17-55 versus Tokina 12-24/4.0 + 35/2.0 + 50/1.4

[NickInFocus]

As the replier from earlier in this thread, using the 12-24, 35 and 85 regularly, the short answer is, no, I don't mind switching lenses often.

I don't shoot candid photography or sports that often so it's hard for me to "loose the moment" in the process of switching lenses. Once you get to switching lenses, with the right bag you should be able to change quite quickly anyway.

To avoid dust it's just a matter of knowing where and how to change lenses - you may turn your body away from the wind, keep the lens from pointing up during the change and keep the time the body is exposed to the elements to a minimum.

It's true every so often I do curse that life may be easier if I didn't have to step a foot forward or back or switch a lens. But it makes me think more about what focal length to use before the shoot and think the shot out more. It's less of an issue now but first starting with the DSLR it helped put things in perspective (literally).

Nick
http://www.ashotapart.com - photoblogging nyc and beyond

 

[PrimeUser]

to primes. I currently have
20/2.8
35/2.0
85/1.8
and still have my 80-200/2.8 but may sell that for the 180/2.8.

I was tired of wondering if the 17-55 was giving me the sharpness I wanted, so I dumped it and went for the primes. I've also got to the point where I am only keeping may favorite photos around after a trip. So, if I take 200+ pictures on a weekend hiking trip I may only put 2 or 3 on my web converted from RAW and keep the rest as Med. Qual. .jpgs.

--



D80 site(draft)
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d80/
D50 site
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d50/
Yellowstone-Teton Trip
http://home.comcast.net/~recentphotos/
Pentax istD Site
http://home.comcast.net/~pentax-istd/

 

[pierre1]

Haven't owned any of the other lenses but the 17-55 is my main work-horse lens.











Pierre

--
' Don't let outside negative forces affect the way you choose to feel '
http://www.pbase.com/matrixone
http://www.pbase.com/pierredubeau/root

 

[avi]

First let me say that I am enjoying this thread very much so as it is very informtive and very educational so to to speak and Ill add my thoughts as well .

I was going to get the 17-55 at the time but somehow , all the 3 samples I tried were not as I expected , I got the 28-70 instead which was excellent , but after my recent trip to Italy I decided to trade it in for the 18-200vr + 50/1.4 and decided to keep my excellent sample of 18-200 for general walk around/travel where I can do ok wiht appertures of f8 and smaller and when I want to get wider , for lower light/ narrow DOF / more creative images I use primes . I like landscpes , urban ,architecturals , flowers and trees, and concerts ,from time to time . I think that for these I would mainly use fast primes, , which are not really ideal fro weddings and other events , where the 17-55 , or 28-70 are ideal but mainly with flash .

For concerts and plays I generally cannot use my sb800 and the colors and tone are much enhanced by using ambient available light, for this I think the 50/1.4 ,35 2 and 85s are nothing short of great. These primes IMO are also better than primes in many situations where light back light are a bit difficult even in urban ,and landscapes etc. because they offer somewhat clearer cleaner results . BUT in street or general urban or travel instances you I dont often have the time to switch lenses , when scenes change a lot as you walk around this changing business also takes a lot of the enjoyment ,

In my trip to Italy I used my 28-70 fro many images at that range because i didnt have any other range to use other than the 180 Ed I had on my and that was sometimes ,limiting due to low light(not always able to use even my monopode , so I had to crop lot later on . Ill show you some samples to show you what I mean - My crop would have been much more successful if I had the 18-200VR for those f8 up images . so here we are:

I was walking from the Boboli Gardens in Florence, back to town

This enormous Statue was better taken at around 24m



a few minutes later I took this mid range image



and then turned my back to this one at 180mm I used f5.6 to get the shutter speed right but would have got a sharper image if I could do it at f11 without having to rev up the iso . (VR would be great)



Next I was out int the street and took this , well I know its become proverbial , but I liked it



After a fes minutes I was walking on the Arno River side walk and taking the interesting old buildings on the opposite side about 300ft away , I wanted to get on closer (a 105-120 would have been better with minimal need for cropping later on ) so I tood them with the 70mm end .



..and as I was shooting these images this very photogenic lady and dog walked by



and just next to her was this interesting guy



All these would come out probably better with primes , but just too difficult , to swop and 17-55 would not have been able to the job as I wanted it , So as today its 18-200VR for me + good primes for ultimate quality if time permits.

avis
http://www.pbase.com/avistar/avi_s_photographic_world
Nikon D70, 50/1.4, 105/2.8, 18-200VR SB600, SB800
Gitzo 1228, and 1226 ,

 

[vinny29538]

Hello

can i ask you which do you rate as the better lens between your 20mm and 35mm primes.
Im in the same boat as your self,just about to return my 17-55m

I have a 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 so have a leaning towards primes.I have the kit lense 18-70mm and rate it as highly as the copy of the 17-55 i had.Also thinking of the 12-24mm either Tokina or the Nikkor

 

[PrimeUser]

I've only had the 20/2.8 for a couple weeks ( w/D80) the 35/2.0 I've had for 1.5 years(w/D50) and have always liked it, it will take a lot for the 20 to out do the 35. Verdict is still out, but the 35 is closer to a normal all around lens if you wwere only to get one.

Hello
can i ask you which do you rate as the better lens between your
20mm and 35mm primes.
Im in the same boat as your self,just about to return my 17-55m
I have a 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 so have a leaning towards primes.I
have the kit lense 18-70mm and rate it as highly as the copy of the
17-55 i had.Also thinking of the 12-24mm either Tokina or the Nikkor

--



D80 site(draft)
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d80/
D50 site
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d50/
Yellowstone-Teton Trip
http://home.comcast.net/~recentphotos/
Pentax istD Site
http://home.comcast.net/~pentax-istd/

 

[avi]

PrimeUser , I have been considering re buying the 35/2 after selling it las year as I wasnt happy with its sharpness edge to center at f2/ to f4 , but maybe my sample want good , how do you find your lens at this apperture range , thanks
--
avis
http://www.pbase.com/avistar/avi_s_photographic_world
Nikon D70, 50/1.4, 105/2.8, 18-200VR SB600, SB800
Gitzo 1228, and 1226 ,

 

[PrimeUser]

I haven't done to many official tests, but I did compare it to my 17-55 last year when I first bought them with my D50.
Here is a 100% crop of 35/2.0 at f2.8



And the 17-55 at 17mm and f2.8, not sure this proves anything but I had both posted on the web already



And the 35/2.0 at f11



Comap

PrimeUser , I have been considering re buying the 35/2 after
selling it las year as I wasnt happy with its sharpness edge to
center at f2/ to f4 , but maybe my sample want good , how do you
find your lens at this apperture range , thanks
--
avis
http://www.pbase.com/avistar/avi_s_photographic_world
Nikon D70, 50/1.4, 105/2.8, 18-200VR SB600, SB800
Gitzo 1228, and 1226 ,

--



D80 site(draft)
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d80/
D50 site
http://home.comcast.net/~nikon-d50/
Yellowstone-Teton Trip
http://home.comcast.net/~recentphotos/
Pentax istD Site
http://home.comcast.net/~pentax-istd/

 

[edwardneal]

I missed your question - sorry.

Anyway I actually don't think I swap lenses any more now than I did when I used zooms. I just put a little more thought into which lens fits the moment better. if you really think about it most pro level zooms have fairly short zoom ranges of about 3x or less. If you grab a prime that is near the center of that range with just a little movement on your part you should be able to get any shot you could get with the zoom. I know you wont get the same perspective as staying in one place and zooming, but I prefer the different perspective you get by actually being closer or further from the subject.

Another strange thing I have noticed is that I have not had to clean my sensor one single time since I switched to primes. I actually am beginning to think that zooming a lens moves much more air and dust in and out of the camera body than changing lenses, but then again I am very careful when & where I change lenses

Thank you for your advice.
Considering you only use primes, I assume you swap lenses a lot. Do
you find this bothering you or slowing you too much at times? (did
it happen to loose a good moment for a photo 'cause of having to
change the lens?)

Also, did you notice to have any problems with dust on your
camera's sensor? Any problems with lens mount (becoming loose)?

--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

--
Edward

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