DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> one camera, one prime lens
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 22 of 22, (reverse)
AuthorThread
08/31/2015 10:01:15 PM · #1
So, recently picked up the sigma 30mm 2.8 art lens in sony e-mount. Have been using only this lens for the last 3 weeks since I picked it up. Haven't touched the 18-105 that I purchased with my a6000 since, and am not missing the zoom lens. I am also planning on shooting only with this lens for the next few weeks/months.

Just wondering, has anyone else chosen to just shoot with just a single prime? And did you notice any difference in your photos?
08/31/2015 10:09:29 PM · #2
I zoom with my feet & shoot with a prime, too. A 30mm 2.8 macro.

Message edited by author 2015-08-31 22:10:18.
08/31/2015 10:28:42 PM · #3
Henri Cartier-Bresson worked with a single 50mm prime lens and never cropped his images. Very common for street photographers but not for everybody.
08/31/2015 10:35:07 PM · #4
I got rid of my D7000 (I already had two full frame Nikon bodies) and bought an A6000 like yours. Since I'm manual focusing with that, I like to use the old 50 1.4 Nikon (I have a speedbooster, so the lens becomes an f/1.0). Here one of the last images I took (it's quite compressed, the original is much better):

08/31/2015 10:46:09 PM · #5
I shoot almost exclusively with the RX1 now... That's pretty much the ultimate commitment to one camera, one prime lens.
09/01/2015 02:09:30 AM · #6
My 50/1.4 hardly ever leaves my body in part because I don't like my other lenses, but also because I love my 50. I keep thinking I'll get a zoom that I love, but I don't imagine I can afford one that can compare.
09/01/2015 02:38:41 AM · #7
I think I could survive quite well with just my 50mm 1:8 and my 70D but it is nice to have the other 2 lenses on hand.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 US
09/01/2015 03:14:18 AM · #8
Yes, only have one lens 35mm 1.4 which is 53mm eq on cropped sensor.
09/01/2015 04:00:52 AM · #9
A friend told me if I shot with a prime for any length of time it would change the way I view my photography. After 2 years of shooting with the X100s ( fixed 35 mm) I have to agree. I am now ready to go back to an ILC, probably the D750 but am only interested in 2 primes:
* 85mm 1.8G
* 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle f/2.8

Will still use the Fuji for the mid range, don't miss zooms at all.
09/01/2015 08:02:07 AM · #10
i could probably make use with just my 85 for personal use, its the perfect focal length. i prefer the look of the 135, but its too long for dedicated use.
09/01/2015 08:31:36 AM · #11
I shot the last 3 weeks of December with a Sony a6000 and 50mm f1.8. I noticed something different because I shoot a lot at the wide end of things and predominantly full frame, so it made me think a lot more since it was like shooting with a 75mm. It made me a better photographer, but if I did it again I'd use a 35mm or do it with one of my Nikons and a 50mm.
09/01/2015 09:00:01 AM · #12
It would be difficult for me to pick a favorite focal length, but I do carry one camera one prime around with me at all times.
09/01/2015 09:21:51 AM · #13
I've recently been shooting quite a lot with the Sigma Art 50/1.4, carrying just the camera/lens and no bag at all. I just love the results from this lens, and I often don't really miss the zoom. I'm not going to ever be a "primes-only" guy, but I tell ya, the performance of a good, fast prime still puts a zoom to shame. I really need to update my 24-70 zoom; not this year though.
09/01/2015 01:19:44 PM · #14
I carry two cameras, one with a 35mm attached and one with a 55mm attached, as time goes by I'm using the 35mm more, not sure if that's because of its small size or because I preference that focal length.
09/01/2015 07:26:20 PM · #15
If I wanted to carry only one prime, at least for shooting while wandering, it would have to be a 15 or 16mm lens, which means on my current Fuji crop sensor it would have to be a 10mm lens or so. If they made one at f/1.4 or even f/2.0, with little distortion, I would be very happy.

As it is, if I carried one lens, it would have to be the 10-24mm.

I might be able to live with a 24mm, so the new Fuji 16mm prime would be a candidate. But I don't think it's wide enough (and it doesn't have VR).
09/01/2015 10:47:40 PM · #16
Originally posted by Neil:

If I wanted to carry only one prime, at least for shooting while wandering, it would have to be a 15 or 16mm lens, which means on my current Fuji crop sensor it would have to be a 10mm lens or so. If they made one at f/1.4 or even f/2.0, with little distortion, I would be very happy.

As it is, if I carried one lens, it would have to be the 10-24mm.

I might be able to live with a 24mm, so the new Fuji 16mm prime would be a candidate. But I don't think it's wide enough (and it doesn't have VR).


Neil said exactly what I was thinking.
09/01/2015 11:30:32 PM · #17
Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

I think I could survive quite well with just my 50mm 1:8 and my 70D but it is nice to have the other 2 lenses on hand.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 US


How about this 85mm f/1.8 USM, is it any good? I want to buy a prime lens around 85mm
09/02/2015 02:28:51 AM · #18
Originally posted by GeorgesBogaert:

Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

I think I could survive quite well with just my 50mm 1:8 and my 70D but it is nice to have the other 2 lenses on hand.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 US


How about this 85mm f/1.8 USM, is it any good? I want to buy a prime lens around 85mm


It is absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend it. The image quality is first class and I cannot fault it.
09/02/2015 06:22:53 AM · #19
~ I've been using zoom lenses for most of my "non-professional" photography phase and I also had a Canon 50mm f/1.8 ("cinquantino", as we mostly call it here in Italy), but I used to shoot only live music or very low light conditions with it.
As I enriched my equipment and got full frame, I bought a Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art...
Haven't been - virtually -able to take it off my camera.
I mean, I like to use a wide range of focal length and to shoot from landscape to macro, but 80% of the stuff I shoot, I shoot with it.
That and the 85mm f/1.2 [when I go "reportage-wedding-event" I always carry those two primes, the 35 f/1.4 and the 85 f/1.2 - which was a second hand purchase since it's too expensive].

So yes, I didn't exactly "choose to shoot only with my 35mm", but I know that feeling!
09/02/2015 07:19:02 AM · #20
I switched to my Fuji x100 a few years ago with it's fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent) and did not miss not being able to zoom at all. Finally swapped out my Canon gear and bought a Fuji x-e2 which came with an 18-55m f2.8 lens, a damn fine lens it is to. As I was using my x100 more I decided to get the fuji 35mm f1.4 prime for the x-e2 and I have not been disappointed, it's a perfect fit for me and the x-e2.

I also have adaptors for the x-e2 to use my Sigma 28mm f1.8 a Mamiya 55mm f1.4 and 135mm f2.8 lenses and a Sigma 17-70mm but I rarely use them as I am not great at the manual focus side of things.

If I had to pick one of my cameras it would be the Fuji x100 as my favourite.

I was used to prime lenses with my old SLR gear as zoom lenses were just too expensive back in those days. I am more than happy just to use the single focal length.

Message edited by author 2015-09-02 07:39:20.
09/02/2015 07:22:36 AM · #21
Originally posted by GeorgesBogaert:



How about this 85mm f/1.8 USM, is it any good? I want to buy a prime lens around 85mm


i could live with that lens only if i had too.
09/02/2015 07:33:46 AM · #22
Originally posted by GeorgesBogaert:


How about this 85mm f/1.8 USM, is it any good? I want to buy a prime lens around 85mm


Nice lens, lightweight and very sharp for the price.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 07:55:22 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 07:55:22 PM EDT.