Prime Lenses vs Zoom Lenses - Which is Better? (For Photographers)

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Hi, Everybody!

In this video, I tell you my thoughts on primes vs zooms. Spoiler alert: I use both!

Lenses mentioned in this video:

Please ask me any questions or say hello in the comments, and BE NICE! Thank you for watching!

DISCLAIMERS: This video represents my own opinions and experience. I cannot recommend what you should do with your time and/or money- I just hope I can share my own experience in a way that adds some value to your day.
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0:00 Intro
0:55 My First Prime
1:21 Intro to Lenses (skip if you already know)
2:43 Prime Basics (skip if you already know)
3:10 Zoom Basics (skip if you already know)
4:15 Pros & Cons of Zooms
6:17 Pros & Cons of Primes
7:23 My Opinion & What I Use
8:57 Final Thoughts

Thanks so much for your support!

-Zach

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Комментарии

Awesome video. I started out on zooms only. Now that I have started to collect some primes - I must admit, I did myself a disservice to my learning curve. I used a 24-70 f2.8 almost exclusively in the beginning and certainly it was convenient as I learned - but as I have opted in for primes a little at a time - I am stunned at how it forced me to pay more attention without it being a conscious act. Your opinion resonated with me for I am apprenticing with a professional right now (here and there) and he uses primes exclusively and steers me away from zooms I still feel there is a use for them and they don't necessarily replace either other (zooms versus primes); they can and should co-exist.

kathealy

I’m late to the party here, but just wanted to say that I like your delineation: primes below 70mm and zooms above. That broadly describes my Canon 5DIII set up.

My personal three exceptions are as follows:

(1) Macro: I like 100mm primes.

(2) Travel: I recently acquired a Lumix G9, mainly for its video specs, IBIS and (generally) smaller lenses. It is one of the best value pieces of camera kit around, let down only by its video continuous AF and 30 minute record limit on video. I have a beautiful Panny Leica 25mm F1.4, a bargain Pergear 10mm F5.6 semi-fisheye MF, and… a 14-140mm zoom. With the zoom, it makes a wonderful travel set up. The lens - 300mm FF equivalent - is only 7.5cm long. I adapt my EF lenses with a Viltrox speedbooster. I bought the lot (including 2 lenses were used) for less than the cost of the Canon R7 body.

(3) Pocketable/ jacketable: after giving my Fujifilm X10 to my daughter, I am looking out for the next generation of pocketable high quality compact cameras (successors to the ZV1, RX100 etc. If there are any, they will probably be distinguished from current generation pocketables by having 10bit log codecs. Using that spec, the Fujifilm X100V could be viewed as the first of the new generation. If the right pocketable doesn’t emerge, then I’m hoping for a successor to the Lumix GX range of rangefinder style ILCs, so I can just use the MFT lenses.

Democratiser

I'm bingewatching all your content! Thanks so much for creating and sharing! I'm learning a ton and it's good to see things from someone's perspective that has a lot of experience like you!

_noahrh

Hey Zach! As a dad who mainly captures my family I’ve found that I love having 2 camera bodies lying around the house at all times with a 23 f2 and 50 f2 attached. Then I just grab one or the other randomly here and there and capture what feels right. Lately been loving the 50 f2. If we head out and about it’s the 23. 16-80 f4 for hiking.

patrick-resendiz

Always been a prime fan. In the past I usually had a kit like yours, one zoom and a set of primes. Now I only shoot with 35mm and 50mm on my X100V and teleconverter. Love primes for being light and compact, and great value for the sharpness and wide aperture you get.

philipae

Interesting points!!! Zooms and primes both have a place and time where one is needed more than the other

Pixelpeeps-

R6 user also. I shoot primes for portrait work and will use my 24-70 for event coverage where I just need to document the event. I have not tried the Canon 28-70, but I generally agree with you that shorter zooms in the 24-70 range are not as necessary as a zoom in the longer range from 70-200mm.

justesmond

I’ve gone from all primes to all zooms and back a few times over the years. The eternal quest for gear sucks, but these days I’m happy with where I’ve ended up— got a zoom for the focal lengths I only shoot for fun/personal work (24-70) and primes for the focal lengths I use for my WORK work (85-135).

andrewdoeshair

I never really considered that primes teach you the focal lengths better, but I definetly see the rationale! Hope your holidays are filled with all the best stuff!!

KeithCarmichaelInFL

Hi Zach, great commentary as always. Primes make me less "sloppy" and more considered when taking shots. Zooms can make me lazy. But really it just comes down to I use the right tool for the job at hand. I love my travel photography, so weight is a factor for me. I don't want to carry a bag full of lenses. I tend to take one or two multipurpose zooms along with a couple of fast primes.

GlennSchultes

Good content! Just subscribed. I'm a full-time architectural photographer so my main lens that rarely leaves my R6 is the 15-35 and it is so sharp. That being said, I found your channel because I have corporate clients who ask for environmental and portrait headshots. My longest RF lens is the 24-70 and 70 is not ideal for portrait. I did not want to spend almost $3k on a 85mm 1.2 rf, but after watching your 70-200 2.8 rf review I am willing to spend that on that lens. To have the versatility and use it at my kids events is appealing. I'll have to comb through your channel some more when I have time but I would love to see why you prefer the 50 1.2 ef over the RF. I love that focal length and if I can save money using the EF on my R6 that would be great. Thanks again!

JaredHoyman

I shoot primes because that's what I learned on! I was told (like many beginners are) to pick up a 'nifty-fifty' when I bought my first DSLR, and I'm a creature of habit, so I've stuck with me. I personally don't love the 50mm focal length though, I prefer 35mm. I got curious and bought a 24-70mm for a while...it was nice, but I value a lighter setup and ultimately the size and weight was just not for me.
I still lust after the RF 28-70mm but that's purely to be one of the cool kids LOL

ellenmariewagner

Hey Zack. Great video as usual. I'm just starting to get into RF primes (50 F1.2 & 85 F1.2). I can certainly see how something like a 50 F1.2 could replace a 24-70 F2.8 but like you said the 70-200 F2.8 is just so ridiculously versatile, I personally couldn't imagine a shooting gig where that lens isn't there. With that said I do a lot of fast paced event work and its hard to make the leap to just a 50 F1.2 and a 70-200 F2.8. But I've only had that lens (50mm F1.2) for a few months and frankly that lens has been a beast in every situation, so maybe the bigger problem is me, you know? As far as the 85 F1.2 which I just got, I totally agree with you in your other video. Its almost like I don't know that to do with the thing outside of legit portraits or studio work, but I hope that changes and I can use it in other situations. I think right now the two kits I could see myself living with and certainly making do, are 50 F1.2 & 70-200 F2.8 or 24-70 F2.8 and 70-200 F2.8. I guess camera companies have a good racket going, people need to buy one of everything apparently. LOL! Take care.

TubaSolotheHiker