Advantages/disadvantages of using one zoom lens instead of primes for entire shoot

I would like help for my specific situation but I feel like I've got my answer now. The Zeiss primes would be ideal for me. It's just the jump in price that's holding me back, but I guess I'll just have to put in a few extra hours' work to pay for them. Thanks for your responses. Let the discussion continue!
 
iamWZA said:
I can use the 28 50 and 80 for the week for £375 (just under $600) or the Canon zoom for £100 (just over $150). Will be using it with the C300
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There is a thread running now about using the C300 as a run-and-gun camera. You might read that thread, depending on how you are using it.

For that use, many are using the 24-105 zoom and are quite happy with it. The 24-70 is a better zoom than the 24-105 and would be a good substitute if you are in any type of quick changing situation.

Have fun!
Michael
 
Cheers unadog, I just checked it out.

I'm still tempted to use the 24-70 zoom but my main concern is - is it a bit of an insult to the C300? Like using FD lenses on a 5d mk3 for example. If I'm paying to use serious camera, I don't want to couple it with crap glass. But the more research I do the more I think the 24-70 is going to do the job very nicely.

Anyone got opinions on this?
 
Why don't you start a thread in the C300 forum, and then post a link in that run-and-gun thread to ask their opinion on your question?

Those folks sounds like very busy pros, using multiple C300's and travelling the world to shoot a lot of different stop. They sure had a lot of interesting & useful feedback on the C300.

Describe your project in some detail - type of images, working method, final output - and ask them what they think?

Nothing beats true, hands on experience. Some of us tend to pontificate and extrapolate at times, but if you get a good, pragmatic professional with experience with the C300, they can tell you exactly what the marginal/incremental value of the primes might be, and whether they are worth the cost and PITA on your specific project.

Good luck - have fun - then let us know the final outcome! Always good for use to learn too.

Best,
Michael
 
iamWZA said:
I'm still tempted to use the 24-70 zoom but my main concern is - is it a bit of an insult to the C300?

Anyone got opinions on this?
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A bit of an insult?
Its not like you called my wife a whore.
Its just a camera and lens, probably the least important part of the equation.
What really counts is the person behind the camera, and the image you compose in front of the camera.

Good Luck!

Dave
 
iamWZA said:
The lenses in question are the Zeiss Planar T (28, 50, 85) and Canon EF 24-70mm
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I'd take the primes, no question, in that case. They're just a world easier to operate.

Zooms can certainly have their advantages though. On some shoots, dust and particles are a real concern - and having to change lenses can present issues with getting dust on the sensor. Also, if you're moving around a lot on location (running and gunning, as it were), then having to cart additional lenses around with you can be a pain if you're light on crew.

Both certainly have their place.

I tend to prefer primes for most things though.
 
A zoom will also give you color consistency, which the ZE/ZF primes don't have from what I've seen, unlike the Contax Zeiss lenses. Now if you are talking compact primes, that's another story.
The 24-70 Canon also has a very consistent transmission (T-stop) through all focal lengths at least wide open, which is pretty nice, and not common amongst constant aperture photo zooms.
 
24-70 is not that versatile of a lens as you always want either a bit more width or telephoto. Yeah i have it and yes it is my first go-to lens when trying to find a frame, but be prepared to have something wider and also more telephoto. That said i start with 24-70 and depending on the occasion if a focus pull is needed try to find the closest prime and replace the zoom with a prime so the focus puller can do his magic.

As always both tools were create for a reason so there is no one-answer-fit-all.
 
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