I Don't Like Zoom Lenses. Here's Why. 

The Sigma 105 is my workhorse. I use it for everything and people and clients know me by it. When I help second shoot weddings, the main always asks me to make sure I bring my 105 to get certain shots with it. She’s HEAVY, but at 1.4, it’s great for low light situations. 70-200 is my lazy lens. I can get 8-10 shots by simply not moving from my spot and just the lens. Great video!

I started on zooms, moved to primes, learned through using primes about specific focal lengths, now back to a standard zoom and a 50 1.4. I appreciate different focal lengths for different parts of the day, and having the zoom on the majority of the day allows me to get so much more of what I want to get rather than being stuck with the wrong prime on a camera at that time. The 50 gives me the bokeh shots if/when I want them or the low light capability when needed, while the 28-75 covers other focal lengths I love: 28, 35 and something a bit longer than the 50 when I’m just too far away for a moment that’s happening. I agree with being deliberate with your choices of focal lengths, but that’s what I’ve learned through some time using primes, when I now use the zoom, I’m zooming with intention rather than for being lazy/convenient.

When I got the 18-50mm 2.8 zoom lens I realized I constantly used the 50mm focal length so I thought I can buy a 50mm 1.8 instead... and how right I was... since then I only have a 50mm and 85mm 1.8 primes and that's it.

Tamaron 35-150 on SOny a7r5 with 62 MP. can crop in post and get about 300mm equivalent. perfect for run and gun weddings.

I switched from primes to basically one lens only - Tamron 35-150 f/2.0-2.8. For 2 years it has not been taken out of my Sony :).

I use 24mm and 50mm 1.8 S-Line as my main lenses with a dual camera setup. Allthough i added a Tamron 35mm-150mm to my kit. It is fantastic for big churches and familiy photos. And its a fantastic backup. But i also see it as 35mm f2 with the option to grab 85 or 105.

I started off with primes & have started shooting more with zooms. The canon RF 28-70 2.0 I shoot with 90 percent of the day. However, I think coming from primes I am hyper aware of where I’m setting my focal length and still “zoom” with my legs out of habit. I still shoot with an older 50mm prime on my back up body because I love the character of the lens & it’s the muscle memory of the compositions that you can do in a short time.

Interesting points, Luke! I can definitely see how primes would be better for capturing weddings and being intentional!

I have the Tamron 35-150 but I don´t use it for weddings as well. Although it´s in my bag - just in case :) 24/35/50/85 ftw!

You've got balls of steel IMO, it's a LOT harder shooting under pressure with primes! I haven't done many weddings, but I've shot a lot of similar events and I don't think I could have done it without zooms TBH. I love the look of primes, but they do make life difficult sometimes.

For weddings and events in general, I like using 2 camera bodies with either 24mm and 35mm or 28mm and 50mm primes. And I use the smaller prime I can get in said focal lenght for the system I'm using. Lighter in the hand and forces me to be more creative and better positioned in the scene - which tends to result in better photos.

I like a fast prime. I've gotten some shots I really like handheld (with a wrist strap) street or at a party or other gathering. People relax when the camera is out of sight out of mind. enough practice and you don't have to pop the camera up high enough to see the screen or viewfinder if you think that might interrupt the moment. As long as you're not taking creepy pics, it's not as creepy as it feels at first.

I started with primes. After years of using it I've developed to learn those focal lengths. I started changing lenses so often during critical times, it was very frustrating. So I moved to a standard zoom and it has been AMAZING. With my experiences in the focal lengths, I know what to focal length I want to zoom in/out to. I can focus on creating then fumbling into my camera bag. Although, I still LOVE primes and I know when and where I would use them.

I'm in my 60's and back in the 70's I used only fixed lenses. I've tried zooms, but unless you're going to be shooting wide one minute and tighter the next, a fixed lens like a 35, 40 or a 50mm is perfect because you just need to use your feet/move around to compose. A 100-400 zoom however, is the only time I'm really comfortable using a zoom lens because no amount of moving/footwork is going to give you a look that such a powerful telephoto zoom is all about. I also prefer the lightness and simplicity of a fixed lens.

I can totally understand you for maintaining consistency. I use zooms for landscapes though. The 24-120 and want to pair it with the 100-400. I do enjoy using primes though, especially the 50mm1.8 z for family pictures and just walk around. Amazing IQ. It does make you think about moving your feet more and less lazy. and for travel, I just prefer zooms.

Yes prime lenses are an important part of any kit. However, knowing when to use zooms and when to use primes enables the photographer to be creative and effective. When travelling and being aware of weight restrictions, zooms are mainly used. If portraits or photographing in low light is anticipated, primes are used. If possible, anticipating the conditions, light,subjects and time, you can, with some degree of certainty, select the right lenses. In theory…..

I like zooms because switching lenses is slow and cumbersome. I also don't have enough room for 5 prime lenses when I'm out walking with my family, but I can see the benefits of primes and want to get some sometime.

I use 24mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2, 90 mm 2.8 macro and 135mm 1.8 for weddings

I love my 50mm f1.4, that sigma is my favourite lens, but i find myself cropping alot, mainly portrait because my subject in not moving. In a unpredictable location, events, weddings, birthdays etc... my 35-150mm f2-2.8 is used alot.

Yes. I have a 50mm lens, a 100mm lens and soon I'll buy a 16mm lens and then I think I'm happy? I don't really want to zoom anymore? 😅 I couldn't tell why but your points make sense to me.

I agree with all the points you’ve made. A zoom makes me less creative. Moving my position forces me to determine better angles and composition.

What about when you miss moments at any kind of tight situation or space.. I take two cameras with me. One with prime and one with zoom. I use the prime to capture emotional moments while the zoom for a function or any tight situation when I need to take pictures of groups

Ok, here's my opinion. You should not blame bad habits on a zoom lens. Find the position that gives you the composition you want before you ever put the camera up to your eye. Then raise the camera and adjust the zoom lens to the focal length that gives the picture you want. I started with primes way back but now I always have 2 lenses in my bag, a zoom and a 40 or 50mm big aperture prime.

I guess I am somewhat the opposite, I hate changing lenses. Primes are usually better optically and, for a given aperture, they are lighter, but I hate fiddleing with taking them off and on.

I only have 3 lenses (a fourth is on order) but 1 of my 3 is the Nikkor 50 1.2, and it almost never leaves my camera. Can't wait for the Nikkor 35 1.2 to go on sale. Plan to get the 85 1.2, eventually $$ Yeah, primes are great for creativity.

Commenting to get this man more traffic!

I feel about zooms vs. primes very similarly. Oftentimes it would be more _practical_ to have a zoom. ...and I HATE that. I don’t photograph because it’s _practical_. But because it’s _beautiful_. That said, there’s a time and a place for zoom lenses and sometimes I regret that I don’t even own one because it would allow me to take a shot that I may miss with the primes I have attached to my cameras. That’s my own fault then. :) So no hate for people who use zooms. To me it just feels completely wrong and kinda makes me hate photographing.

Only reason people use prime only is inability to take a good photo without using bokeh as a crutch.

I started on a 50mm and now use a 24-120, and although I do miss the 50mm sometimes, I think zooms have more flexibility if you stay aware of your focal length. I use my zoom with intention. I zoom in and back up, I zoom out and get closer, I use the zoom to control the framing and crop out background elements, and I can adjust the compression and the depth of field by changing the focal length. Even at f/4, you can get a shallow depth of field at 120mm if you are close to the subject. I always have in mind what the focal length I'm using is doing to the picture. And in a pinch, if you don't have time to move, you would probably want to crop anyway if your prime was too wide and included too much in the photo, so zooming lets you "crop" without losing resolution. And sometimes you don't have space to back up or you don't have time, and you can't crop out of a prime, you can only crop in, but a zoom lets you zoom out. The high iso capabilities of newer cameras make it so f/4 isn't really that bad(depending on the situation), and if you don't want a shallower depth of field but you need more light, a prime isn't going to fix that. The price differences of wide aperture lenses compared to their cheaper smaller aperture counterparts are crazy, you could get some flashes instead and control the lighting and create your style using lighting and editing, and actually, using a zoom can be part of your style too. I'm not saying zooms are better than primes, just saying it always depends on what you want to do. There's a place for everyone and all different styles and ways of shooting. Some people swear by primes. I love my 24-120, but if you built your style on shooting at 14mm, why would I tell you to get a 24-120? It might be fun to try something new but I wouldn't tell you that you need it. But some people love what they use so much that they think everybody should do the same. Use what works for you, do what you want. Don't listen to people who say you NEED flash or you NEED to shoot natural light only or you NEED 1.2 for shallow depth of field, or that you even need a super shallow depth of field, or portraits MUST be shot at 85mm, etc. You can do whatever you want.

new to photography and i just got my first camera. nikon z30 with the 24-50mm lens. I am still considering if i should get a prime or a zoom lens, i like taking portraits and wildlife as well. Maybe i will wait for a while and see how my skills develop

I would say for me 95% this video is BAKA. Sorry, but I am a blunt old Photojournalist. I started in 1983 shooting professionally. So yes I started with primes. I for example view 50mm lenses as overpriced kit lenses. I started to laugh when you were talking about the complexities of zooms. I was thinking back to my film days shooting a 4x5 view camera. It was one of the simplest designs and most complex cameras with all the shift and tilt movements, and don't get me even started on the zone system. If you feel that zooms are lazy I would argue it is the opposite because you are limiting your composition options. Do I have to even mention how BAKA the zoom with your feet truism is? What shooting zooms mean you are wearing cement shoes. Give me a break. If not moving with a Zoom then I bet you are not moving with a prime either because you are lazy. I am old school you pick the best tool (lens) for the job. Sorry to be brutal but that is my nature. Last prime lenses or zooms have the least to do with style and consistency it is what you do with them.

Bla bla and bla bla :)

Dude you are way too verbose. Get to the point

I actually arrived at similar conclusions recently. I just purchased my 24-70 and while it is awesome, I realized how much I love my 50 1.8 prime because of its straightforward feel.

I’m not a pro so I don’t have that need for my portfolio to have a certain style but for me I just enjoy primes more maybe because it’s not as easy. With zooms you can do everything and almost have 0 limitations. With a prime you can go out for a day and will have to work to get good shots because you can’t just zoom like crazy to get the shots you want. The way of making it work and seeing what kinda shots you can get out of a prime is super fun to me and that’s the main reason why I shoot primes only. Also I believe that if you’re a good photographer you can get good shots with any kinda gear so use what’s fun to you is probably a good tip.

Zoom lenses for the range coverage only, or when I become so tired to carry many primes in the bag. Primes often have better optical quality (and lower f values) get you clearer images.. I know some professional photographer and he has a couple of co-workers/teammates who work for his event shooting. They have all different prime lens configuration and different role in the same event. Looked like they carry 35, 50, 85 or 135mm each and cover all ranges.

You totally hit the nail on the head of why I dislike zooms - and I couldn't articulate it. Thank you! Subscribing.

Hi Luke. I am really struggling to get started in the wedding photography business. It gets so hard to get clients. Any advice? I'm just starting out

I started with primes so when I use a zoom lens, I’m more aware of the focal length that I am shooting at and the composition I am trying to achieve.

I was wanting to primarily use primes for my first wedding next month. But with it being my first I opted for versatility with the Tamron 35-150 which as far as zooms go doesn't seem to be a big compromise. Maybe with time i'll get more confident and switch to primes only.