24-70mm Lenses vs Prime Lenses: Which Type is Better?

The 24-70mm lens is often the the holy grail of zoom lenses. It's that perfect focal length range where you can shoot wide landscapes and portraits with the same lens. It was the first expensive lens I purchased. So when it comes to deciding to buy a 24-70mm lens or a prime lens, which type is better?

24-70mm Lenses on Amazon

Prime Lenses on Amazon

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[Narsuitus]

I own and use the following prime lenses:
24mm f/2
28mm f/2
35mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4

For weddings, I typically use the 35mm f/1.4 and the 85mm f/1.4 prime lenses.

I do not have the 24-70mm f/2.8 but I do have the older 28-70mm f/2.8 zoom.

I carry the 28-70 f/2.8 zoom as a backup wedding lens.

[gleneth]

A lot of rambling on about pretty basic stuff which could've been summed up in 2 minutes and the rest of the time could've been spent comparing the actual lenses

[blizzbee]

I wish every brand made the 24-85mm f2.8 lens. That would be quite revolutionary to photography industry. Because 85mm is the heart of most portrait shooters.

[Zimmermann]

Many bla bla bla but not one comparison in sharpness, contrast, bokeh etc.

[eefvelthorst]

Come on ...start talking about 24-70 mm. You already talked 6 minutes without saying anything about the comparison between 24-70 mm and prime lens.

[tomelifeisjustonebig]

The 24-70 isn’t iconic because everyone has one. Everyone has one because it’s iconic.

[happybear]

Keep them both and choose an appropriate one from time to time.

[Esus]

There are photographs that for all practical purposes can only be taken with a prime lenses. a 1.4 or 1.8 lens is going to take moere usable pictures under low light conditions than a 2.4 or even a 4. If using film you are locked into the ISO of the film. If digital and using a 4.0 you can adjust the ISO but it will severly degrade the qualtiy of the picture.

[nethbt]

1.8 vs 2.8 is a BIG DEAL indoors when you're flirting the line between blurring the motion or not... Especially when the ISO that you can only escape with is 3200 or 6400....Focal length DOES NOT MATTER because you'll gonna crop anyways. I've had expensive f 2.8 zooms and I sold them all to make way for 1.8 primes.

[DurandFilmsTV]

you should show photo sample, too much talkingh.

[TL-xwfh]

I beg to differ. This blog is really not saying much and not entirely convincing. Remember, it is not about the lens, zoom or prime, etc. Photography is "painting with light" and that depends on the photographer's skills. So long as he/she uses an appropriate camera/lens combination for the subject matter, it doesn't matter what glass it is, zoom or prime, etc. Ansel Adams created some of the most iconic landscape images, using one lens/camera.

[TimAyro]

I'm stuck in this predicament now. Can't decide over a 24-70 or 2 primes...

[crayshaunhenderson]

well i'm not worry about the lens being heavy but i want to buy the tamron g2 cause i'm not going to spend over a 1000 dollars on a camera lens. i really want to get the 18-35 from sigma and the 24mm 1.4 from sigma and the 70-200 from sigma and the 24-70 from tamron along with the 2 i already have i should be straight right

[ashleyarchitect]

Really good, clear accurate advice; nice work

[RENJITHOMAS]

ROCKEYTSir, which one  is recommended more suitable for D7100 ---,  Nikon 24-70 2.8G AFS OR Nikon 24-70 2.8E VR ? will 24-70 2.8E VR cover more area while taking group photos & Landscapes?

[aminboudjerada]

Only bla bla ! Don't waste time watching this video

[MrTroglog]

Thanks for the info, I'm trying to make up my mind on the 1.8 85 or the 2.8 24 70

[jlgulleydesigns]

I finally got to the point where I feel better about spending over 1k on glass... Im going to start by getting the holy trinity of zoom lenses then work on building my 1.4 primes... For what I do the convenience of not switching lenses every 5 mins is nice

[russhood]

I don't think 70 mm is to wide for a professional portrait. That's why I use 2 lenses a Nikon 85mm F/1.8 and a 24-120 mm F/4.0. In the studio the 85 mm F/1.8 is great and when the subject moves and/or changes position a lot the 24-120mm F/4.0 flexible and fast enough for a tack sharp photo. I can get beautiful bokeh from the 85 mm F/1.8 and I get useful bokeh from the 24-120mm F/4.0.

[hurleygreen]

Love this video..I started out with a nifty fifty (low finances) and THEN got the Tamron 24-70mm for my Nikon D750, and love BOTH lenses...