I have a Canon 24-70 F2.8L which is my "walk around" lens for my old Canon 20D. I'm very happy with the performance attached to my SGBlade/EX1 (which I've only just started using). I've mostly been leaving it at 2.8 and using ND when necessary (with RR2). The DOF Preview button trick on the Canon body works OK and I've found that it forces me to really think about the proper F stop for a particular scene.
Why only manual primes not autofocus primes? Why only Primes and not zooms?
- Thread starter justmarvin
- Start date
Well, that's not really an apple to apple comparison because you're talking about pretty slow prime lenses there. Expensive prime lenses are much faster than f2.8.
And the zoom lenses I mentioned are not slow, it's a fixed f/2.8 speed. Sure it's heavier compared to a dinky prime, but it's not really much of a relevant factor since it's not really that heavy at all. So that rules out your specific points altogether and we're just left with your points of a zoom's convenience and saving money
Those lenses sure, but there are plenty of other examples I can bring up. For example the Canon EF L glass have some very nice zoom lenses, but they're also extremely heavy compared to prime, and I wouldn't feel comfortable using them without additional lense support. Size and weight must be factored in when considering the lense.
This is misleading because it implies that you're taking the easy way out by not having enough light, which is not true at all. There are plenty of situations where it's simply not possible to bring in more light even if you have access to them. For example a few weeks ago I was shooting at a flower shop. We only had access to the location for a single day and the shop was so full that it was only possible for me to squeeze in 2 lights even though I had more. Setting up additional lights might have damaged the plants by generating more heat and it would have taken up precious time that we don't have. So much of the time I was shooting at f2 or lower on my lenses and it was one situation where having only zooms would have crippled my ability to get the shot I need.
Nick Walters
Mentholated Member
I think Huy has more then summed up my thoughts as well...I've been shooting a feature where we were in the bathroom of an efficiency apartment.....we were able to stick two very small lights in the bath tub and run one 40watt flourescent in the fixture above the mirror.....and we still had to shove people in tubs, have cameramen double as boom operators, etc.....we needed that low F-stop.
This isn't ALWAYS the case, but in this business you need OPTIONS....we're trying to let you know that you need to avoid painting yourself in a corner....by all means buy these zoom lenses that you speak of, but also try to build an inventory of your own of high quality, fast primes.....if you only leave them in your bag/case, then GREAT....but if you DO NEED IT....then give us a credit in your film, along with a "They were right" LOL
This isn't ALWAYS the case, but in this business you need OPTIONS....we're trying to let you know that you need to avoid painting yourself in a corner....by all means buy these zoom lenses that you speak of, but also try to build an inventory of your own of high quality, fast primes.....if you only leave them in your bag/case, then GREAT....but if you DO NEED IT....then give us a credit in your film, along with a "They were right" LOL
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