I Prefer Prime Lenses

BUT…I have just purchased a Fuji 8-16mm f:2.8 zoom lens and I am very impressed.

Will it convert me from being primarily a prime lens user, I doubt it but, in certain circumstances, it will be my first choice.

What will you photograph with it?

I've just been out tonight on a Fuji "Photowalk" and borrowed my first ever prime - the 23mm 1.4 lens. It was very interesting.

I can see their uses in specific situations (street, portrait etc) and will almost certainly buy some now. But I also like my Zoom lenses - the 10-24 in particular for landscapes.

Alan

Rural street scenes (not street photography), landscapes initially and then see where the lens takes me as I learn it’s capabilities.

Its wider than any other lens I have owned, so should be a fun experience.

DelnT wrote:

What will you photograph with it?

I'm tempted by the 10-24mm myself. Also 1st waiting for XF 8mm before I make up my mind.

DelnT wrote:

I'm tempted by the 10-24mm myself. Also 1st waiting for XF 8mm before I make up my mind.

I’ve recently picked up the 10-24, anticipating that it will be replaced by the 8mm when it arrives.

Like most zooms I find I pretty much just use it as two primes: a 10 and a 24. The nice thing is that it’s an internal zoom, so you can easily leave it at 23 and put it back in a bag—unlike most zooms, eg my 16-80, which end up getting constantly reset to their wide end. It also means that if it’s raining or dusty you don’t feel like zooming will suck water or dirt back into the lens.

I only tend to use the zooms for hiking, though—and the 10-24 and 16-80 make a nice pairing for that.

Hi,

Enjoy you new lens!

I use both zooms and primes.  I use my 18-55 zoom for family, travel and social duties.  When I'm feeling more serious, I use primes for wide to standard and macro, and zooms for telephoto work.  I find the flexibility of zooms far better for telephoto situations because you often can't change position and even if you can, you have to move too far to change composition significantly.  Horses for courses.

Cheers, Rod

Rod McD wrote:

I find the flexibility of zooms far better for telephoto situations because you often can't change position and even if you can, you have to move too far to change composition significantly. Horses for courses.

This is very true—tele primes are really challenging to use. I just very rarely shoot longer than 50mm FF-equivalent so I often forget this point 🙂

Useful thoughts. Thanks for that.

Rod McD wrote:

Hi,

Enjoy you new lens!

I use both zooms and primes. I use my 18-55 zoom for family, travel and social duties. When I'm feeling more serious, I use primes for wide to standard and macro, and zooms for telephoto work. I find the flexibility of zooms far better for telephoto situations because you often can't change position and even if you can, you have to move too far to change composition significantly. Horses for courses.

Cheers, Rod

Good point