Comments on: Prime Lenses – an Introduction http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:38:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tomas Haran http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-256676 Tomas Haran Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:06 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-256676 Dana - That's awesome that you are enjoying your 50mm 1.4. Amazing prime lens. Now its 2012, have you picked up any more prime lenses? I currently have the 105mm 2.8 micro Nikon lens, but am thinking of upgrading to the new 105mm 2.8 VR lens as it has nano crystal coating and doesn't zoom in and out when focusing. Its supposed to be extremely sharp and the vr can help as well. I also have the 35mm 1.8. Short list of amazing prime lenses for NIkon 85mm 1.8/1.4 50mm 1.8/1.4 200mm prime 20mm 60mm 2.8 micro is very good and a great portrait lens Great post! Dana – That’s awesome that you are enjoying your 50mm 1.4. Amazing prime lens. Now its 2012, have you picked up any more prime lenses?
I currently have the 105mm 2.8 micro Nikon lens, but am thinking of upgrading to the new 105mm 2.8 VR lens as it has nano crystal coating and doesn’t zoom in and out when focusing. Its supposed to be extremely sharp and the vr can help as well.
I also have the 35mm 1.8.

Short list of amazing prime lenses for NIkon
85mm 1.8/1.4
50mm 1.8/1.4
200mm prime
20mm
60mm 2.8 micro is very good and a great portrait lens

Great post!

]]> By: dana http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-208043 dana Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:45:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-208043 I will add that going from my kit lens over to my Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX has absolutely surprised me. I thought I knew how it would go -- but I had no idea what "fast" really was. The fastest I was able to get moving subjects was around ss of 1/125 - maybe 1/250 on great lighting conditions. Now, in full sun, I'm bumping the ss WAY up to 1/3000 and finding anything slower when my aperture is wide open is just blowing things way out. Finally really understanding the relationship between the aperture and the shutter. If you go prime & fast - give yourself a couple of days "test shooting" to get used to your new settings. It's definitely different! I will add that going from my kit lens over to my Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX has absolutely surprised me. I thought I knew how it would go — but I had no idea what “fast” really was.

The fastest I was able to get moving subjects was around ss of 1/125 – maybe 1/250 on great lighting conditions. Now, in full sun, I’m bumping the ss WAY up to 1/3000 and finding anything slower when my aperture is wide open is just blowing things way out. Finally really understanding the relationship between the aperture and the shutter.

If you go prime & fast – give yourself a couple of days “test shooting” to get used to your new settings. It’s definitely different!

]]> By: Pomtree http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-180315 Pomtree Tue, 24 May 2011 17:55:51 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-180315 you nailed it for me: 50mm 1.8 and 100mm 2.8 macro baby! you nailed it for me: 50mm 1.8 and 100mm 2.8 macro baby!

]]> By: Gangadin Aniel http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-177649 Gangadin Aniel Fri, 13 May 2011 11:52:06 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-177649 I use a Tokina 35mm f2.8 ATX-Pro as a prime lens. Actually it's a macro lens, but it's exceptionally sharp, if not razor sharp edge to edge. It is quite good as a macro also, so having both in one lens. It's attached to my D90 most of the time. I am now looking out for the Tokina 116 ATX pro, also to use as a prime, because this small focal length is actually useless as a zoom. I have tried the old 85mm f1.4 Nikkor, MF. It's heavy and takes nice pictures. Felt very confident. Performs well. Maybe in the future..........who knows. Cheers, Aniel (Suriname) I use a Tokina 35mm f2.8 ATX-Pro as a prime lens. Actually it’s a macro lens, but it’s exceptionally sharp, if not razor sharp edge to edge. It is quite good as a macro also, so having both in one lens. It’s attached to my D90 most of the time.
I am now looking out for the Tokina 116 ATX pro, also to use as a prime, because this small focal length is actually useless as a zoom.

I have tried the old 85mm f1.4 Nikkor, MF. It’s heavy and takes nice pictures. Felt very confident.
Performs well. Maybe in the future……….who knows.

Cheers,

Aniel (Suriname)

]]> By: Jason TEPOORTEN http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-140169 Jason TEPOORTEN Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:58:31 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-140169 Hi, I bought my first prime lens for my Nikon D3000 two weeks back. My lens is a NIKKOR AF 50mm f/1.8D, and I just love using it! Although, I am restricted to manually focussing, because the Nikon D3000 doesn't support auto focus on the NIKKOR AF 50mm f/1.8D lense, I can get some really great looking portraits! I would like to look at getting a longer focal length prime lens and a wide-angle prime lens for my kit. Hi,

I bought my first prime lens for my Nikon D3000 two weeks back.

My lens is a NIKKOR AF 50mm f/1.8D, and I just love using it! Although, I am restricted to manually focussing, because the Nikon D3000 doesn’t support auto focus on the NIKKOR AF 50mm f/1.8D lense, I can get some really great looking portraits!

I would like to look at getting a longer focal length prime lens and a wide-angle prime lens for my kit.

]]> By: bart naessens http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-134056 bart naessens Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-134056 hi there, three reasons for me to only use prime lenses: -old mf lenses are sold for a song -their resolutions and apertures are very good -they trigger my creativity. my backpack is 7kilogram, and my tripod is 3 kilogram, easy to transport on my bike. often, when by foot, i'll only take 1, 2 or 3 lenses with me. i use a nikon fm3a manual film body with these lenses: 20mm/4.0, 35mm/2.0, 50mm/1.8, 55mm/2.8 macro, 85mm/2.0, 135mm/2.8, 200mm/4.0, 300mm/4.5. 18mm/4.0 (no 52mm filters) and 500/8.0 (awful bokeh) are lying in a drawer. i enjoy to shoot sunrise in the landscape. happy shootin', greetz from rainy amsterdam, bart. for reverse film i mostly use a warming filter (81a), for b/w i use contrast filters like yellow, orange red and green.[eimg link='http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartnaessens/4873148061/' title='10.07.25 img940' url='http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4873148061_8dff712002.jpg'] hi there,
three reasons for me to only use prime lenses:
-old mf lenses are sold for a song
-their resolutions and apertures are very good
-they trigger my creativity.
my backpack is 7kilogram, and my tripod is 3 kilogram,
easy to transport on my bike.
often, when by foot, i’ll only take 1, 2 or 3 lenses with me.
i use a nikon fm3a manual film body with these lenses:
20mm/4.0, 35mm/2.0, 50mm/1.8, 55mm/2.8 macro, 85mm/2.0,
135mm/2.8, 200mm/4.0, 300mm/4.5.
18mm/4.0 (no 52mm filters) and 500/8.0 (awful bokeh) are lying in a drawer.
i enjoy to shoot sunrise in the landscape.
happy shootin’,
greetz from rainy amsterdam,
bart.
for reverse film i mostly use a warming filter (81a),
for b/w i use contrast filters like yellow, orange red and green.

]]> By: miko http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-107435 miko Mon, 03 May 2010 23:09:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-107435 Years ago when I was just getting into the video production field, I was gifted with a very pristine Olympus OM1 that was basically an antique when it was given to me. It came with a 24mm prime, a 50mm prime, and a 75mm-150mm zoom. I was brand new at photography but had a strong interest and desire to learn. I shot with the thing for the next fourteen years and really developed as a still photographer. Fast forward to today and I'm waiting for my new Pro HD Video Camera that shoots on memory cards and allows the use of 35mm prime lenses to arrive. I can't wait to get the thing in my hands, dump the standard zoom, and get started creating images like a real film photographer again! Anyone know a good place to buy a set of 35mm primes at a great pice? Years ago when I was just getting into the video production field, I was gifted with a very pristine Olympus OM1 that was basically an antique when it was given to me. It came with a 24mm prime, a 50mm prime, and a 75mm-150mm zoom. I was brand new at photography but had a strong interest and desire to learn. I shot with the thing for the next fourteen years and really developed as a still photographer.

Fast forward to today and I’m waiting for my new Pro HD Video Camera that shoots on memory cards and allows the use of 35mm prime lenses to arrive. I can’t wait to get the thing in my hands, dump the standard zoom, and get started creating images like a real film photographer again! Anyone know a good place to buy a set of 35mm primes at a great pice?

]]> By: Eric http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-93208 Eric Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:34:58 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-93208 I'm using 20mm f1.7 (panasonic) lumix pancake prime-lens, micro four third mount on GF1 body. The lens is better than the olympus zuiko digital equivalent (17mm f2.8) and much faster, suitable for casual low light shoot. I feel the view range (40mm on 35mm film equi.) is just perfect for a lot of situations. I’m using 20mm f1.7 (panasonic) lumix pancake prime-lens, micro four third mount on GF1 body. The lens is better than the olympus zuiko digital equivalent (17mm f2.8) and much faster, suitable for casual low light shoot. I feel the view range (40mm on 35mm film equi.) is just perfect for a lot of situations.

]]> By: Nikhil Rawal http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-89020 Nikhil Rawal Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:27:19 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-89020 I have a Nikon D80 and a D90 and I use a Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4 and a Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 I have a Nikon D80 and a D90 and I use a Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4 and a Tamron 90 mm f/2.8

]]> By: Nikhil http://www.digital-photography-school.com/prime-lenses-an-introduction/comment-page-2#comment-88411 Nikhil Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:23:54 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/prime-lenses-an-introduction/#comment-88411 Sony Prime lenses are a waste. Sony tries to compete with Nikon & Canon but they are actually selling only the name of Sony. I just got my first prime lens( 105mm) which tunrs out to be a real massacre. Funny enough, my small coolpix of Nikon will give practically the same pictures and clarity as my prime lens for my sony alpha 700 i would advise, as a sony and a nikon( d90) user, never BUY SONY as a DSLR. this is going to be the descision you will regret Sony Prime lenses are a waste. Sony tries to compete with Nikon & Canon but they are actually selling only the name of Sony.
I just got my first prime lens( 105mm) which tunrs out to be a real massacre. Funny enough, my small coolpix of Nikon will give practically the same pictures and clarity as my prime lens for my sony alpha 700
i would advise, as a sony and a nikon( d90) user,
never BUY SONY as a DSLR.
this is going to be the descision you will regret

]]>