikon 70-300mm F4.5 - My first lens I selected myself for wildlife/ranged photography. Extra range in a relatively light and compact package that can still shoot portraits. It always comes with me. Nikon 35/50mm F1.4 (Future) - Want this to be my fast portrait/product lens for EPIC bokeh. Between those three, I think I'll have a super versatile and compact kit that will serve for a long time.
One thing you should consider when gettying a zoom is lens creep, ie if the lens extends to the long end when you carry it it is super annoying. So make sure it will not do that.
All of your videos are top notch my friend. No BS, no 20 min intro. You focus on the subject and not like all those, look at me I am an influencer photographer who wants validation... Just sharing your vast knowledge. Respect. Travel plans to Europe? 🙂
A very useful video. I have never understood why some people see primes and zooms as mutually exclusive. For me, both primes and zooms have different use cases and it really comes down to picking the right tool for the job.
Great video Pat. I have a few thoughts of my own. I started out on primes and only now am I deciding to go the zoom route. What you say about primes and missing shots due to whatever constraints is so true but I think only advanced shooters will appreciate this fact. Many beginners and intermediates are not knowledgeable enough yet to see the shot and what FL is best suited. Adding to that the lens swapping times at events and even the ferry on bag (that you carry around with all the primes) is getting a bit tiresome now. I am finally 'giving up' and going the classic route of the 24-70 and 70-200 dual camera combo, and despite the additional zoom weight I'll be distributing it over a harness and able to practically ditch the bag altogether. But I do not regret learning on primes, it taught me compositions, compression etc so that now I feel able to deliver a far higher quality output from zooms vs that beginner feeling lost as to what length to use at any given scene. One last thing. Zooms I feel generally lack 'character' (along with a lot of modern primes). The current trend is clinical well scoring lenses both on primes and zooms, and you're so right that zooms are catching up to the point that the sharpness and character is hard to distinguish between the two. However, primes of the past, such as the Speed Panchro II Cooke (or LLL remake), or my vintage Takumar 50/1.4(8e), these lenses have innate character that I have never seen a zoom replicate. I feel its a real shame that todays zooms lack any 'pizzazz' that might separate them more from the zoom crowd. So my feeling is if you're going to go prime at least seek one out that is doing something (other than pure light gathering) a little differently. Thanks again, great vid.
As an apsc user, I started with sigma 18-50mm f2.8 which is basically around 24-70mm.....I am so happy but I feel like I need 50+mm prime for portrait soon.
Great video. I love my 24mm 1.4 so much that it has nearly become my "standard" lens. But I also love the more extreme as the 14 mm and the 200-600 mm, but they are not as used as the standard zoom like the 28-75mm 2.8. I find it a good challenge to use an unusual lens like a 80-200 mm for cityscape or a 14mm for people. It forces you to think and see in new ways.
When I started, zooms were so bad that if you wanted a decent shot you had to go with primes. Which wasn't a bad way to learn photography. Today we have great zooms as well as great primes. Either can produce great shots. But, you'll never know which focal lengths or apertures you'll prefer until you try them. (Yeah, I know. No one ever said photography was cheap.) But, fortunately there are great third party lenses and lens rentals. And the lenses you prefer today might not be the ones you prefer a year or five years from now. Which isn't a bad thing. In fact, I would say that it shows growth as a photographer. Over the years I've gone through periods where I preferred zooms over primes. And other years where I preferred primes over zooms. But, I've almost always had a combination in my bag. The important thing is to go out there and shoot with whatever you have. Learn from it. Enjoy using it. You can always change your gear later. And you almost surely will.
For my full-frame film cameras, here are the prime lenses I used the most: 14, 18, 24, 35, 28, 50, 55, 85, 105, 135, 180mm. I did not carry all the lenses at the same time. I usually picked three or four lenses to carry. Some of my favorite combinations were: 35/85/180mm (my personal favorite) 24/35/85mm 24/35/85/180mm 24/50/105mm 24/50/135mm 14/28/55mm (favorite for landscapes) Later, I purchased the following zoom lenses to use instead of my prime lenses: 14-24mm f/2.8 28-70mm f/2.8 80-200mm f/2.8
@@pigreatlor Most of my prime lenses were manual focus. Instead of upgrading all my manual focus prime lenses to auto focus, I purchased auto focus zoom lenses instead. I sold none my prime lenses. I prefer using prime lenses for shooting still images. I usually shoot with primes and use my zooms as backups. For video, I prefer using zoom lenses. I usually shoot with the zooms and use my primes as backups.
I love the idea of zoom lenses, but then never use the zoom when I've got one. I find where I like in the range and stick to it. Even on my G7XII where I bought it for the 24-105, I have the custom mode locked in at 30mm, and never zoom. 😂 Idk what's wrong with me. I think I just like that feeling of synchronicity. That previsualisation that comes with one focal length. It really helps to incorporate the tool as an extension of my body a lot quicker, and offers me more flow maybe. 🤔
I totally get this! But I would challenge you to for sure, get used to 30, but then try a different focal length and start getting used to that and previsulising that. After you do all the common focal lengths over the course of your career, you'll be much better off for it.
Great video, I do own primes and zooms (Gmasters) If its a client jobs like families or studio photos, definitely primes however if Im out in events like sports or parades, I need the zooms 24-70 and 70-200 or 100-400.
I currently run a 35mm sigma art 1.4 on my a6400 as my main shooter. The plan now is to get a 24-70 2.8 then go full frame camera body and I should be good for a while only being a year in
Definitely needed a video like this. Been sitting on an older 80-200f2.8 and a 35mm 1.8 and primes are something I’m really thinking about diving more into even as a sports photog. Also congrats on 200k man !
Use to have 2.8 zoomz covering 10 to 400 w various aperture. N they were great cos my interest was taking images during travel. Mainly street n landscape or city Scape. Now, I took mostly images of my kids during travel. These days I bring lens from 13 to 100 at aperture all below f2. Cos I love the l blur background.
Zoom lenses are non existing in my kit...the digital correction of the distortion is just too weird for my eyes. All the prospectives are wrong in the scene. Great video as always Pat! I'll share it to some friends that are just starting now with photography 👌
I use mostly zooms due to the lower barrier for entry. Older zooms so I can throw them on either my digital or analogue body without issue. (Sony body EF glass with some pentax glass as needed)
Thank you so much for this informative video. I really appreciate the work that you put in to help people understand photography on a greater level! All the best!
a great travel lens is the tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6. It aint no boken king at all but if you're doing landscape photos ect you will usually be at f8 or so. Works great and is small and light.
Fantastic video. I have been having this debate for a year now. I have settled on sticking with Prime lenses. i do street photography. my Fav lens is my 100mm|f2 on a crop sensor so its 160mm. and my 50m(80mm)|f1.8. I spent a year traveling through asia with these 2 lenses.
Very helpful and amazing video! I really needed a video like this, as I'm planning on upgrading to the Sony mirrorless system from my nikon dslr for a long time now for stills and video, and I was thinking on which lenses I want to have to start out with without breaking the bank. Currently planning on getting the a7rV alongside a 24-70mm gm ii and 70-200mm gm ii, and if I can squeeze the budget for it an 85mm gm as well cause I love my 85mm!
Nice! IMO I would totally save the money and go for the A7IV instead and buy the 85GM with the spare cash, but that's just me! In most scenarios the A7RV is absolutely overkill for 99% of people.
Interesting to hear your opinion. I haven't experimentent with too many focal lengths, but I usually tend to bring my 50mm or 85mm if I'm just walking around town doing street. I have both a 70-200mm f.2.8 and a 17-28mm f.2.8 that I love, but the firt one is a bit clunky to carry around in my day to day and a 17-28mm is personally a tad to wide and I feel a bit limited in most use-cases. However If I'm doing landscape photography those are usually my go to lenses :) Looking at getting a 35mm or 24-70mm, since I don't know how those would fit my own style the best
That was really interesting - I have a Canon 24-105 RF lense (the L pro version). Its the only lense I have, and it covers off most things really well. It is F4 however which I have found annoying at times with low light. Sharpness and quickly being able to change up focal length are amazing with this glass. I'm spoiled with it. I'd love the 70-200 L in either f2 (really fast) or f4 (small and light). There's times where 200mm would be so handy.
I think shooting with primes is more enjoyable and it stimulates your creativity. Zoom gives your most convenience and variety of possible angles and focal lengths. The image quality is virtually the same in opinion, in some cases zoom can best prime in term of image quality.
I'm a beginner looking to get my first camera. I'm probably going to go with the Nikon d3300, since its nice and cheap & I'm on a budget. The one I'm planning to buy is the body only. I only plan on buying 1 lens since I'm just starting out. Would you recommend I buy the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G), or go for the 35mm f/1.8G? Thanks for your help!
Great advice! I used zoom lenses until a recent prime lens purchase and I love it, but my recent travels show that a good balance of both types allows me to capture what I want best. Something you didn’t really talk about is different feel of prime shots compared to zooms. Maybe it’s a Canon thing, but the prime lens I use just shoots really different and has a softer contrast/clarity? compared to zooms. Other photographer friends I know have the same opinion. The vibe is super different.
Vibe is a totally subjective thing, and while I understand where you're coming from, for beginners trying to delinate the differences, I think that would have just made the video more confusing. Definitely shooting with prime vs zoom feels different, but most of that comes down to recomposition and how you go about that.
1:32 Great video Pat but one correction: most primes do not have a variable aperture, instead most are constant (eg. 1.2, 1.4, 1.8) ..I'm sure you just slipped up while talking... just here to clarify!
Haha, thank you. Yes, that was a slip. I think in my mind I meant that the apertures can still change, even though they're "fixed" when compared to zooms. Whoops!
Hi! I have a question for anyone who knows and well you. If you are learning, you’re a very beginner would you get a Sony a7 with a prime if you take picture of athletes like in competitions and such? Or get a Sony a6400? I need some guidance please! Thank you so much for this video this has helped me a lot!
My crop lens (Fuji X-T5), I pretty much can't get zoom lenses that have better aperture than f2.8. Which is the equivalent of f4.2 for bokeh/separation, and much worse than a f2.8 on a full frame sensor once the ISO starts going up much. For those reasons alone, on crop sensor cameras I find you simply have to use primes in a range of situations.
IMO I think as a beginner photographer you should really only really use zooms. Learn what each focal length and which one you really like. Then over time get primes that fit your style.
Fuji APSC guy - Maybe give this a try instead of spending money on new gear. Buy vintage fast primes and experiment with focal length that work or don't work for you. It may be easier (and a lot less expensive} to make an educated choice. All my vintage lenses I had acquired 25 years ago. You may find a family member or friend that has an old camera with some beautiful equipment. The adapter was 60 dollars. My lenses: -Fuji 16-80mm F4.0 (New zoom kit lens} -Vivitar 28mm F2.0 macro, -Minolta 50mm F1.7, -Minolta 135mm F3.5 5 (zoomwith Macro)
Great insights. I treat all my zooms as primes, I will bring my zoom if I don't have confidence around the venue, or it's first time, then I'd bring Nikon 24-120mm f4. If I already know my limits I usually have picks between 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 105mm and usually just bring two. While I love the versatility of Zooms, it can't never replace Primes in my creative workflow, I work around models and portraits, so that works for me, I zoom with my feet. Cheers!
@@MikeVideos327 I do own Z6 II and D750. But I use a lot of glass from F mount to this day. I found the 35mm f1.8 S great if you're also doing video works, since they're really silent. But I choose to pack my Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art most of the time. As for 85mm, I'm not a big fan of it, since it doesn't give a unique look to my works. You can stick an APSC with a nifty fifty and there you have 'sort of 85mm' look. Hence I picked the Nikon 105mm f1.4 instead, and I got it less than the Sigma price offerings.
@@fajar13k Thanks a lot for the reply! Super interesting you love the 105. I have the 50 and 105Z and am trying to justify the 85 for my portrait work. I love the 85 but am wondering about the extra light with the 1.8 vs 2.8. I am happy with the 105, but am open to the 85. What would you do?
@@MikeVideos327 Personally if I'm open to 85, I'd get the Z if I'll be shooting videos, but If I'm just doing portraits I'll just get the older 85 f1.8g. I rarely shoot wide open in 50s and 85s and likely almost steps down to like f2.8 even f5.6. I want my compression too in 85, but my 105mm does its job better. It gives better 3d pop to my works in my opinion. Hope it helps!
@@MikeVideos327 Extras if you care, I have: Nikon AFS 17-35mm f2.8 Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art Nikon AFS 105mm f1.4E I do portraits, cosplay photoshoots, and weddings. So far it's been wonderful to have these in my bag.
I really love the 70-200 for street. It is so uncommon because of the size, the weight and the lack of invisibility that it makes really unique images even in well captured places.
Loving the series Pat. I currently own the 24-70gmii and love it. I like to capture hiking content that naturally involves landscape so thought it was a good idea. I have the 20mm 1.8g prime aswell that I intent to use for night shots. Keep up the brilliant work.
I have a 16-35mm GM and a 70-200 GM ii mainly used for landscape. But I'm craving a prime with f1.4 , like a 50 mil. I cannot afford an extra lens. Should I give up 16-35 (my focal lengths are mostly 24-35 in this lens) I have and buy a sigma version of 24-70 and a 50mil or keep my current lenses and buy a cheaper 50mm f1.8. I'm also not sure to give up the GM :-) Tough right ;-) ? Any suggestions?
Slight correction. Most lenses these days are sharpest around f/4 to f/5.6. If you look at all the MTFs of modern lenses, they go downhill from f/5.6. It is however, a negligible trade-off in sharpness for DoF.
This is topic that has been beat to death but still always interesting. I think zooms have gotten soooo good that I now use zooms as my 'prime lenses' and supplementing with key prime lenses. So my daily carry zoom is the Sony 20-70 f4g. My event and short travel lens is the Tamron 35-150, yes heavy but every bit as good as high grade primes. My sport lens includes Sony 70-200 f2.8 II GM, just superb. My primes include an 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.4, 135mm f1.8 for their superior background separation. And for lightweight carry the Sony tiny G 24mm, 40mm, 50mm. So I will generally carry a zoom as my first choice shooter and keep a few key primes for low light or a particular look. Fun stuff.
My default atm is a 2 camera set up for events with a 24-70 on one and and 135 on the other. Let’s me have epic versatility and also feed my bokeh whore addiction 😅
Hi Pat, great advices and I'm sure it will help a lot of peoples ! By my side, i went all for the versatility of the Zoom lenses so i got the 24-70 and the 70-200 GM II ( saved during a long time to get them .. and now my Banker is mad it me 😅 ) For my travels, that's easiest to pack too and I won't have to worry, I'll be ready for anything who come at me ( Landscape, Street ... ) Next addition, maybe a 85mm prime as it's a really interesting focal length to use in the Cities Best
Buy primes unless your use case absolutely requires you to have zooms. Primes are more optically perfect lenses and have access to wider apertures. Zooms compromise optical quality and aperture width for the zoom function.
i'm so torn between primes and zooms, i love them both, so it looks like i've got to get both of them. thanks for this great indept videos. f2.0 zooms are a neat thing, although a 70-200 f2 lens would be huge, of course they would never make that
I'm waiting for a lens company to make a dual prime. Like a zoom but only has 2 focal lengths, ie. 35/50 not 35-50...may have to start my own company to do this
Leica has the Tri Elmars that are 3 focal lengths in one. Gotta say this makes more sense with rangefinders with fixed frame lines, but it's still a cool idea
For my APS-C digital cameras, here are the prime lenses I used the most: 16, 23, 56, 135mm Later, I purchased the following zoom lenses to use instead of my prime lenses: 16-55mm f/2.8 50-140mm f/2.8
IMO I think as a beginner photographer you should really only really use zooms. Learn what each focal length and which one you really like. Then over time get primes that fit your style.
I've been using a Sony A6600 for over a year now and my go-to lenses are: Sigma 18-50 mm 80% of the time, Sigma 16 mm 1.4 for conference calls, landscape and astrophotography, Sigma 56 mm 1.4 for portraits.
This is literally what I’m planning on getting from my first set up. in your opinion if I get the Sony eight 6600 should my first lens be the Sigma 18 to 50 or the sigma 56 mm?
Zoom when you cannot control the scene (wildlife, etc) prime when you can control the scene. Hard & fast rule indeed.
They say "zoom with your feet" and act surprised when you can't do that when on a cliff side.
You can’t control the scene in street photography, and yet many street photographers shoot with primes.
@@earthtoandy_ loving the counter 😂😂
@@earthtoandy_what thing u can’t control on the street 💁
I bought my first camera in the beginning of the year and tried to use the kit 28-70 for around 4 months. When I went to Switzerland for a trip to do some landscape photography. I found that whenever that I zoom in or zoom out, I always felt that I wanted more than just the 28-70, especially on the telephoto side. 28-70 felt kinda dull to me, so I bought a 70-200 f4 g and the 20mm 1.8 g and I don't think I need any other lens
Congrats on 200k! 😄
Heheh thank you!
@@patkay You're very welcome, keep it up!
Ive been having this conundrum as i look to change systems. I feel like a 24-70mm would be best bang for buck but also at the same time, i find myself shooting at 35mm or needing more than 70mm so i think im going to go for a 35mm and an 85mm F1.4
Brother Pat, I have been into photography for about 8 years and have never really understood what the term “fast lens” meant. You simplified it perfectly for my smooth brain lol. Thanks a bunch!😂🥰😁
Love your new series of basics of photography.......keep them coming.Huge fan of your work
Thanks for watching! =)
My go to lens is the Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. I often also use the Sony Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. That's it. 11 years ago I started shooting with a kit zoom and just got used to it, still love the images that cheap kit Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 lens got me with my used D50. My style has developed but my zoom lens still fits what I do. I feel it gives me freedom to photograph just about anything (I do different kinds of photography), whereas the 55mm, sweet as it is, does not.
I've been using my 24-70mm GM II and cannot be more than happy about it (I use mostly for landscape, but it doesn't stop me from shooting portraits). Now thinking of getting 70-200mm GM II (again, for landscape mostly). We shall see. Great job on this video, Pat! Loved it
did you buy it yet?
is it worth over the cheaper 24-70mm ? (sony or sigma e.g.)
@@pigreatlor I’ve never had any of those and didn’t get a chance to compare. I would say this - if you’re posting in social media - go less expensive. If you know you’d want to make some cool prints - maybe go with GM. Again, just my opinion
@@X0N1C not yet, buying it this month (sorry I never saw your response to my comment until now)
thanks that actually helps!@@Anton.Semenov
Great, reasonable recommendation! Thank you for not being in one camp or the other and explaining the different situations.
My pleasure! I'm definitely more of a "the right tool for the right job"-kind of person, and I'm glad that came through
My kit as a hobby photographer (my friends consider me one, but I don't do gigs or use pro-glass).
Nikon 24-120mm F4 - My D750 kit lens that takes 90% of my photos. Super versatile, results are consistently awesome, just wish it was faster. Literally don't NEED anything else...
Nikon 70-300mm F4.5 - My first lens I selected myself for wildlife/ranged photography. Extra range in a relatively light and compact package that can still shoot portraits. It always comes with me.
Nikon 35/50mm F1.4 (Future) - Want this to be my fast portrait/product lens for EPIC bokeh.
Between those three, I think I'll have a super versatile and compact kit that will serve for a long time.
I totally agree with you on your recommended purchase sequence for buying lenses.
I went to practice my street photography, used my sony 70-200 2.8 II absolutely loved it, that lens is amazing love it
Any chance of doing a video on setting up for success with colour grading. From camera setup to adjusting colour in an editing software please
One thing you should consider when gettying a zoom is lens creep, ie if the lens extends to the long end when you carry it it is super annoying. So make sure it will not do that.
All of your videos are top notch my friend. No BS, no 20 min intro. You focus on the subject and not like all those, look at me I am an influencer photographer who wants validation... Just sharing your vast knowledge. Respect. Travel plans to Europe? 🙂
A very useful video. I have never understood why some people see primes and zooms as mutually exclusive. For me, both primes and zooms have different use cases and it really comes down to picking the right tool for the job.
Great video Pat.
I have a few thoughts of my own. I started out on primes and only now am I deciding to go the zoom route. What you say about primes and missing shots due to whatever constraints is so true but I think only advanced shooters will appreciate this fact. Many beginners and intermediates are not knowledgeable enough yet to see the shot and what FL is best suited. Adding to that the lens swapping times at events and even the ferry on bag (that you carry around with all the primes) is getting a bit tiresome now. I am finally 'giving up' and going the classic route of the 24-70 and 70-200 dual camera combo, and despite the additional zoom weight I'll be distributing it over a harness and able to practically ditch the bag altogether. But I do not regret learning on primes, it taught me compositions, compression etc so that now I feel able to deliver a far higher quality output from zooms vs that beginner feeling lost as to what length to use at any given scene.
One last thing. Zooms I feel generally lack 'character' (along with a lot of modern primes). The current trend is clinical well scoring lenses both on primes and zooms, and you're so right that zooms are catching up to the point that the sharpness and character is hard to distinguish between the two. However, primes of the past, such as the Speed Panchro II Cooke (or LLL remake), or my vintage Takumar 50/1.4(8e), these lenses have innate character that I have never seen a zoom replicate. I feel its a real shame that todays zooms lack any 'pizzazz' that might separate them more from the zoom crowd. So my feeling is if you're going to go prime at least seek one out that is doing something (other than pure light gathering) a little differently.
Thanks again, great vid.
As an apsc user, I started with sigma 18-50mm f2.8 which is basically around 24-70mm.....I am so happy but I feel like I need 50+mm prime for portrait soon.
THANKS A BUNCH! Definitely helped a beginner here. 🤙🏼
Great video. I love my 24mm 1.4 so much that it has nearly become my "standard" lens. But I also love the more extreme as the 14 mm and the 200-600 mm, but they are not as used as the standard zoom like the 28-75mm 2.8. I find it a good challenge to use an unusual lens like a 80-200 mm for cityscape or a 14mm for people. It forces you to think and see in new ways.
I also love love love the 24. I use it all the time and it's so great for things like street photography.
I shoot on an fx30, I like the faster primes because they give me more light for sure!
When I started, zooms were so bad that if you wanted a decent shot you had to go with primes. Which wasn't a bad way to learn photography. Today we have great zooms as well as great primes. Either can produce great shots. But, you'll never know which focal lengths or apertures you'll prefer until you try them. (Yeah, I know. No one ever said photography was cheap.) But, fortunately there are great third party lenses and lens rentals. And the lenses you prefer today might not be the ones you prefer a year or five years from now. Which isn't a bad thing. In fact, I would say that it shows growth as a photographer. Over the years I've gone through periods where I preferred zooms over primes. And other years where I preferred primes over zooms. But, I've almost always had a combination in my bag. The important thing is to go out there and shoot with whatever you have. Learn from it. Enjoy using it. You can always change your gear later. And you almost surely will.
Great advice here.
My favorite 3 lenses are sigma 16mm , sigma 18-50 2.8, sony 70-350
For my full-frame film cameras, here are the prime lenses I used the most: 14, 18, 24, 35, 28, 50, 55, 85, 105, 135, 180mm.
I did not carry all the lenses at the same time. I usually picked three or four lenses to carry.
Some of my favorite combinations were:
35/85/180mm (my personal favorite)
24/35/85mm
24/35/85/180mm
24/50/105mm
24/50/135mm
14/28/55mm (favorite for landscapes)
Later, I purchased the following zoom lenses to use instead of my prime lenses:
14-24mm f/2.8
28-70mm f/2.8
80-200mm f/2.8
so you sold all your primes and are using zooms now? im thinking of doing the same, i make cooking videos. do you think thatll be any different?
@@pigreatlor
Most of my prime lenses were manual focus. Instead of upgrading all my manual focus prime lenses to auto focus, I purchased auto focus zoom lenses instead. I sold none my prime lenses.
I prefer using prime lenses for shooting still images. I usually shoot with primes and use my zooms as backups.
For video, I prefer using zoom lenses. I usually shoot with the zooms and use my primes as backups.
thank you! i shoot only video so i think zoom lenses are probably a good idea@@Narsuitus
I love the idea of zoom lenses, but then never use the zoom when I've got one. I find where I like in the range and stick to it. Even on my G7XII where I bought it for the 24-105, I have the custom mode locked in at 30mm, and never zoom. 😂
Idk what's wrong with me. I think I just like that feeling of synchronicity. That previsualisation that comes with one focal length. It really helps to incorporate the tool as an extension of my body a lot quicker, and offers me more flow maybe. 🤔
I totally get this! But I would challenge you to for sure, get used to 30, but then try a different focal length and start getting used to that and previsulising that. After you do all the common focal lengths over the course of your career, you'll be much better off for it.
@@patkay Absolutely. 💪
My biggest struggle is 85 for street. I'm amazed with what people can do with it.
Great video, I do own primes and zooms (Gmasters) If its a client jobs like families or studio photos, definitely primes however if Im out in events like sports or parades, I need the zooms 24-70 and 70-200 or 100-400.
I currently run a 35mm sigma art 1.4 on my a6400 as my main shooter. The plan now is to get a 24-70 2.8 then go full frame camera body and I should be good for a while only being a year in
Nice!
well explained!! helped me decide on my first lens kit
I like zoom for the most part yet I found this helpful and informative. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Congrats on 200k!!
Definitely needed a video like this. Been sitting on an older 80-200f2.8 and a 35mm 1.8 and primes are something I’m really thinking about diving more into even as a sports photog. Also congrats on 200k man !
Thanks man!
Use to have 2.8 zoomz covering 10 to 400 w various aperture. N they were great cos my interest was taking images during travel. Mainly street n landscape or city Scape. Now, I took mostly images of my kids during travel. These days I bring lens from 13 to 100 at aperture all below f2. Cos I love the l blur background.
Zoom lenses are non existing in my kit...the digital correction of the distortion is just too weird for my eyes. All the prospectives are wrong in the scene.
Great video as always Pat! I'll share it to some friends that are just starting now with photography 👌
Thanks for watching!
I use mostly zooms due to the lower barrier for entry. Older zooms so I can throw them on either my digital or analogue body without issue. (Sony body EF glass with some pentax glass as needed)
Thank you so much for this informative video. I really appreciate the work that you put in to help people understand photography on a greater level! All the best!
a great travel lens is the tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6. It aint no boken king at all but if you're doing landscape photos ect you will usually be at f8 or so. Works great and is small and light.
Fantastic video. I have been having this debate for a year now. I have settled on sticking with Prime lenses. i do street photography. my Fav lens is my 100mm|f2 on a crop sensor so its 160mm. and my 50m(80mm)|f1.8. I spent a year traveling through asia with these 2 lenses.
Nice. I would definitely recommend trying out zooms at least for a year or so though! Just so that you know what you'd be potentially missing out on!
@patkay i might hire one when i get back to Japan next year and see how it feels.
Very helpful and amazing video! I really needed a video like this, as I'm planning on upgrading to the Sony mirrorless system from my nikon dslr for a long time now for stills and video, and I was thinking on which lenses I want to have to start out with without breaking the bank. Currently planning on getting the a7rV alongside a 24-70mm gm ii and 70-200mm gm ii, and if I can squeeze the budget for it an 85mm gm as well cause I love my 85mm!
Nice! IMO I would totally save the money and go for the A7IV instead and buy the 85GM with the spare cash, but that's just me! In most scenarios the A7RV is absolutely overkill for 99% of people.
Interesting to hear your opinion. I haven't experimentent with too many focal lengths, but I usually tend to bring my 50mm or 85mm if I'm just walking around town doing street. I have both a 70-200mm f.2.8 and a 17-28mm f.2.8 that I love, but the firt one is a bit clunky to carry around in my day to day and a 17-28mm is personally a tad to wide and I feel a bit limited in most use-cases. However If I'm doing landscape photography those are usually my go to lenses :)
Looking at getting a 35mm or 24-70mm, since I don't know how those would fit my own style the best
I feel like everyone needs to own a 24-70 at some stage to get a good idea of how versatile it can be!
where is a good place to buy secondhand cameras?
Thank you
I can't find a prime 200mm for sony, they only seem to be zooms that are compatible at that focal length...
That was really interesting - I have a Canon 24-105 RF lense (the L pro version). Its the only lense I have, and it covers off most things really well. It is F4 however which I have found annoying at times with low light.
Sharpness and quickly being able to change up focal length are amazing with this glass. I'm spoiled with it.
I'd love the 70-200 L in either f2 (really fast) or f4 (small and light). There's times where 200mm would be so handy.
For me it’s zooms if I don’t know what to expect from a new location. But if it’s someplace I know then I take my favorite primes.
That's a great workflow!
I think shooting with primes is more enjoyable and it stimulates your creativity. Zoom gives your most convenience and variety of possible angles and focal lengths. The image quality is virtually the same in opinion, in some cases zoom can best prime in term of image quality.
I'm a beginner looking to get my first camera. I'm probably going to go with the Nikon d3300, since its nice and cheap & I'm on a budget. The one I'm planning to buy is the body only. I only plan on buying 1 lens since I'm just starting out. Would you recommend I buy the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G), or go for the 35mm f/1.8G? Thanks for your help!
Great advice! I used zoom lenses until a recent prime lens purchase and I love it, but my recent travels show that a good balance of both types allows me to capture what I want best.
Something you didn’t really talk about is different feel of prime shots compared to zooms. Maybe it’s a Canon thing, but the prime lens I use just shoots really different and has a softer contrast/clarity? compared to zooms. Other photographer friends I know have the same opinion. The vibe is super different.
Vibe is a totally subjective thing, and while I understand where you're coming from, for beginners trying to delinate the differences, I think that would have just made the video more confusing. Definitely shooting with prime vs zoom feels different, but most of that comes down to recomposition and how you go about that.
1:32 Great video Pat but one correction: most primes do not have a variable aperture, instead most are constant (eg. 1.2, 1.4, 1.8) ..I'm sure you just slipped up while talking... just here to clarify!
Haha, thank you. Yes, that was a slip. I think in my mind I meant that the apertures can still change, even though they're "fixed" when compared to zooms. Whoops!
@@patkay No problem!
Hi! I have a question for anyone who knows and well you. If you are learning, you’re a very beginner would you get a Sony a7 with a prime if you take picture of athletes like in competitions and such? Or get a Sony a6400? I need some guidance please! Thank you so much for this video this has helped me a lot!
Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
My crop lens (Fuji X-T5), I pretty much can't get zoom lenses that have better aperture than f2.8. Which is the equivalent of f4.2 for bokeh/separation, and much worse than a f2.8 on a full frame sensor once the ISO starts going up much.
For those reasons alone, on crop sensor cameras I find you simply have to use primes in a range of situations.
Why is the 85 and 24 last in that list?I seem to be going in exact reverse order to that. 24, 85 and now looking for a 16-35 zoom.
IMO I think as a beginner photographer you should really only really use zooms. Learn what each focal length and which one you really like. Then over time get primes that fit your style.
Since I have my Tamron 35-150 2.8 I am not thinking to this question
Thank you for good advice, I bought an e bike and somehow my hometown begin to look more beautiful, my iPhone 11 Pro can not get any depth of field.
Fuji APSC guy - Maybe give this a try instead of spending money on new gear. Buy vintage fast primes and experiment with focal length that work or don't work for you. It may be easier (and a lot less expensive} to make an educated choice. All my vintage lenses I had acquired 25 years ago. You may find a family member or friend that has an old camera with some beautiful equipment. The adapter was 60 dollars.
My lenses:
-Fuji 16-80mm F4.0 (New zoom kit lens}
-Vivitar 28mm F2.0 macro,
-Minolta 50mm F1.7,
-Minolta 135mm F3.5
5 (zoomwith Macro)
Great insights.
I treat all my zooms as primes, I will bring my zoom if I don't have confidence around the venue, or it's first time, then I'd bring Nikon 24-120mm f4. If I already know my limits I usually have picks between 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 105mm and usually just bring two.
While I love the versatility of Zooms, it can't never replace Primes in my creative workflow, I work around models and portraits, so that works for me, I zoom with my feet. Cheers!
Are you in the Z system?
If so, how do you like the 35 1.8 and why no 85?
@@MikeVideos327 I do own Z6 II and D750. But I use a lot of glass from F mount to this day.
I found the 35mm f1.8 S great if you're also doing video works, since they're really silent. But I choose to pack my Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art most of the time.
As for 85mm, I'm not a big fan of it, since it doesn't give a unique look to my works. You can stick an APSC with a nifty fifty and there you have 'sort of 85mm' look.
Hence I picked the Nikon 105mm f1.4 instead, and I got it less than the Sigma price offerings.
@@fajar13k Thanks a lot for the reply!
Super interesting you love the 105.
I have the 50 and 105Z and am trying to justify the 85 for my portrait work.
I love the 85 but am wondering about the extra light with the 1.8 vs 2.8.
I am happy with the 105, but am open to the 85. What would you do?
@@MikeVideos327 Personally if I'm open to 85, I'd get the Z if I'll be shooting videos, but If I'm just doing portraits I'll just get the older 85 f1.8g.
I rarely shoot wide open in 50s and 85s and likely almost steps down to like f2.8 even f5.6.
I want my compression too in 85, but my 105mm does its job better. It gives better 3d pop to my works in my opinion.
Hope it helps!
@@MikeVideos327 Extras if you care,
I have:
Nikon AFS 17-35mm f2.8
Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art
Nikon AFS 105mm f1.4E
I do portraits, cosplay photoshoots, and weddings. So far it's been wonderful to have these in my bag.
I really love the 70-200 for street. It is so uncommon because of the size, the weight and the lack of invisibility that it makes really unique images even in well captured places.
Loving the series Pat. I currently own the 24-70gmii and love it. I like to capture hiking content that naturally involves landscape so thought it was a good idea. I have the 20mm 1.8g prime aswell that I intent to use for night shots. Keep up the brilliant work.
Great combo you've got there!
I have a 16-35mm GM and a 70-200 GM ii mainly used for landscape. But I'm craving a prime with f1.4 , like a 50 mil.
I cannot afford an extra lens. Should I give up 16-35 (my focal lengths are mostly 24-35 in this lens) I have and buy a sigma version of 24-70 and a 50mil
or keep my current lenses and buy a cheaper 50mm f1.8.
I'm also not sure to give up the GM :-) Tough right ;-) ?
Any suggestions?
Slight correction. Most lenses these days are sharpest around f/4 to f/5.6. If you look at all the MTFs of modern lenses, they go downhill from f/5.6. It is however, a negligible trade-off in sharpness for DoF.
This is topic that has been beat to death but still always interesting. I think zooms have gotten soooo good that I now use zooms as my 'prime lenses' and supplementing with key prime lenses. So my daily carry zoom is the Sony 20-70 f4g. My event and short travel lens is the Tamron 35-150, yes heavy but every bit as good as high grade primes. My sport lens includes Sony 70-200 f2.8 II GM, just superb. My primes include an 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.4, 135mm f1.8 for their superior background separation. And for lightweight carry the Sony tiny G 24mm, 40mm, 50mm. So I will generally carry a zoom as my first choice shooter and keep a few key primes for low light or a particular look. Fun stuff.
My default atm is a 2 camera set up for events with a 24-70 on one and and 135 on the other. Let’s me have epic versatility and also feed my bokeh whore addiction 😅
Hi Pat, great advices and I'm sure it will help a lot of peoples !
By my side, i went all for the versatility of the Zoom lenses so i got the 24-70 and the 70-200 GM II ( saved during a long time to get them .. and now my Banker is mad it me 😅 )
For my travels, that's easiest to pack too and I won't have to worry, I'll be ready for anything who come at me ( Landscape, Street ... )
Next addition, maybe a 85mm prime as it's a really interesting focal length to use in the Cities
Best
I dont have a phone
i dont have a camera
But learn this every process ,
because i believe that i will become a successful photographer
Buy primes unless your use case absolutely requires you to have zooms. Primes are more optically perfect lenses and have access to wider apertures. Zooms compromise optical quality and aperture width for the zoom function.
Someone found me with a Nikon lens (24-70mm f2.8) and I am using Nikon z30.
24 70 zoom
35 prime
16 35 zoom
70 200 zoom
85 prime
24/25 prime
Very good explanation. I think the Kit Lens are great to learn for beginners. You get a good enough lens to learn about your style and your camera.
Absolutely! Kit lenses, especially nowadays, are really great even for more tenured shooters too.
Primes typically smaller. Yes true but my Sigma 105mm f1.4 would like some words lol. Well any longer primes tend to be super heavy and big
Absolutely. Still, compared to a 70-200, even most 135mm's are smaller than one of those. Ha.
i'm so torn between primes and zooms, i love them both, so it looks like i've got to get both of them. thanks for this great indept videos. f2.0 zooms are a neat thing, although a 70-200 f2 lens would be huge, of course they would never make that
6:58 Is that true ?
I'm waiting for a lens company to make a dual prime. Like a zoom but only has 2 focal lengths, ie. 35/50 not 35-50...may have to start my own company to do this
Good idea mate
You can kind of do that with aps-c mode on a high resolution full frame camera.
Leica has the Tri Elmars that are 3 focal lengths in one. Gotta say this makes more sense with rangefinders with fixed frame lines, but it's still a cool idea
That's what got me thinking about it. I love apsc mode on FF, especially the Sony R cameras. Gives you more mp than their actual apsc cameras
Didn't know about the tri elmar. Still needs to be done for us plebs that can't afford Leica, lol
Team Prime Lenses! There's something about creamy, cinematic that prime wide aperture gives
Best answer is don’t choose, buy both 😂
I saw 20hrs and i fought it said 20hrs 😂 thanks for the tips it really helps
What a good video
Cheers for watching!
Watching another photography video knowing full well everything that's being said and that I'm not buying another lens smh
For my APS-C digital cameras, here are the prime lenses I used the most: 16, 23, 56, 135mm
Later, I purchased the following zoom lenses to use instead of my prime lenses:
16-55mm f/2.8
50-140mm f/2.8
Nice
I have only one lens Sigma 540 ，for me it’s enough 😅
IQ and sharpness I think is over rated for the majority of people who go put things on Instagram
I think it's a more complex discussion than to just outrightly say that as the case for everyone, but I understand what you mean.
Primes 85 mm F2 Canon RP.
The only zoom worth getting is a 16-35 :)
🤯
How about stop worrying about gear and just get out and start creating? Ever thought about that one?
Not straight to the point.. 💁🏾♂️
IMO I think as a beginner photographer you should really only really use zooms. Learn what each focal length and which one you really like. Then over time get primes that fit your style.