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Addicted to Primes

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dustyj

dustyj

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Is anyone else here obsessed with prime lenses? I'm currently shooting a D300s with a Tokina 11-16 (almost a prime), 18-70 (light weight zoom), 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4 and 300mm f/4. At this point I have a huge gaping hole in my lens kit from 70mm to 300mm. Common sense is telling me that I need to go with a 70-200 or 80-200. I just can't full the trigger though.

A 85 f/1.8 and 180 f/2.8 seems so much more attractive to me....Why?!?!?

Does anyone else think this way? I'm not starting a prime vs. zoom debate but does anyone else still lean towards primes?

I shoot about 50% landscapes and 50% street shots with the occasional portrait shot.

One more thing to add, I really need a 35 f/1.8!
 
I know what you mean.

I love my 50 f/1.4G lens, but when I use it I tend to just keep it on the camera. I wouldn't really want to be changing lenses all the time. In fact I don't much like switching between zooms either. I had terrible trouble with switching between a 17-35 and a 70-300 while I was on holiday in Cambodia during a typhoon - condensation was a terrible problem.

I tried an 85mm f/1.4 and liked it, though I don't have much use for it (I don't do much portrait work). I'm slightly more likely to buy a 35mm prime, though I'm not sure there's a good FX 35mm lens that sufficiently surpasses the 28-105 f/2.5-4.5 D zoom lens I'm currently using to make the purchase worthwhile.
 
The 85mm would be too close to the 50mm. I would suggest either the 180mm, an excellent lens, or the 105dc another excellent lens. I would think the 105dc would provide a better gap filler between the 50 & 300, as the 180 would be more of short 300, whereas the 100 could be used in more situations (as least for the variety I shoot :-))
--
I take lots of pictures.
Sometimes I even make a photograph.
http://leeper.smugmug.com/
 
I don't really know much about the 105dc, is it a good all around lens? Worth the steep price tag? Looks intriguing!
S_Leeper said:
The 85mm would be too close to the 50mm. I would suggest either the 180mm, an excellent lens, or the 105dc another excellent lens. I would think the 105dc would provide a better gap filler between the 50 & 300, as the 180 would be more of short 300, whereas the 100 could be used in more situations (as least for the variety I shoot :-))
--
I take lots of pictures.
Sometimes I even make a photograph.
http://leeper.smugmug.com/
Click to expand...
 
I recently received an AF 180 f/2.8 and an AF 300 f/4 and can't put them down. I have the 180 on the D80 (perfect match to me) and the 300 on the D200. I had no idea what I was missing, both are incredible.

I also have the 70-300VR, but it can't compare to the image quality of either lens in my opinion. Try a 180 if you get a chance (my first choice) and see what you're missing. You have to see the pics for yourself.

My only trouble with them is that I want to shoot them both wide open all the time, especially the 180. You'll see what I mean. ;)
--
dave
 
I'll assume the answer is NO, but have you found the 180 and 300 to be too close to each other in length?
padavid said:
I recently received an AF 180 f/2.8 and an AF 300 f/4 and can't put them down. I have the 180 on the D80 (perfect match to me) and the 300 on the D200. I had no idea what I was missing, both are incredible.
Click to expand...
 
I'm sure you would like the 35 1.8 - lot of bang for the buck. I'm enjoying mine on the front of my D300.

Why not consider a 180 2.8 and a 1.7 converter? That gives you your 85mm with your 50mm and a 300mm with the 180mm.

Next lens for me is probably a Tok 12-24 then the 180 & 1.7 converter.

--
unc

~ The only things stopping us from reaching our goals are the limitations we place on ourselves ~
 
dustyj said:
Is anyone else here obsessed with prime lenses? I'm currently shooting a D300s with a Tokina 11-16 (almost a prime), 18-70 (light weight zoom), 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4 and 300mm f/4. At this point I have a huge gaping hole in my lens kit from 70mm to 300mm. Common sense is telling me that I need to go with a 70-200 or 80-200. I just can't full the trigger though.

A 85 f/1.8 and 180 f/2.8 seems so much more attractive to me....Why?!?!?

Does anyone else think this way? I'm not starting a prime vs. zoom debate but does anyone else still lean towards primes?

I shoot about 50% landscapes and 50% street shots with the occasional portrait shot.

One more thing to add, I really need a 35 f/1.8!
Click to expand...
I think I have a similar setup to you. Nikoor 12-24 as wide, 16-85 VR as normal lightweight zoom and primes for everything else.

I recently use the 35 1.8, sigma 70 macro, 105 DC and 135 DC. While the 35 is nice & sharp, I find the bokeh to be a little harsh for my taste sometimes. The DC's are my fave of them all!

I have used the 180 AF but find it difficult to hand hold and not a very good focuser on the my D80. I think its very good from f/3.2 onwards while my DC lenses are very good by f/2.2-2.5.

--
Cheers, Reza
 
You mean the 180/270mm to the 300/450mm on DX? Not at all, it depends on what I use it for.

I have the AFD 80-200 f/2.8 and it's also a great lens, but it's almost twice as heavy as the 180. If I need a zoom, I use the 70-300VR as it's a bit lighter than the 180 if I'm walking and shooting.

--
dave
 
Yep, I'm getting the 11-16/2.8 pretty soon.

So far I have the 40/2 CV SLII and 50/1.8 AFD, 85/1.8AFD, 180/2.8 AF, 200/4 AIS, and 400/5.6 AIS. I currently have a gap between 16mm and 40mm (a 20mm would probably be the one to get) and and also around 300mm.

The 180/2.8 (any flavor) can't take the Nikon 1.7 x TC, so you are stuck with a Kenko 1.4x TC or the TC 14A (which works very very well on it, the Kenko does too, but it does not report the correct aperture).

I'm looking at picking up a 300/4.5 ED-IF AIS to fill the gap or just stick with the 180 + 1.4x TC (252mm f/4) or 200/4 + 1.4 xTC (280mm f/5.6 - this works really well with the TC14A).

Primes and manual focusing have their place, especially if you want accurate focusing (I've found inconsistent focusing with my D80 and D300 on fast primes wide open - the AF modules just aren't accurate enough!).

John

 
tundracamper said:
S_Leeper said:
The 85mm would be too close to the 50mm.
Click to expand...
I disagree. I use the 85mm more for close ups. The 50mm works better for more standard portraits. The 85/1.4 is magical, but the 50/1.4 ain't too shabby either! I don't think I'll ever get rid of either one.
Click to expand...
I agee with your disagreement. There's a big difference between the 50 and 85. I use my 50mm the most but I'm trying to make myself use the 85mm. They are both great lenses but I have a DX sensor so my 35mm 1.8G is also a lens I go to a lot. I generally use a prime lens most of the time but I have to use a zoom for sports and some event portraits.

--
http://www.jhstudio.zenfolio.com
 
Focal length isn't all that important, IMHO

Primes are smaller, lighter, sharper and cheaper in almost every case - I don't consider the convenience of being able to stand still while framing something worth giving these things up.
 
They seem much more attractive to you because people here make many posts about how they love certain primes; it has rubbed off on you as well.

ie. you like them because everyone else likes them.
 
I was wondering if that was the case. But I really don't think it is. #1 I generally feel like I have more fun and feel more involved in the picture taking process when shooting primes. My brain is a little more engaged. #2 I tried searching for some info on the 180 f/2.8 and there is very little to be found. If I was looking at the 85/1.4 or 28/1.4 maybe, but I don't think others are swaying my thought process this time.
Limecat said:
They seem much more attractive to you because people here make many posts about how they love certain primes; it has rubbed off on you as well.

ie. you like them because everyone else likes them.
Click to expand...
 
dustyj said:
I was wondering if that was the case. But I really don't think it is. #1 I generally feel like I have more fun and feel more involved in the picture taking process when shooting primes. My brain is a little more engaged. #2 I tried searching for some info on the 180 f/2.8 and there is very little to be found. If I was looking at the 85/1.4 or 28/1.4 maybe, but I don't think others are swaying my thought process this time.
Click to expand...
Here's all you need to know on the 180/2.8 versions!

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/AFNikkor/AF180mm/index2.htm

John

 
I've also found that my "consumer grade" zoom lenses (16-85VR and 70-300VR) just have too many optical faults if I want really good quality landscape images. I'd rather skip the zoom capability and get even exposure and sharpness by using the primes. Plus if done right they can be more compact and even lighter.

John

 
padavid said:
I recently received an AF 180 f/2.8 and an AF 300 f/4 and can't put them down. I have the 180 on the D80 (perfect match to me) and the 300 on the D200. I had no idea what I was missing, both are incredible.

I also have the 70-300VR, but it can't compare to the image quality of either lens in my opinion. Try a 180 if you get a chance (my first choice) and see what you're missing. You have to see the pics for yourself.

My only trouble with them is that I want to shoot them both wide open all the time, especially the 180. You'll see what I mean. ;)
--
dave
Click to expand...
.

Almost my experiences exactly.

My 180 2.8 AF and 300 f4 AF are just plain addicting, blisteringly sharp, and smaller/less expensive that their 'pro zoom' equivalents. I take my 180 almost everywhere.

Another couple links for the OP:

180:
----> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1005&message=31803466
300:
----> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&message=31662515

.

.
 
I'd like the 11-16/2.8, I have a Zenitar 16/2.8 fish and Vivitar 19/3.8 for wides. Then it's the Sigma 30/1.4, and Nikkor 50/1.8, 85/1.8 and 180/2.8. Used on a D90.

The 85 and 50 are not too close in length; they definitely get used for different things. And the 85 and 180 are both fun to use.
 
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