Timeline for Why would I need a portrait lens if I have a telephoto zoom lens covering the same focal length?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
7 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 5, 2017 at 22:25 | comment | added | user1118321 | @MichaelClark Yes, obviously correct. It was sloppy writing, but I think the point comes across. It's like the old saying, "Zoom with your feet." It's not technically zooming because the angle of view doesn't change, but the point is fairly obvious. | |
| Feb 5, 2017 at 22:00 | comment | added | Michael C | From the article cited near the end of the answer: "If you want to change your angle of view when using a prime lens, you actually have to move forward or backward with the camera." No you don't. If you want to change the angle of view with a prime you need to change lenses. If you want to change the framing without changing the angle of view (because you can't change the angle of view of a prime lens) then you need to move forward or backward with the camera. | |
| Feb 5, 2017 at 21:56 | comment | added | Michael C | Back in the 1980s the mid-grade prime would blow the doors off the best zoom money could buy. That's no longer the case. The difference between zoom and prime lenses in terms of sharpness is all but gone in the premium zoom lens space. A good prime is still cheaper than a good zoom, but a $500 prime is no longer guaranteed to be sharper than a $2000 zoom from the same manufacturer. | |
| Feb 5, 2017 at 9:32 | comment | added | Peter - Reinstate Monica | Good answer. When, back in the 1980s, I casually asked a professional photographer for general advice on taking high quality pictures, she said "use a professional lens" and "use the film labeled 'professional' even if it feels lame". 30 years later the latter translates into "large, high-quality sensor" (which has the desired side effect of narrowing the depth of field, in addition to a better image quality). | |
| Feb 5, 2017 at 6:28 | history | edited | user1118321 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Added link to article explaining the advantages of prime lenses.
|
| Feb 5, 2017 at 5:59 | comment | added | Janardan S | You could expand your answer a little | |
| Feb 5, 2017 at 3:09 | history | answered | user1118321 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |