just using a 50mm 1.8

GHP said:
I mostly use primes too but don't understand why composition improves? Surely you would look for the little things in the viewfinder whether a prime or a zoom is being used? The only difference is that if you notice something in the viewfinder which you don't want you either zoom in a bit or walk forward a step or two.
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I hear you. Pointing out the obvious doesn't seem to matter in this thread.
 
ernesto said:
Good point, maybe it is just the fact that it makes you work at the composition by moving around and during that time moving around you think about the shot (even if it is almost subconsciously).
More like a side affect of not being able to get the shot immediately rather than any sort of forcing?
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My pile of bad shots made my work on these things. Lol. I find I come home with a lot less shots than I did when I first started. Not because of a prime but because I am more aware of what makes up a good shot now. I don't even carry my 50 anymore because I felt like I was missing the wide side so much.
 
To the OP I say go for it, try it and if you get a feeling of "heck I want my easy focus 28-400 zoom lens back" persist with it a bit longer. Then try switching to manual focus and if you have old man's eyes use your live view facility.

Who can say whether you'll enjoy the experience or what you'll learn from it? You've already seen a diversity of opinions.

Stop your lens right down. Play with it. Open it up to say f4 and play with it.

Try a different make of lens and see how different makes produce different bokeh when stopped down.

Do you hanker after a 1.4 lens yet or a 1.2?

Have fun, see what you learn from it, see whether you enjoy it but above all apply a Positive Mental Attitude!
 
Years ago they only had primes
Look at all the old famous photographers they learned there craft with basic prime.
Now days it lift camera zoom to what you want not a lot of thought goes into actually taking a picture,primes will make you use your nogging a bit more.
Also many primes are sharper than some zooms get it on you may actually love it
 
akcron said:
Thanks to everyone who replied.

I think I will try it for a short while maybe just over the weekend to see what it is like to be limited to 1focal length.

Thanks again Paul.
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A weekend should be long enough for you to realise just how limiting using a single focal length can be! Footzooming is all very well but isn't always possible, when your back's against the wall or close to deep water/ steep drops or when you're close to a steep drop in front of you.

When I first got into photography, all I had was a Pentax S1a body, a lightmeter mounted on the prism and a 50mm f/2 prime. Over a few years, I built up a small selection of other primes but always hankered after a Vivitar Series 1 zoom 70-210 which I could never afford. I now shoot almost exclusively with zooms (which give me a range of 12mm up to 300mm over 3 lenses) although I do on occasion use primes should I need to - an 8mm fisheye, a 50mm f/1.8 for low light and a 105mm for macro. I also have a 90mm macro and a 180mm f/2.8 but they're on long term loan to a friend. She's also from a primes only background but picked a Cosina 19-30 zoom from the 3 lenses available to play with on my D70 which she's also borrowed.

By all means try using only the 50mm for a while but carry a walkabout zoom just in case you get frustrated with the limitations - it could put you off photography for a while.

Please see signature for disclaimer!
 
It could put you off but then it could put you off zooms if you turned out liking it.

I have only tried a few zooms and just don't like them and sold them within days. That is how I knew that I would be happy with a fixed lens camera. I clearly miss out on some shots and it can take me many times longer to walk to the subject but I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
Nod said:
A weekend should be long enough for you to realise just how limiting using a single focal length can be! Footzooming is all very well but isn't always possible, when your back's against the wall or close to deep water/ steep drops or when you're close to a steep drop in front of you.

When I first got into photography, all I had was a Pentax S1a body, a lightmeter mounted on the prism and a 50mm f/2 prime. Over a few years, I built up a small selection of other primes but always hankered after a Vivitar Series 1 zoom 70-210 which I could never afford. I now shoot almost exclusively with zooms (which give me a range of 12mm up to 300mm over 3 lenses) although I do on occasion use primes should I need to - an 8mm fisheye, a 50mm f/1.8 for low light and a 105mm for macro. I also have a 90mm macro and a 180mm f/2.8 but they're on long term loan to a friend. She's also from a primes only background but picked a Cosina 19-30 zoom from the 3 lenses available to play with on my D70 which she's also borrowed.

By all means try using only the 50mm for a while but carry a walkabout zoom just in case you get frustrated with the limitations - it could put you off photography for a while.

Please see signature for disclaimer!
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Best practical answer yet. It is all about getting that shot. I have a mix of lenses and like any other profession that uses tools. Use the best tool to get that shot. Perhaps getting that shot is not important to some people. I guess it depends what you use your camera for. I an not afraid of using primes or zooms and it does not bother me a single bit to stop and change lenses. This is what photography is all about no? Also it does not Bother me a single a bit how much I carry as long as I get that shot. Different things turn different people differently. ;/). There is no single right way.
 
I have a bag full of lenses, mainly zooms with full coverage from 12mm up to 300. I also keep 3 primes in there, an 8mm fisheye (great fun!), a 50mm f/1.8 (razor sharp and fast enough, especially paired with a D700) and a 105mm VR Macro. I would be happy spending a day using a single one of those primes but no longer than the day! Next holiday, I will be using a non interchangeable lens camera, although it does have a 24-720mm superzoom lens!
 
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