Primes: smaller, clumsier, time consuming and better…for me at least
Posted under: Coming from a photographer of the new digital age, the Generation Y of photographers, I have embraced all the new technologies and methods which make my life easier as a photographer. (I’ve never used a darkroom before and the two film cameras I have owned was a full manual Zenit from the 1960s and an amateur piece of plastic Canon EOS, but more on that in a later blog). Anyways, I often found a lot of the more traditional photographers are habitual prime users as zooms never performed to the same standard as primes. As a new, young, lazy photographer, I didn’t like primes; I didn’t like moving when I wanted to get closer to my subject; I didn’t like the change the lens every 5 minutes; I didn’t want to carry 5 different lenses which cover the same focal length as one zoom: the excuses keep mounting. However my perception of primes really changed recently, as I have changed to prime lenses for majority of my work in and out of the studio. There are several reasons behind my move.
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with the 35mm when I want to include a wider field of view to include a bit of the surroundings. Also because of the focal length distortion, I can emphasize/stretch the model
hit the link for more photos and explanation on which lenses I use for my various shots.
First of all it’s usability, as a fashion photographer, I rarely shoot wider than 50mm on a 1.5 cropped sensor, which renders many of my big power zooms less useful as there is a big 28-50 range that’s getting wasted. So now I carry a 35mm, 50mm, 55mm (macro), 85mm, which cover most of my photo needs. I am still in the process of acquiring a couple more lenses to keep me covered, more on that towards the end of the post.
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with 55mm. I interchange between the 50 and 55 as they are very close in focal length. I prefer the 55 as I feel it is just a tad more contrasty. I often reach for the 55 for shoulder up shots which has a good field of view to show just a bit of the surrounding background/environment without being overly distracting.
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with the 55mm macro. Given it's the only macro lens in my arsenal at the moment, aside from a psuedo macro zoom, this gets the job done, although I really need to be in the model's face and oftentimes get in the way of my lighting setups
Secondly, it’s convenience, the Nikon 28-70 is known as the beast because it is a big hunk of metal. It impresses others when you use it, but as a photographer, it’s more of a burden than anything else. I feel I have more stability holding the camera when I’m using a small prime.
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with 85mm. 85mm is one of my favourite lenses. It is tack sharp and I use it mostly for headshots, shoulder up and tighter. This is the lens I use when I don't want minimal focal length distortion. Of course you can argue that the 200mm lens has less focal length distortion, true but I don't think it's really noticeable. Another unsung advantage of the 85mm is the working distance it gives you. 85mm allows me more distance between the model and myself compared to the 50/55 mm. This is especially useful if you are working with a new model, so that you are not as intimidating.
Thirdly, sharpness, in studio I often shoot at f/8-f/9, by then a consumer zoom lens will be just as sharp as the pro primes. But my photography style often forces me to shoot rather wide open and the lens performance at f/2.8 or f/2.5 is rather crucial. The zooms I’ve used just cannot beat fast primes stopped down at this point, although I’ve heard many good things of the 24-70…we shall see.
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with 55mm. For full length shots, I tend to switch between the 55mm and 85mm. The choice often depends on 4 factors. 1) space, to shoot full length with 85mm on a cropped sensor, I need to be quite far back, and depending on the situation, I don't have the luxury of space. 2) model, as I had mentioned previously about focal length distortion, 55mm is more pronounced than 85mm, so if the model is on the shorter side I have a tendency to use the 50/55 to just stretch the model a tad bit. 3) communication, 50/55mm allows me to be relatively close to the model so that I can hold on to the model/photographer interaction. 4) field of view, the 85 is just that much tighter in the field of view, useful if you have excess junk just outside the frame.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly it’s about forced creativity. Working with a zoom I get lazy sometimes and just compose everything in the shot so that nothing is missing and then recrop in post processing. I also tend to stand at one point and zoom. With a prime lens, I’ve been forced to keep my composition in mind all the time and recompose each shot to my exact liking. At the same time I have to move around more often which also in turns opens me to many new shot opportunities. Moving about is also good for exercising, rather than building up biceps holding up 2 pound zooms, you are doing aerobics walking around going after that sweet shot 
(c) Bo and Bro | Bo Zhang: shot with 85mm. please see above bridal full length for explanation, but mostly a tighter shot
So for now my lens arsenal is getting readjusted. Ideally I would want a 105mm macro 2.8 vr, 135mm 2.8 (new one is suppose to come out this year), 200 f/4 macro. Then I think i’ll be happy .
PS, please comment if this has been helpful or if you have questions, opinions. you can also follow me on twitter and facebook to get new blog updates.
Great post Bo. Honestly, I’m a fan of primes as well. I use my 105mm 2.8 for a lot of my work. I overlook the 50mm sometimes but when I use it, that lens speaks for itself. I am looking on getting the 85mm. I tried it out once but didn’t like it for what I was doing but want to try it for other applications. You are right about the primes making you move. I think sometimes the models wonder why I am getting closer to them rather than zooming. lol
Bo,
Good blog.
You took me down memory lane, as I too started out with a 50mm lens and love it! Wish I had one now. I have read that primes are better lens. I brought top of the line zoom mainly to compensate for the fact that I couldn’t buy every prime lens that wanted. Hmmm, maybe I will break down and buy that 135mm lens now.
Mike
@Ajani, Thanks bud…yes for the longest time the cheapo 50 just sat in my bad, but now it’s a go to lens. are you shooting 105 on DX or FX?
@Mike, well new top of the line zooms often touch primes in terms of sharpness, i think there are other qualities that zooms cannot imitate such as the creativity aspect.
Also i forgot to mention, older primes have a touch of character to them in terms of photo reproduction, the Hanson’s recently shot their music video with OLD nikkors to get that affect, more on that here: http://philipbloom.net/2010/04/30/very-cool-7d-music-video-shot-using-old-nikon-ai-prime-lenses/
Messing around with old film cameras I’ve gotten totally used to a fixed 40-50mm lens (or equivalent, like 75mm on 645), and I’m struggling to justify the wad of cash I dropped on a 15-85mm zoom with a slow aperture.
You’re probably too busy, but if you get the chance to make prints in a darkroom just once, go for it. It’s absolutely magic, and although the smell of chemicals might start to get to you after a while, it’s quite refreshing to be making pictures without a computer in sight!
@niall, ye..the 35mm on my cropped body is becoming one of my favourites. I’ve been tempted by film quite a few times, been looking at F5s or even old nikon F’s….although your medium format situation has been tempting me towards mamiyas/hasselblads. it’s only a matter of time i suppose
I’m the odd man out on this older post that I just happened upon. My Canon 24-105 on my full size sensor 5D2 is my go to lens for just about everything — studio, event, location. Its sharpness and performance match the primes that Bo would use — 35, 50, 55, 85. I’ll give you that it’s a bit heavy on the weight side. But that’s offset by the fact that there’s no hassle changing lenses. It’s got most focal lengths I need in one housing. At f4 some might find it a tick slow. But the IS lets me shoot comfortable down to 1/30 sec. adding some light when I need it. I’ve got a 50mm f1.4 in my bag that’s hardly been used. After following this discussion, I may be tempted to give it a walk through. But I did find after a couple of trials that there was a bit more distortion than desired in portrait work. I’ll stay long for that, usually 70-200.