Thinking of going all primes - thoughts?

[CptObvious]

I'm a relative newbie to photography. My current gear is a D3100, 3 lenses (18-55 VR, 55-200 VR and 35mm 1.8), a SB-600 flash, and I've been learning on Lightroom 3 daily. I've taken about 700 pictures so far and while I'm generally satisfied so far, I can't help but feel my setup is rather "safe" and uninspiring. The kit lenses produce only somewhat better images than a Canon S95. My goal is to make artistic photos I can't make with a point-and-shoot (especially wide-angle landscapes and portraits with great bokeh, including at night). Unfortunately, with the cost of pro lenses I'd have to sell an arm, leg and kidney to buy a set.

However, I've been looking at some of the photo forums about Samyang (a Korean company) primes and their offering of manual-focus lenses. Their 14mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4 run about $400 and $300, respectively, which I might afford if I sell my two zooms and maybe a guitar. I'd keep my Nikkor 35mm for a total of 3. There'd be big gaps in focal lengths, no telephoto coverage, and I'd lose auto-focus. But the samples I've seen on Flickr look really good to me.

Good idea or bad idea? I can't decide.

 

[elitejp]

Im going to say bad idea for right now. Heres why, the photos you see up on flickr are going to be the ones that the photog thought were the best. That doesnt count for how many pics that were bad and the photog threw out. A f/4 lens can still produce really good bokeh even on a crop sensor. im assuming your kit lenses can at least shoot f/4. Swithing to the primes you suggested you lose auto focus and that means your going to be missing alot of shots especially if your wanting to shoot a thin depth of field. Just imagine trying to shoot a portraiture of someone and them having a little sway or natural movent, you holding the camera and also having a little sway or movement and then trying to manual focus a very thin dof. The model will be going in and out of focus the whole time, a tripod would definately be useful in this situation. Thats not saying it cant be done but it might start taking the joy out of it when your looking threw yuor pics and throwing out 90%of them. My recommendation is to take another 700 pics and then reconsider buying all manual primes. Also go to the forums that have your lenses and see what they are able to produce. Im sure you will find some pretty inspiring pics as well.

 

[CptObvious]

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. I was trying some shots with manual focus on my lenses, and while it was doable with the rangefinder/green dot, I could see how it could become an issue with movement. I'm thinking about keeping my zooms and ordering the 85mm for now to practice on.

 

[twistedlogic]

The kit lenses produce only somewhat better images than a Canon S95.

You let your lenses take your pictures, that could be your problem, 🙂.

My point, photography is about capturing light. Your gear is very capable at producing stunning results, just give it a chance. I shot thousands of shots with my 18-55mm kit lens before even buying a second lens.

 

[dougp]

You let your lenses take your pictures, that could be your problem, 🙂.

My point, photography is about capturing light. Your gear is very capable at producing stunning results, just give it a chance. I shot thousands of shots with my 18-55mm kit lens before even buying a second lens.

Most people don't respect the kit lens. Then again, a lot of people just use it in auto mode and don't learn the strengths, or expect low light performance out of it.

 

[996GT2]

I'm basically using all-primes most of the time, except when I need an ultrawide. The 50mm Sigma and 100mm Canon macro are both very versatile lenses for general shooting. I do a lot of portrait shoots as well as general event photography, and I haven't found myself wanting for a zoom instead.

Using primes does make you think more about the shot instead of just randomly zooming in on something and snapping away. In that sense, it can help you develop a better sense of composition as you shoot.

I say go for it if you want to give it a shot.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend manual focus lenses though. It's already hard enough to manually focus on my full-frame 5D without a specialized split prism screen, and the viewfinders on a crop-sensor DSLR are both smaller and darker (pentamirror vs. pentaprism) than the one on my 5D. If you're going to go primes, I recommend the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8 (or the 105mm Macro instead of the 85). Those two will be a great combo for many types of shooting. Keep a kit lens around for wide angle and you're set.

 

[ProfJohn]

Fixed lens are great for certain things, but as walk around lenses they tend to suck.

You might be able to take great pictures of certain subjects, but you'll be missing out on everything else.

If you like what you are getting with the 35 prime them maybe adding another prime might be good down the road, but I wouldn't sell you kit stuff in order to chase some perfect photo you saw on flickr.

 

[randomlinh]

Fixed lens are great for certain things, but as walk around lenses they tend to suck.

You might be able to take great pictures of certain subjects, but you'll be missing out on everything else.

The thing is, you can't be too concerned with missing out on "everything else" either. You will. It's just a fact. Now, I wouldn't so go completely opposite and shoot "only for the lens" either, but you need to find your balance between the two.

If you like what you are getting with the 35 prime them maybe adding another prime might be good down the road, but I wouldn't sell you kit stuff in order to chase some perfect photo you saw on flickr.

This. x100.

 

[dougp]

Fixed lens are great for certain things, but as walk around lenses they tend to suck.

A lot of people swear by primes as a walk around lens because it requires them to think about their subject and how they will frame it as opposed to just zooming in and out, etc.

 

[speedy2]

A lot of people swear by primes as a walk around lens because it requires them to think about their subject and how they will frame it as opposed to just zooming in and out, etc.

This.

If I got into a DSLR again, I would love to have a 30mm as a walk around. I had a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and loved it. You would need to spend much more on a telephoto to get the same quality.

 

[996GT2]

Fixed lens are great for certain things, but as walk around lenses they tend to suck.

You might be able to take great pictures of certain subjects, but you'll be missing out on everything else.

If you like what you are getting with the 35 prime them maybe adding another prime might be good down the road, but I wouldn't sell you kit stuff in order to chase some perfect photo you saw on flickr.

It depends on what you shoot and how you shoot. For me, I don't mind not being missing a few pictures when using a prime, because I tend to have a higher keeper rate while using primes anyway.

With zooms, it's easy to get lazy and just stay in one spot while zooming in. With primes, you really have go think about your positioning relative to the subject. For me it leads to better, less "snapshotty" pictures overall.

 

[Maximus96]

+1 for all (or mostly) primes

 

[CptObvious]

I've decided to just buy both lenses, test them, and sell them if the manual focus becomes too unwieldy. I used a coupon so hopefully I can try them without taking too much of a hit if I unload them.

In case anyone's wondering about these lenses, there's discussions on most of the photography forums, but several good threads with lots of pictures of the Canon version are:

14mm f/2.8
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=909272

85mm f/1.4
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=781777

Most seem to be shot on full-frame sensors but there's some crop sensor ones too.

 

[Krioni]

You've already sunk a lot of money into gear... body, 3 lenses, an expensive flash and lightroom 3.

Do you think that your gear is truly what's holding back your pictures? Having only taken 700 shots, I *seriously* doubt that's the case. If you're using the as a glorified Point n Shoot, then yeah, you'll probably get just slightly better results. But the key is learning what you can do with this new photographic tool you own. The camera and lenses you have are perfectly capable of producing awesome images. You just need to take the time to learn it, understand photography.

Just my $0.02, but I think you've spent plenty on gear and would do yourself a favor to spend more time behind the lens learning photography. Your currently setup is plenty capable for now. And please don't mistake, I am not trying to insult what you do or don't know... you said yourself you're a "newbie" and 700 shots really isn't much at all. I often take 700 in one weekend.

Maybe buy a book or two... and learn the art. Take lots of pictures where you are specifically learning/following some of the fundamentals of photography. Then you'll have a much better idea about what types of pictures you like to shoot and what pieces of your gear should be addressed.

Again, I'd argue that you are probably far from out-growing your current gear.

 

[Sp12]

700 pictures? I took that many in the last two days.

I doubt your equipment is the issue, but primes are certainly a lot of fun and open up a lot of creativity, assuming you know how to use them.

 

[Krioni]

700 pictures? I took that many in the last two days.

I doubt your equipment is the issue,

Preach On Brutha!

 

[weez82]

I've seen some great photos taken with kit lens from all manufacturers. You just need more practice. It takes time to learn. You should focus on getting the exposure correct and learn how to compose a photo before you think about buying new lens

 

[996GT2]

700 pictures? I took that many in the last two days.

I doubt your equipment is the issue, but primes are certainly a lot of fun and open up a lot of creativity, assuming you know how to use them.

This.

It's easy to get caught up in a gear frenzy when you're starting out, but do try to focus on the actual photography part of things 🙂

 

[Krioni]

Mediocre gear in the hands of a skilled, knowledgeable photographer will produce exceptional results. Exceptional gear in the hands of an unskilled photographer will likely produce mediocre results.

(and this isn't to say you have mediocre gear, actually... you have quite nice photography equipment)

 

[CptObvious]

Points well taken. I'll keep my kit lenses and keep shooting with them. Just to clarify, I don't shoot at full auto - I normally shoot in aperture priority mode in the daytime and switch to full manual in low light. I use the histogram to help adjust exposure. Everything else I adjust in Lightroom.

I have to say I'm more impressed with the Canon S95 now that I've had a chance to compare with a DSLR. I think for everyday shooting for photos to put up on the web, it gets pretty damn close to my Nikon. Too bad I sold it last week 🙁

 

[Krioni]

Points well taken. Just to clarify, I don't shoot at full auto - I normally shoot in aperture priority mode in the daytime and switch to full manual in low light. I use the histogram to help adjust exposure. Everything else I adjust in Lightroom.
🙁

It's good that you're working on learning to adjust settings yourself. That's great!

Something that's not been mentioned is your flash. You have a nice flash (i have the same one)... there's a lifetime to learning around flash photography also. Keep it going, shoot tons, post results in forums such as this and get critiques of your work. Learn from it, improve, rinse, repeat.

(Disclaimer: I am not claiming to be great or all-knowing... I'd consider myself a newbie too... although i've taken many thousands of pictures with my D50, and now my D7000. I have TONS to learn still! Like you, I see some of the stuff on Flickr and other sites and think "Wow! that's impressive... why don't mine look like that!")

 

[Kanalua]

Most people don't respect the kit lens. Then again, a lot of people just use it in auto mode and don't learn the strengths, or expect low light performance out of it.

I bought a t2i last year. One day I had dinner with a new couple at church. they live in a high rise apartment downtown, so i took my camera and cheap tripod to take some pics. When I busted out my camera, the guy got all excited, and showed me his t2i. We started talking camera stuff, and he had no idea what anything meant on his camera. Aperture, ISO, shutter speed...he knew nothing of what those even meant. His camera never left auto mode. He also couldn't understand how my pictures from his balcony looked so good when his weren't.

yeah, CSB...

To the OP...doesn't Nikon have a cheap prime lens (like the equivalent to the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II)...if so, get a cheap prime and play with it and see if you like it. For a few weeks I kept my 50mm prime on my camera. I realized that I like having a zoom (and the wider angle), but I liked having the speed of the wide open prime. Try shooting with a prime for some time before making the plunge...

 

[Krioni]

I bought a t2i last year. One day I had dinner with a new couple at church. they live in a high rise apartment downtown, so i took my camera and cheap tripod to take some pics. When I busted out my camera, the guy got all excited, and showed me his t2i. We started talking camera stuff, and he had no idea what anything meant on his camera. Aperture, ISO, shutter speed...he knew nothing of what those even meant. His camera never left auto mode. He also couldn't understand how my pictures from his balcony looked so good when his weren't.

yeah, CSB...

To the OP...doesn't Nikon have a cheap prime lens (like the equivalent to the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II)...if so, get a cheap prime and play with it and see if you like it. For a few weeks I kept my 50mm prime on my camera. I realized that I like having a zoom (and the wider angle), but I liked having the speed of the wide open prime. Try shooting with a prime for some time before making the plunge...

The OP said he has the 35mm f/1.8... A very nice prime to work with from what I've read.

 

[996GT2]

Points well taken. I'll keep my kit lenses and keep shooting with them. Just to clarify, I don't shoot at full auto - I normally shoot in aperture priority mode in the daytime and switch to full manual in low light. I use the histogram to help adjust exposure. Everything else I adjust in Lightroom.

I have to say I'm more impressed with the Canon S95 now that I've had a chance to compare with a DSLR. I think for everyday shooting for photos to put up on the web, it gets pretty damn close to my Nikon. Too bad I sold it last week 🙁

Different cameras for different things. I have a 5D for serious photography and paid shoots, but when I just need to take a few snapshots I grab the S90 and stick it in my pocket.

 

[finbarqs]

i actually would like to get that 28-300L from canon... because then I wouldn't have to change lenses so often! The difference of sharpness is almost negligible to wedding/headshot clients...