Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
As in my case, the results will tell you that when using zooms then you don't swap to other lenses enough!
Regards..... Guy
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Distribution graph of used focal distances?
- Thread starter WillemB
- Start date
Regards..... Guy
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
In my case my most heavily used lens is the M4/3 Olympus 12-40/2.8 so very many of the shots as a tourist are at 12mm as I'm always grabbing simple memory shots of scenes and areas and not "seriously" composing for them. The other end at 40mm, well, that displays laziness in lens swapping. Though there were enough middle range shots to reveal the slight hump around my old familiar M4/3 17mm for when I was obviously framing carefully.
Regards.... Guy
sven karma
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,218
- Solutions
- 1
- Reaction score
- 1,388
The only time I've done a graph was when I had the 12-40/2.8 (sigh). The hump at 17 is possibly also due to that being the FL at which the lens is at its most retracted, so it's kind of its default length.
What I did discover was that despite rinsing (12) 24 on a zoom, as a prime length I don't find it hugely useful. Ended up with a 20-35-75 combo.
What I did discover was that despite rinsing (12) 24 on a zoom, as a prime length I don't find it hugely useful. Ended up with a 20-35-75 combo.
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
No, in my case it's a matter of "I paid for 12mm so I'm darn well going to use it". The 17mm is due to genuine careful framing activities.
In my Nikon film days with primes, I did find the 35mm was way most used with the second most used lens 20mm so I have always been a wide sort of guy. But when good zooms came along I never looked back, except to occasionally use that 20mm prime. Now with M4/3 it is mostly zooms from 9mm right up to 300mm (18-600mm equivalent).
Regards..... Guy
confused circle
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,932
- Reaction score
- 1,554
I took tons of shots at 24mm equivalent... then noticed I was cropping almost every single one.
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
Regardless of whatever the focal length is, I crop almost every shot. Maybe I'm just inexperienced, but I could rarely frame the composition exactly what I want (or I framed a little wider to be on the safe side), or maybe I just have a second opinion once I can see the images larger on my computer.
David5833
Senior Member
Lightroom very easily allows you to get the raw data for your imported images but you would have to graph it yourself. Usually it is pretty obvious, at least I don't need a graph to see the trends. You simply query the metadata for the date range, the camera or cameras, file format, the lens or lenses, the focal lengths, or any subset of parameters you select.
--
https://www.flickr.com/gp/143821723@N06/8ym5x2
Last edited:
Fogel70
Senior Member
I believe I used this program years ago, and then I realized that 90% of my images where captured by extreme ends of my zoom lenses.
So I realized that prime lenses was more of my thing. With prime lenses it is much easier to utilize the full focal length range they offer.
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
To most of us, the graph will always be a few bumps at certain FCs, good candidates for primes. However, the question is: do you prefer bringing several lenses and swap them on the scene (and risk missing a shot), or do you want to be able to quickly zoom back and forth between the FC's? It's simply the classic trade-off between IQ and convenience.I believe I used this program years ago, and then I realized that 90% of my images where captured by extreme ends of my zoom lenses.
So I realized that prime lenses was more of my thing. With prime lenses it is much easier to utilize the full focal length range they offer.
hampshirejohn
Leading Member
After digging around a bit (I have put all conclusions in terms of actual lens focal length, not equivalents):
The 7-14 is about 60% at 7, so I would probably find a prime equally effective
For 12 -35, maybe 40% at 12, then a peak in the 15-22 range but no peak at 35
For 35 - 100, perhaps 30% at 35, the rest fairly evenly distributed.
And when I carry the 14-140 instead of 12-35 & 35-100, about 40% at 14, again tendency to use it around 20, but then a general spread acros the range, with a minor lift at 140.
We obviously all use zoom capability in different ways.
The 7-14 is about 60% at 7, so I would probably find a prime equally effective
For 12 -35, maybe 40% at 12, then a peak in the 15-22 range but no peak at 35
For 35 - 100, perhaps 30% at 35, the rest fairly evenly distributed.
And when I carry the 14-140 instead of 12-35 & 35-100, about 40% at 14, again tendency to use it around 20, but then a general spread acros the range, with a minor lift at 140.
We obviously all use zoom capability in different ways.
Fogel70
Senior Member
I clearly enjoy using primes more, and I think it is because I can only use one FL at the time.To most of us, the graph will always be a few bumps at certain FCs, good candidates for primes. However, the question is: do you prefer bringing several lenses and swap them on the scene (and risk missing a shot), or do you want to be able to quickly zoom back and forth between the FC's? It's simply the classic trade-off between IQ and convenience.I believe I used this program years ago, and then I realized that 90% of my images where captured by extreme ends of my zoom lenses.
So I realized that prime lenses was more of my thing. With prime lenses it is much easier to utilize the full focal length range they offer.
If I miss a shot or two does not really matter much as I only do it for my own enjoyment.
KameraKnut
Forum Enthusiast
Excellent point.
Very easy with Linux exiftool command.
To see a summary count of focal length, aperture, ISO and shutter speed used against all images in a folder, use following commands.
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Focal | awk -F" " '{print $4}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Aperture | awk -F" " '{print $3}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep ISO | awk -F" " '{print $3}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Shutter | awk -F" " '{print $4}' | sort | uniq -c
To see a summary count of focal length, aperture, ISO and shutter speed used against all images in a folder, use following commands.
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Focal | awk -F" " '{print $4}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Aperture | awk -F" " '{print $3}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep ISO | awk -F" " '{print $3}' | sort | uniq -c
exiftool -common DSC* | grep Shutter | awk -F" " '{print $4}' | sort | uniq -c
RibotRobot
Member
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 22
This one is awesome!!!
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
Hmmm, like showering, brushing my teeth and combing my hair.....
Anyway, the awful graphs of more recent periods do tell what we have used and may lead to decisions to alter habits or try harder.
But then we are playing to the resulting graph (plus audience) and not just doing photography for photography's sake.
Regards...... Guy
tkbslc
Forum Pro
x2
Mine tells me I use 15mm a lot, but that's because I took my 15mm prime on a lot of vacations. It doesn't show all the times I wished it was wider or longer, though!
Likewise, you usually find that you use both ends of any zoom a lot more than the middle. That probably doesn't mean you like those focal lengths the most, but that's just where you ran out range.
Similar threads
- Question
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum