A Fun Way To Find Your Favourite Focal Length

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Today I am demonstrating an experiment where I collect data on all the focal length I shoot in a day to determine which one I favour the most. The results are super interesting and surprising. Hope you guys give this a go too and share the results with me on Instagram.
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[@LucyLumen]

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[@drchtct]

I think focal length depends heavily on the area you're in. 35mm or even wider is perfect for picturesque scenes, when traveling or if you're fortunate enough to live there. If you, like 99% of the people, live and shoot in a rather mundane area, shooting with a telephoto can turn that mundane area into sth abstract, isolated and interesting.

[@teashirt]

Lens selection is angle of view and also speed. You have a great way addressing the first. Which validates people who think a 100 meg sensor can crop images in camera and Give you diff angle of view. (Hirs Leica) You can have a fast zoom and shoot at different apertures and see what you like. May be. Good video. Thank you.

[@julianrobertson3303]

Hello Lucy Thank you for sharing . I'm a street photographer in the UK , I shoot with various Nikon cameras , the lens's I use is the Sigma 18-250mm & the Sigma 18-300mm , I occasionally use my Sigma 8-16mm if I want a wide angle street photoshoot , it's a no brainer & they always produce excellent results , but understandably it's all subjective & each to their own , I mainly shoot on the Nikon D 200 , I do have the Nikon D 800 , but I have more fun with the crop sensor , if you have a Nikon D 200 & purchase the above lenses you'll bless the day rest assured & won't look back .

[@josgeusens4637]

I think the advantage of a zoom lens is that I can stand on a certain distance from my subject to get the perspective view I like the most and then zoom until I get the frame filled the way I want it to be. I have once heard someone say that if you use a fixed focal length, you'll have to use the foot-zoom, meaning that in order to get your subject fill the frame as you wish, you will have to walk towards or away from it. That is not entirely exact, because the distance to your subject will define the perspective impression. A zoom can prevent that and can also avoid cropping in post because if you are standing in the right place to get the perspective you want, it is possible you will not be able to fill the frame with your 50 mm from that point. You can crop it in post and the perspective view will be the same, but using (for instance) a 70 mm would give you the same perspective without cropping.

[@harshamohite1289]

Keep in mind that the further you zoom in, the more compression you get between subject and background. I actually use my zooms as primes much of the time, where I pick a focal length that gives me the perspective and compression I want and then foot-zoom to fill the frame. I consider compression and frame size as a creative decision. On a 24-70 lens for example, 24 for wide shots, 35 for subject + a lot of context, 40-50 for a realistic perspective with minimal distortion, 70 for high compression and close shots.

[@viktorpaulsen627]

@@harshamohite1289 Zooming with a lens is optical cropping. It does not affect "compresssion" or perspective. Moving the camera affects perspective.

[@harshamohite1289]

@@viktorpaulsen627 Yes this is true, my comment assumed keeping the subject the same size in the frame. So when you zoom out you would also go closer.

[@viktorpaulsen627]

@@harshamohite1289 Yes, I understand. And, I have also done similarly as you describe in the first comment. Sometimes I preset a zoom to the usual lengths in order to learn better how primes would be.

[@brocktungsten6060]

I often stop breathing when I look through the viewfinder. And I do not realize it until after I press the shutter button or look away. As long as I do not pass out I should be good. I hope.

[@fvsch]

When I started shooting again a couple years ago, I went from past experience and bought a handful of cheap manual focus prime lenses (mostly from TTArtisan). The ones I preferred using in different situations told me what focal lengths I like best. Turns out I love 40mm, and occasionally like 75-85mm. I ended up buying two higher quality lenses at those preferred focal lengths.

[@berndmar]

Good idea, but it doesn't work for me. I like super wide angle, like 16mm for architecture and landscape, 35mm and 100mm for people (at f1.4) and at least 300mm for wildlife and all this small and light. So, full frame is totally out of question. ...and there is no good zoom lens from 16 to 300mm. I decided for MFT. A smaller sensor and excellent lenses.

[@wullieg7269]

i put my sigma 10 to 18 on ir goldie i dont recognise the place.

[@rayrayg9]

One thing I frequently tell beginners is to use a zoom lens (which they probably already have) but pay special attention to what focal length they tend to use more. Or spend a day with one focal length, another day with a different one. This as a response to what they usually ask me, "what lens should I get?"

[@EdwardIglesias]

I love the holding your breath thing. It's like you're a sniper. "Expanding on breath control techniques during target acquisition Lumen's deadly precision shows no wheelie bin is safe".

[@LucyLumen]

This is hands down the best most funniest comment I’ve ever received on the channel Edward haha 😆 LOVE IT! Lux and I are having a good laugh - thank you 🙏🏻

[@krakapoww]

Have youre imaginary commanding officer scream ‘take the shot’ for maximum immersion

[@thinkingape7655]

Hold your breath on the exhale. It reduces pulse interference.

[@mikejankowski6321]

I do that a lot too.

[@rosemint3809]

​@@LucyLumen22222wwwww

[@tomstern9498]

So great to see you shooting with a large body and a zoom lense on the street - sometimes I'm in doubt if I'm in with the right equipement (heavy on the street and barely to hide) but it feels so right and comfortable to me in my hands.

[@alienhatz3265]

love your videos and also want to shout out Lux's camerawork always on point

[@LucyLumen]

Oh thank you 🙏🏻 I’m so lucky to have him!

[@demiqshots]

I've taken a photo of that exact doorway and orange bar behind you at 8:21 lol. It's a good experiment, last year I had a thought that I'd like a 35mm prime but the widest prime I had was 50mm and I found I wanted a larger FOV so one day I took the 24-70mm out and used it at 35mm for the whole day and absolutely loved it, bought a 35mm shortly after and it's still basically my fav focal length, it may be overtaken by the 28mm focal length soon so who knows

[@LucyLumen]

Ohhhhh that’s awesome! If you are local to the area you should come along to a photo walk I’m hosting in Southport as part of the Gold Coast Open House festival!

[@nathangillam]

Loved this, Lucy!

[@67comet]

1st vid of you I've seen, wonderful idea to find the focal length you gravitate towards (I'm going to go back and analyze my photography habits) .. YES I hold my breath like I'm shooting a rifle .. Inhale, hold, squeeze, ka-clack .. I shoot digital like I've only got 34 frames available too :) .. Climbed onto your Insta as well, really wonderful stuff ..

[@LucyLumen]

Hello 👋🏻 thank you so much for this kind comment and for coming over to insta too! Haha I almost cut that part out about the breathing thing cause I thought people would think I was weird and it’s resonated with so many people hahaha 🤣 love it! Thanks for watching hope you enjoy the other videos. 🙋🏻‍♀️🫶📸

[@ricardo8653]

Good stuff Lucy. I've just came to Brisbane for the first time and am loving the city, very photogenic. Thought of checking out if you'd have anything on display in the area at the moment but we got busy. Hope to come back soon!

[@LucyLumen]

Hello 👋🏻 nice to hear from you I have literally just come back from the opening night of an exhibition I’m a part of so that’s funny timing! It’s on till February next year at HOTA on the Gold Coast if you happen to come back. Thanks for watching!

[@ClownOnVacation]

Love this idea! Very informative!

[@charliejg]

For walk around I often use a zoom, but I will set it at one focal length and use it like a prime. The zoom I use is the XF18-55 which is similar to your 24-85 FF, although not quite as wide. It's especially useful while hiking so lens changes aren't needed. I've often wanted to do your exercise for seeing my most used focal length though. Have to remember to give it a try!! Another way to do this is to take the same shot a maybe three different focal lengths and see which you prefer. I often find that my eye likes 35mm(FF) because it's how I actually see a scene with my eyes. It seems to give a scene more breathing room if that makes sense. Thanks for the fun video.

[@roiszczepanski402]

This is such a fun idea! Personally, I think every photographer should own at least one zoom lens (something like an 18-200 or 28-200) for situations when you're limited to one single lens, or just need that versatility. Granted I almost exclusively shoot 28mm and 50mm, but it is nice knowing I have the option. Unless you're doing event photography, portaiture or anything that requires that sort of compression, an xyz-50 f/2.8 standard zooms lens will cover 90% of your bases. Love to see it.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

"Holding your breath" Try this: yes, we inhale prior to taking the shot, but if you hold your breath, it creates tension, and the pulse is harder.... ... so it is best to exhale, slowly, naturally, to eliminate stress. I learnt this at the age of 14 to 15 on a rifle range (RAAF) .. target shooting, with real heavy-duty military weapons, hand-held. Now 75, I still use the breathing method, shooting film in all formats. Film speeds from 25 ASA to 400. Exhale .. nice'n easy. 👌

[@louhautdavid6451]

Very interesting experiment. You can also do the opposite by sticking to different primes and see what you get and how you feel. Anyway, the focal length you choose tells something about what you want to shoot and the look your prefer.

[@filterfreephotography]

I always recommend this to new photogs asking what the next lens should be. if they had an ultra-zoom like 24-200 (FX) or 18-200 (DX), look at the focal lengths they use most often. Taking into consideration the laziness factor, I try to take the widest and tightest lengths and ignore most of them and try to see where they land more in the middle of those. It is not 100% like you saw, but it gives them a good idea whether a prime of faster zoom. Great video, as usual!

[@jeffbraun9514]

Another awesome photo walk, Lucy! I like that you stop and talk about things like your composition and subjects. It's nice to know that I can shoot trash cans and brick walls and know that it's worthwhile. The long lens on the video camera gave a feeling of intensity. It's like we were in a spy thriller. You're so much fun to watch, more please! (From: Cincinnati, Ohio - USA)

[@DoctorMikeReddy]

The flaw in this approach, unless you are careful is framing with the zoom instead of framing with movement. The same subject can take the same area of the frame but what is surrounding it will be radically different. F-Stop then makes a big difference. To many variables to allow the “preferred focal length” to be determined

[@DoctorMikeReddy]

You’d need to move and zoom to compose, and restrict or measure f-stop effects by shooting multiples

[@josgeusens4637]

I think the preferred focal length is also depending on the moment. I might have a 50 mm with me for this or that, but then I know that a 35 (or an 85) would have been a better choice. That is where a good quality zoom is preferred over a prime lens. Having more (mega) pixels available will also be a benefit for being able to crop if the focal length seems too short, but I have never had any problems with my 24 Mp, not even when cropping up to 1/3 and printing it 90 cm (3 ft) wide.

[@fjphoto23]

She did say she was testing which focal length was best for her use.

[@NickWeissMusic]

Zooming is cropping, moving toward or away is choosing your distortion/conpression. Each focal length does have a signature look, because of how much is available in the frame with respect to the subject at a given distance. From the same distance, there is no change in distortion of the subject, but the wider focal length you go, the more distorted the edges get, to stretch more things into a rectangular frame. “Lens compression “is more accurately “standing further from the subject” compression, the lens ain’t doing it lol. I think the experiment is a good one, if the goal is to see what you naturally gravitate to. How close you like to stand to subjects, how much background you like, etc, will all factor in. Could definitely help in purchasing lenses, or deciding what to pack out or what to sell. It’s easy to want to buy and bring everything, anything that narrows the field down is beneficial ;) .

[@artsilva]

For 40 plus years I was never a Zoom fan unless it involved sports shooting, however back in 2005 when I went digital I picked up the 24 -85mm non-VR Nikkor and I ended up using it as my main photoshoot lens on my D100 and D200 for almost a decade. Today I tend to use it on occasion on my FF Nikons realizing that it is a very good lens, very sharp and reliable. I still use primes mostly but this zoom sold me that I ended up picking up a 24-120 f4G a few years back as my EDC on my DSLRs to cover a broader range.

[@sietsewolters6652]

Don’ t hold your breath, but breathe out! Hold the camera against your jawbone while you peep through the viewfinder. Your left hand should support the lens, your right hand holds the grip. Press your elbows to your chest, check your composition and settings and breathe out before you press the shutter button. For a steady body position put your feet a little apart. Leaning against a wall, tree or doorpost will improve the steadiness even more. My camera has an image stabilization that makes it possible to shoot handheld five seconds or more, which makes all the above redundant, but I still breathe out as part of my routine.

[@sietsewolters6652]

Sorry, I meant cheekbone of course, not jawbone. (Although with your preference for verticals you might give it a try).

[@berg4888]

The music in this video is really awesome too.

[@irfaan_ayoob]

Thanks for the information ❤

[@erickpeguero4897]

Thank you Lucy, you have inspired me to use my zoom lens ✌🏼❤️🙏🏼📷

[@50shadesofNV]

great lens, great episode,

[@philippesiquin7108]

Great video. Very nice sequences by the camera(wo)man too!

[@ginjeff]

I often look at the focal lengths that I use when I have a zoom lens on the camera. Lightroom makes this easy. My conclusion is that the most used focal lengths tend to cluster around the long and short ends. I have had dozens of lenses over the years, prime and zoom. I am now back to mostly prime lenses, having recently sold my 20-40 (data showed that I used either end). My Sony 40 is my favorite, and I traded the 20-40 Tamron for a Sigma 24mm. The primes are also much lighter in weight, which is important for my aging body - I have no need for f1.2, or 1.4 behemoths as I mostly shoot street and landscape. The only zoom still in my possession is a 70-350 APS-C, my "zoo" lens. Other than that zoom, I typically have one prime on my camera, and one in my pocket in case I want to switch it up. Only the 85mm f1.8 is a bit bulky (my longest prime) for my pocket except in winter.

[@12symmo]

What this video has taught me is that 80mm is the GOAT. I’m sure it’s not just that I’m used to 50mm on a 1.6x crop camera.

[@jameshchetwyndjr9739]

Had a 90 a 24 and 2x glass low budget way to go shot 25+ years camera meter died. Now Nikon coolpix p510 under $300 24-1000 rated lens. Say more 35-800 in real use. Still great low light needs flash near

[@Superz3ro]

Your video sparked our curiosity, the musik got our attention… Digging the style, and vibing with your choices… 😏

[@timcarter2147]

I've been taking two cameras with me because I rarely get to go out these days, and I want to get the most out of my time. I load one with color and the other in black and white. Ive been using primes on one and a zoom on the other. It's been fascinating to notice the differences. I typically shoot 50mm or 35mm primes and I'm usually around 70mm on the zoom. I also hold my breath when taking a picture. You're not alone!

[@abchappell01]

That was a really cool experiment. I enjoyed your presentation. 😊

[@Deminimis2]

All I did go back and look at 100s of photos that I had taken with a zoom lens. I pretty much saw focal lengths that I had used. It gave me a better idea of what primes I would use depending upon the subject/scene. I learned what primes suits my style. Now I feel okay with using 3 to 4 primes for what I do.

[@sebastrianw.4673]

Very good job. I enjoyed the video. I am a beginner photographer starting in street photography and maybe try portiat also. I got a Canon M50. I'm in a budget of course. Keep shooting.

[@cw7422]

I sold my Leica CL and 4 lenses and my Fuji X100V and bought a Leica Q2 with the fixed 28mm lens. I love it. It has a 75/50/35 crop.

[@sheldonswears1481]

Hey Lucy. Have you considered that your favourite focal length creates lots of visual tension vs creating images that are relaxing and have space to breath

[@ChasWG]

I just discovered your channel. It was fun to watch you work. I'm not entirely sure the zoom lens test actually equates to what your favorite prime lens would or should be. Too many variables to account for. Also, I think you use the two types of lenses in very different ways. When you know you have a wider choice of focal lengths easily available to you, that changes how you approach taking that image. As opposed to only having one focal length available. So I don't think this actually works out to tell you much. When I put a lens on a camera I immediately know what I can do with that lens because I've shot with it before. Unless its a brand new lens to me I know what I have to do to make that lens work for my style. I'm a Canon shooter going way back to my first FD mount bodies back in the mid 80's. Currently I shoot on a R7 using all sorts of different lenses. And most recently I've rediscovered Canon FD lenses. The SSC lenses are my new favorites! Mirrorless is so cool in that way. I also own all sorts of other brands lenses and have adapted them to work on my camera. One of my all time favorites is the Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8. What an amazing lens! Anyhow, let's say I put my Canon EF 70-200L on my R7, I immediately know what I'm looking for to shoot and can shoot. I know that if I want to shoot wider I need to zoom out and usually step back some. I guess what I'm saying is that after a while, you get to know what you're looking for and the lens you have chosen to mount is going to tell you what you can shoot. I'm not gonna try to shoot birds with a 50mm lens, unless something very odd happens, but you can't count on that. It's just something you end up learning after repetition and usage.

[@mikejankowski6321]

I have seen others do this analysis, and I have a comment about your categories. The premise was to determine prime choice from among 28, 35, 50, and 85. If you use a zoom, you provide intermediate choices that creates a different shooting environment to the prime-only original premise. While I don't see your conclusion changing, the secondary aspects might see a change if you changed the groupings. To evaluate the frequency of using each distinct focal length in question, use a narrow silo of +/- 10% around each: 25-31 for the 28, 32-38 for the 35, 45-55 for the 50, and 77-85 for the 85 (you pretty much got the last two). Designate the areas between these silos as "zoom advantage" where shooting with a prime would have been difficult, assuming you had complete freedom to move and compose to achieve your vision in the moment. (Shots AT 24 should not count for a 28 preference!). Carrying any/all of the primes you would have not gotten the same shot. If you allow for cropping to achieve your vision rather than getting it exact in the viewfinder, you would bias to wider focal length primes. The converse of this experiment would be to take the four primes, switch as necessary, tally your usage and evaluate your ease of achieving your vision and satisfaction with the results before cropping in post as a means of creating those "silos". Loved the post all the way around!

[@AlanEvans789]

Those focal length groupings around what the fixed lenses would be is a good idea. For the shots that fall outside of those groups the only real option if using fixed focal length lenses only is to known that you will want to use the next shorter lens, and then crop afterwards. Most DSLR cameras from the last 15 years have enough resolution to be able to manage that without too much trouble. My personal biggest worry is that to go to a high quality fixed focal length lens, to match the focal length I seem to use the most isn't going to be cheap in the Canon world. Well it would need to be the 600mm L. My sigma 150-600mm is by far my most used lens for landscape, and flora/fauna shots, and the aviation subjects I bought it for in the first place.

[@mikejankowski6321]

@@AlanEvans789 Thanks. Might I suggest Micro 4/3? OM Systems has a nice 300 f4 that would do the work of the 600. Plus zooms.

[@miketan4803]

Nice. Not sure zoom lens helps people who frame with their feet tho. By the way, don't try to hold your breath as that may induce hand shake. Gun shooters slowly exhale as they squeeze the trigger. We can do the same with photography but using the bfb. 28-40 mm suits reportage style (event photog) ime. Lens if you don't already have that fl ;)

[@sambalsamurai9672]

Maybe your preferred lenses are : 85mm and 50mm (or 40mm), BUT since there is no 100mm or 135mm, its unknown how the right missing part of the graph had looked like if you would have had a zoom covering 35mm - 135mm. Perhaps redo this with a 35-135mm zoom in another location?! Great video by the way!

[@bilbobaggins4913]

40mm for urban all the way. Thanks for vid.

[@gerryhardman9060]

Great video I’m going to have to try out this experiment. That was my favourite combination to shoot when I shot weddings the 24 to 85 ED lens with the D 700. That lens is not quite as good wide as it is at the long end but the 85 end is is very sharp. it’s really good for close-ups as well. I’ve now gone mirrorless , but I still break up my D700 every so often and I’ll always keep it as a back up camera because it’s a very good camera and with the FTZ adapter. I can use all my lenses on my Z5 and my Zfc so nothing goes to waste when you shoot Nikon. Everyone’s style of photography is different. I tend to shoot with a 35 and 85 but lately I’ve been gravitating towards 50 and just use your legs as a zoom. That’s what I did in the film days when I didn’t have zooms.thanks for sharing these insights.Regards Gerry

[@mk0x55]

Hi Lucy, thanks for the interesting video! I also almost only shoot with primes nowadays, and I'm happy. However, I would really not compare zooming with one's feet to zooming on the lens. Zooming on the lens changes the viewing angle by changing the focal distance; while zooming with the feet doesn't, it instead forces one to attain a different perspective - and so makes one think a bit more before moving. While modern zoom lenses have gotten optically very good, even compared to primes; having primes is probably the superior tool from a photography skills development point of view. In my case, I go primes pretty much every time, because my Zeiss Milvus glass simply outperforms any of the zooms I have ever had or tried - not only by sharpness, but essentially everything else save for versatility and weight.

[@markgoostree6334]

I just checked. I have 10 zoom lenses. Seven cameras have zooms mounted all the time. Nine cameras always wear prime lenses. I drift between the different cameras but mostly shoot with the zooms. What I find I need to do mostly is.... get out and shoot more film! As far as your breathing, rifle and pistol shooters do breathing control. Take it in, let it out to a natural stop and hold. Three to five seconds to get your shot off . It does work well.

[@nixl3518]

Your verbiage “being lazy” repeats enough to suggest some guilt about using Zoom lenses. It’s not just about having to move your body to get the shot you want. Sometimes it’s just impossible move to where you want to be, let’s say in the middle of some body of water, or the middle of a busy street, but sometimes the zoom’s ability to give you distance is key to getting the shot , or the timing could otherwise be impossible to get , losing the shot by the time you get into position. The advantages of the zoom are too numerous such that I almost never use anything else!

[@LucyLumen]

Mmmm yes you are so right and I agree. I think when I used them a lot in the channel years ago people would comment and tell me how zooms were shit lenses and it was lazy to use them saying you should move your body instead. I think I worry about comments sometimes (because you would not believe how awful some people are) so I say things to cancel them out or so they can’t then go and say it if that makes sense. I totally agree with you though and I love using a zoom and think my work is better for it too! Thanks for watching

[@metrostills]

This is a great idea. I did this years ago when I started as a travel photog and wanted to see if I really needed to be carrying the whole holy trinity. I was really shocked by the results. Everyone should try this.

[@fernieto84]

What did you disvovered? Wischin focal length did you choose? Or finally Did you keep using the zoom?

[@metrostills]

@@fernieto84 Was going to replace the mid-range zoom with primes. Had planned on 24/50/85 but shifted after a review showed I shot mostly at 35mm. I think a lot of people would be surprised by the focal range of their keepers. You can make focal length one of the info columns on your File Explorer page, which makes checking them a breeze.

[@pushingfilm]

Nice guide! Lol I don't know why... but 7:15 reminded me of this popular meme video from a while ago; where this American surfer dude is describing a rad interaction with a wave 😁 Do you know the one I'm talking about?

[@classic.cameras]

If you have LightRoom you can actually look up the EXIF info of your focal lengths or even what lens you uses the most. Obviously just for digital shots though. Nice video Lucy.

[@andyvan5692]

yes, Lucy good to find the best lens, but having that change is always a good thing, I shoot MF hasselblads H1 & 500c\m (HC35/80/120/180/HC 300) and digital, but for LF my sinar F2 only has wides, a Fujinon f5.6 SWD 65mm and 90 mm lens, which with a 120 back [6x4.5-6x12] gives a lot of options, and an exploration into something new.

[@wtonthemove6861]

Very nice presentation. I did something similar after shooting a job and wanted to know what lens I used most for the next. I am curious as to what software you used to determine the focal lengths used. I had to use Adobe Bridge since I had no previous gauge as to how to go about this. I also find it interesting that you shot most, if not all, the photos in this video in the vertical format. Is that how you shoot most of your work? I enjoyed this video, thank you.

[@michaelculhane7227]

I thought about Jay Maisel after watching this video. Really good stuff Lucy

[@Drew-photo]

Hi very interesting,i like the photos, if you are using Lightroom or most other editing software you can view your library by camera or focal length or f-stop .... you can see your go lens or favourite.... in the library tab ....❤

[@sherrishoots35mm]

Lucy I love your yellow camera strap. I see it in all your videos & need one like it. Where did you get it??? Thank you. 💛

[@LucyLumen]

It’s from Dubblefilm they are a Spanish based company and have different colours

[@sherrishoots35mm]

@@LucyLumen awesome!! Thanks for responding. 🙌

[@edc5338]

The 24-85 sone off my fav. lenses! Underrated. I found that I like the 35-45 range, 50mm is too restricting for me.

[@patriciayih4133]

Great idea- My bridge camera like the Leica V-Lux has seen me through Tanzania twice

[@jeffsprague8279]

I have most of the Nikon / Nikkormat SLR's in my collection to the F100 and F5 (I don't have the first gen AF ones bc they suck imo and the F6 and FM3a are overpriced due to rarity). But the real important thing is the lens. I have several zoom lenses. The newer ones (some Nikon is still selling I believe) are much better imo. The 80-200mm F4 manual focus one being an exception. I usually being a few lenses on my photo walks. Sometimes two camera bodies just to have two different film stocks at once. I'm not a pro, so I don't get a lot of free time so I like to have the gear I want when I do have a day to shoot. I don't know. I tend to like the longer focal lengths. My favorites of those are the 105mm 2.0 DC DEFOCUS and the same 135mm DEFOCUS lens. I also have the MF AIS versions. Well, the 105mm is f2.5. I also love the 85mm f1.4 AIS The widest lens I have is a 28mm except two 16mm fisheye lenses. For whatever reason I picked up the 16mm AIS and the 16mm AFD lens, which I think are the same optically. I may sell one. I love working with that. If you like those weird compositions. I think the best compositions utilize the fisheye effect to a certain degree but not too much. But at 16mm you don't get the circles around the frame. I don't like that. Sorry for the length of the post.

[@geofff6671]

I used to use zooms all the time and I still prefer them for landscapes for precise framing and travel. But for recreational shooting I am always using primes. I ask myself before shooting am I shooting a thing in which case I default to a 50mm or 85mm or am I shooting a scene in which case it is 28mm or 35mm.

[@neeravnaik]

I am still not comfortable using zoom. Composition feels challenging as it is without the exponentially more choices a zoom provides. Maybe after some more experience i will have a clearer mind using a zoom. With the primes i accept the limitations and mind looks for those kind of compositions suiting the focal length.

[@ChipSuey207]

Having recently (I know I'm late) the work of Saul Leiter has led me to re-evaluate the use of telephoto lenses, a lot of his work used them exclusively and he created some incredible abstract street photography.

[@studio106raleigh]

I mean ... I'm dumb! Watching this I thought I should do the same zoom test (to figure out my most commonly chosen focal lengths), then I realized I can just go thru past photo folders (going back to 2008), and voilla! I learned something I should have been paying attention to all along! I'm 80% 18mm-80mm, 10% 80mm-120mm, and 10% 120mm-200mm. (plus or minus) This tells me I need the best (fastest!) 18-200mm zoom I can get. I wish I had thought about all of this before I ended up with a trunkful of lenses. Mostly I only needed ONE! (But If I HAD to pick just ONE prime, it looks like I am in love with 18mm!) Great Vid, thanks for the insight.

[@lensman5762]

I have both versions of this lens, the VR and none VR. Great performer and quite light. It weights half that of my Sigma 24-105 F4. They work well both with film and digital and are good even on my D810, and this camera has a very very high resolution sensor, I don’t do pixel peeping though. Very nice photography.

[@andyvan5692]

good tips, but one suggestion, as you had a Nikon, go for the 24-120 as its a large zoom range, so you can pick your poison, and see which side you go for most, wide/middle/long, and have a zoom covering this, and a prime (2.8/4) for the others, aka one wide [35] and one long[105/200] depending on preference; one tip, pick a series of lens which have the same filter size as the other ones you are going for, to save multiple gear replications, one kit for all lenses, or if not all, then you most used pair.

[@AstroSquid]

I find wide angle lens are harder to compose a shot with, because there is often more objects and things going on in a shot, a central point, and leading line are harder to spot. A zoomed lens simplifies things, I don't think it's lazy, I just find wide angle more difficult.

[@paul-somecameras6]

I recently bought a 24-70 zoom for my own Nikon D700. I found that I preferred the two ends of the zoom range - 24 or 70mm. Incidentally a really fun lens for the D700 is the Nikon series e 100mm f/2.8 which is compact light and inexpensive.

[@ThenameisAntti]

It would be fun to see you experiment with something very wide, like 21mm or 24mm!😄

[@eltinjones4542]

I use mid range zooms mostly I find primes a pain, especially for travel, mostly gathering dust in my wardrobe The only prime that I use is wide angle because zooms at that level are too expensive for the use I'd give them!

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Zooms just make me lazy and less creative and pretty much gave them all up. Except for a pro 12-40 2.8 Olympus lens my wife bought for me in 2013. Just can’t ever sell that one.

[@hughwolfe1176]

For years I only had three lenses for my D700, 16-35, 24-70, and 70-200… Most of the time the 24-70 stayed on the camera due to its versatility.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

When I used primes at a wedding it was more work moving with your feet. With a zoom I can zoom over really fast and get a photo even if its with a shorter zoom like you have 85mm and then something else happening to the side and you are back at 28mm.

[@mrdmahesh]

I thought I was the only one who does this at 7:19 I too hold my breath while clicking through the viewfinder

[@LucyLumen]

You are not alone

[@martingreenberg870]

Using a zoom lens makes you lazy? When I go out for a walk I tend to bring a prime and a zoom. I just came back from a week of street photography in NYC using a M43 camera. I used the PL15 and kit 12-60 lenses. I used the zoom lens because of the various focal lengths at my disposal. Many of the shots I took could not have been done with the 15/1.7 lens. The prime may be sharper. It definitely is faster. There are times when I need the additional reach of another lens. I could have brought the 42.5/1.7 lens. Using a 2nd prime is the same as using a zoom. When on the street zooming with my feet is frequently inadequate to capture the image I am trying to capture. There is a place in my bag for a zoom lens. You have a collection of cameras. Try a new lens. As you know, a new body isn’t as exciting as a new lens is. You know what the right answer is for you. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

Wedding photographer Joe Buissink breaths out slowly when taking photos and using a slow shutter speed. He said if he takes three images one will be sharp. I think I heard this from another photographer on BH KZbin channel some guy that shoots weddings with a fisheye.

[@ralphberrett8485]

I usually carry a Nikon D5 with a Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S and on my D4s the Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 AFS for my street photography.

[@ianluyten1210]

I find myself either on the long end or the short end of whatever zoom I use 😅 my 2 favs are the 16mm f2.8 and the 200-800mm f6.3-9 (at 800mm)

[@ACSanchez26]

I find myself shooting with a 50 1.8 on my D5600. Pretty good, in my opinion. I kind of have a 35, but it's currently in pieces as I'm attempting to fix the af motor in it. Hopefully I don't completely destroy it because that would be a bummer.

[@yusufronco]

Once I got a Nikkor 20mm f2.8D it stayed on my camera for 2 years pretty much lol. I just can’t results from a 50mm. Maybe I need to force myself to use other primes.

[@christianpetersen1782]

07:26 just loving your facial expression. Greetings from Surrey 🇬🇧

[@ronmasters751]

I did that on a Eurocruise a while back with my Leica C-Lux, 24-360mm ffeq. Very surprised to find the mode at 24mm, given that for decades I had been longing for reach, carrying 70-210, then 29-216, then 16-120 & 105-450 ffeq. Architecture and narrow streets on the cruise, apparently/

[@JasperBunschoten]

I started with a zoom lens on my first proper digital camera. I only used the tele end at 200mm (on APS-C) and 24/35 on the wide end. I hated that zoom lens with a passion though and it made me avoid zooms for the longest time until I bought some secondhand Canon EF 2.8 L series zoom lenses for my Canon EOS 1N. Rather predictably the primes I got were 35mm and 50mm equivalent lenses for my MF cameras and long telephoto lenses.

[@bngr_bngr]

The 600/4.0 is my favorite lens followed by the 400/2.8. If I had a 500 or 800, I might love them too.

[@LucyLumen]

Those are some big lenses Bngr

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

I really like my Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 its a jack of all trades. I've done street photography with a basic kit lens at 14mm for M43 that's 28mm on full frame and I like 14mm. I do have the Fuji 27mm f2.8 and on full frame that's a 40.5mm and I also liked that as well. When I use a zoom I think of it in two ways one as a zoom because sometimes you just need to get there and you can't always do that with your feet. Also I like to think of it as a bunch of primes. Once you know the look of different lens then you have a better idea how to use a zoom.

[@jishin75]

To me is more about framing and composition. I'm a long lens shooter, but I make a lot of street and it's hard to be creative over 50mm. Doing a reflection with an 85 is so hard, but I love the compression. 😂😂😂 Zooms help me to get the compression I need moving my feet to get the best composition.

[@scrptwic]

My photo walk lens is the 16- 50 mm 2.8 when I use a zoom .my prime lenses are either a 28mm 2.8 or a 35mm 2.4 I have used both lenses with good results

[@outtathyme5679]

Longer focal lengths are flattering and are generally better for portraits

[@JohnCross-rz5uq]

There are two focal length for full frame that I NEVER use, 28mm and 50mm, ANY other focal length works better for me. So the focal lengths I use are 14mm, 21mm, 24mm, 35mm (two), 55mm, 65mm, 85mm, 110mm and 135mm (also 500mm), most of the time I use two Cameras, one Camera with a wide angle Lens and an other Camera with a short tele Lens, often with an extra Lens in the bag, it varies a lot which Lenses I bring, it depends on why, where and when. 45 years of experience.

[@harisbakhsh547]

I like this. My favourite focal length is 70mm.

[@diluteduk]

I prefer to use a zoom lens like a prime. I decide how I want to shoot the photo, say 50mm and set my lens to that then compose and move myself from there. I'll know how much background blur I want and what I want in the scene. I dont like to stand still and just zoom in or out unless there's a reason I cant move closer or further.

[@Klpinfl]

I find myself reaching for my 100mm more times than not. It depends on where I am of course, usually open spaces, parks, etc. Inner city, it's usually 35mm. My go-to digital zoom is the Tamron 35-150.

[@selzzaW]

Wow, I really like the music in this one

[@jameshchetwyndjr9739]

Have Nikon coolpix p510. Massive 42x zoom 24-1000. I like to fill the camera frame so zoom a bit great photos under $300 after strap and tripod just over

[@RichardMaguire110]

WHen I take a photograph I will take a breath in then exhale slowly tucking my elbows in, this makes my upper body still and gives a good base for my hands.

[@tedr5182]

I realized, I need a 24-70 lens. 😂 Joking aside, I think the location drives what lens to use. For example, you can’t go to Yosemite without a wide angle lens, or shoot a ball game without a telephoto. 50 is too tight for me, but it does force you to step back or move closer, if situation allows. I kinda liking 40 now, it’s a tweener (35 and 50). If I need tighter shots, I go for the 85.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

Why does it matter? I can go walkies with any of my (too many) cameras and any lens that fits it and be happy with the results, and not regret those photos I mist out on.

[@GavinThomas-pix]

Interesting - me, 1968-1976 Kodak Inst 50, 1976-82 Konica 28&57mm, 1982-1989 Pentax 28&50mm, 1989-1992 Ricoh 35&50mm, 1992-2004 Minolta 35@50mm and finally the digital era comes with the luxury of a 24-70mm Canon Zoom! I accidentally found myself hanging around 40mm and 65mm and that has remained ever since. I breath out completely before hitting shutter, I think that originates from boxing, squash and now a geriatric effort at kick boxing.

[@billybolang7052]

This stylish analog lady definitely need vertical grip!

[@Steaphany]

I find I am most inclined to use my Mamiya K/L 65mm f/4.0 Wide Angle on my Mamiya RB67 Pro SD