When I was a beginner, I started with prime lenses because at the time, zoom lenses were too expensive and had poor image quality. When I started, I purchased fast prime lenses because I did a lot of shooting in dim light with no flash. Two of my favorite 35mm prime lens film kits were: 28mm f/2.8 50mm f/1.4 135mm f/2.8 24mm f/2 35mm f/1.4 135mm f/2 My favorite Fuji X prime kit is: 16mm f/1.4 23mm f/1.4 56mm f/1.2 Today, zoom lenses are competitive in price and in image quality with prime lenses. Two of my favorite 35mm film zoom kits were: 20-35mm f/2.8 35-70mm f/2.8 75-150mm f/3.5 14-24mm f/2.8 28-70mm f/2.8 80-200mm f/2.8 My favorite Fuji X zoom kit is: 16-55mm f/2.8 50-140mm f/2.8
I generally prefer beginning with a zoom lens (namely the 18-55mm) because I think they are very valuable for learning what focal lengths appeal the most to a new photographer. I shoot almost exclusively primes now, and I think my compositional skills have benefitted from that. However, if I'd started with my favorite lens (the 35mm f/2), I think I might have become frustrated with the limitations of my kit when the kit zoom might have allowed me to photograph more different things while I'm learning.
Ian - although I don't agree I can see your point. I taught photography at a college for awhile and I found that most of my students had the kit zoom lens. When I asked which focal length they used for their shot they had no idea until they looked at the meta data. So then I had them tape the lens down so they had to shoot at a certain focal length and it was only then that they understood what focal length meant.
The 18-55 is the lens that is about to bring back into the Fuji system. After spending a week in Maine lugging around a full frame camera with a 24-70 f2.8 and I'm now willing to accept the shortcomings of the crop sensor etc. to get the size/weight of the tiny lens. That and a 35mm f1.4 and I think I'm good to go.
I got my X-T2 with a XF18-55mm and used this combo for two years to learn the Fuji system and my favorite focus length. Then I added a XF 35mm F1.4, XF 16mm F 1.4, and XF 56mm F 1.4 over the course of a few years. I also got a 10-24mm F4 and 55-200mm during the same period of time, but sold them after a few months because I am in love with prime lenses! That said, the 18-55mm is definitely one of the best zoom lenses on the market regardless of brands! BTW, I've been following your channel since the channel had less than 1000 subscribers! Keep up the excellent work!
I agree with your opinion. Learning with a fixed focal length lens really teaches about composition and the effort needed to frame each shot. The simplicity makes one focus (unintentional pun) on the process and the search to fill the frame for that particular focal length. And the slightly wide 23 on a Fuji is a great starting point, as it more closely mimics the natural eye, versus a tighter 35 or 50. Most photographers shoot zooms, but it's great to first really get to know the basic focal lengths first. Kind of like when I learned to drive I started on a manual shift, which really make you focus (pun again) on the mechanic of driving. Then, of course, you move on to the automatic trans, the equivalent of a zoom lens.
Kirk, I enjoy your videos a lot and this one is no exception! I am primarily a Leica film shooter. The 50mm is my favorite focal length. I find that I can shoot just about any subject just using the 50mm, 35mm, and 21mm prime lenses. I also have a 'trusted' M3 and a few years ago, added a new M-A Leica (no meter). Using both camera bodies has taught me a lot about reading existing light. Keep up the great work, you are one of just a few competent TH-cam channels left that cover film photography. I think more photographers should give it a try. I find shooting film and developing and printing the pictures myself in my darkroom to be very therapeutic. Jerry
Thanks Jerry - My darkroom in the basement has been unused for a long time. Proud of you for hanging in and still developing and printing your work. I plan on using my M5 and M3 more. Now that they are fixed up they work great. Also the Canon A1 will get also get some use. My dad’s Leicaflex and a few lenses are going to be brought back to life as well. I think what amazes me the most about some of the “film” shooters on YT is the photography is just not very good. They are mostly young and have a niche of sorts. The kid Willem Verbeek shoots all film and develops and prints his own color work but the photography is just not very good. Just my opinion of course. Thanks for replying!
Great comparison and good points. Started with a box camera. Was gifted a used Rollei twin lens which was of course a "prime" lens. Moving to 35mm, the Miranda Sensorex EE came with the standard 50mm lens...BUT...then I got a Soligor 90-230mm zoom, which lived on the Miranda and went everywhere... mountains, beaches, forrest. Now I have Fuji and yes...finally got the 70-230 zoom, which lives on the XT4, and can also do closeups... But yeah, it all started with a 1/60sec f8 fixed lens box camera. No flash.
You’re spot on Kirk! I think the greatest value of single focal lengths is that by composing with your feet you are also affecting perspective! You made a great point, keep moving in until you are showing just what needs to be shown! As always great, informative video!
In a way, smartphones introduce people to primes. The 24-28mm equivalent FOV of their primary cameras have made that more or less the de facto standard focal length. Of course, people tend to treat their phone cameras as zoom lenses anyway, whether that be digital only or in-between the lenses their smartphone has.
I’ve been using the xf 18-55mm as my primary lens for the last three years. The pictures look great for a kit lens, but I was relying on the zoom a little too much. After watching your video I went out and bought a sigma 16mm F1.4. First couple of pictures looked amazing. I can’t wait for the weekend to take many more.
That’s great! Now go out with purpose looking for images that fit that focal length. Get in close and you will get some great images. If you are to far away they will not have impact.
Free advice from someone with decades of experience. Nothing quite like it. Thank you sir!
More than welcome.
When I was a beginner, I started with prime lenses because at the time, zoom lenses were too expensive and had poor image quality.
When I started, I purchased fast prime lenses because I did a lot of shooting in dim light with no flash.
Two of my favorite 35mm prime lens film kits were:
28mm f/2.8
50mm f/1.4
135mm f/2.8
24mm f/2
35mm f/1.4
135mm f/2
My favorite Fuji X prime kit is:
16mm f/1.4
23mm f/1.4
56mm f/1.2
Today, zoom lenses are competitive in price and in image quality with prime lenses.
Two of my favorite 35mm film zoom kits were:
20-35mm f/2.8
35-70mm f/2.8
75-150mm f/3.5
14-24mm f/2.8
28-70mm f/2.8
80-200mm f/2.8
My favorite Fuji X zoom kit is:
16-55mm f/2.8
50-140mm f/2.8
I generally prefer beginning with a zoom lens (namely the 18-55mm) because I think they are very valuable for learning what focal lengths appeal the most to a new photographer. I shoot almost exclusively primes now, and I think my compositional skills have benefitted from that. However, if I'd started with my favorite lens (the 35mm f/2), I think I might have become frustrated with the limitations of my kit when the kit zoom might have allowed me to photograph more different things while I'm learning.
Ian - although I don't agree I can see your point. I taught photography at a college for awhile and I found that most of my students had the kit zoom lens. When I asked which focal length they used for their shot they had no idea until they looked at the meta data. So then I had them tape the lens down so they had to shoot at a certain focal length and it was only then that they understood what focal length meant.
The 18-55 is the lens that is about to bring back into the Fuji system. After spending a week in Maine lugging around a full frame camera with a 24-70 f2.8 and I'm now willing to accept the shortcomings of the crop sensor etc. to get the size/weight of the tiny lens. That and a 35mm f1.4 and I think I'm good to go.
It’s a great little lens and at 2.8-4 pretty fast. I now have the 23 f1.4R the old one and I have to say it’s really nice.
I got my X-T2 with a XF18-55mm and used this combo for two years to learn the Fuji system and my favorite focus length. Then I added a XF 35mm F1.4, XF 16mm F 1.4, and XF 56mm F 1.4 over the course of a few years. I also got a 10-24mm F4 and 55-200mm during the same period of time, but sold them after a few months because I am in love with prime lenses! That said, the 18-55mm is definitely one of the best zoom lenses on the market regardless of brands!
BTW, I've been following your channel since the channel had less than 1000 subscribers! Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks for hanging in there with me. The last year has been a struggle. Glad you are using primes more.
18-55 is so underrated, but even more underrated is the 18-135 it can do macro and zoom.
I have never used the 18-135. Way to many people have dissed that lens for a whole host of reasons.
I agree with your opinion. Learning with a fixed focal length lens really teaches about composition and the effort needed to frame each shot. The simplicity makes one focus (unintentional pun) on the process and the search to fill the frame for that particular focal length. And the slightly wide 23 on a Fuji is a great starting point, as it more closely mimics the natural eye, versus a tighter 35 or 50. Most photographers shoot zooms, but it's great to first really get to know the basic focal lengths first. Kind of like when I learned to drive I started on a manual shift, which really make you focus (pun again) on the mechanic of driving. Then, of course, you move on to the automatic trans, the equivalent of a zoom lens.
I love your analogy of learning to drive on a manual shift car. It was the same for me.
Kirk, I enjoy your videos a lot and this one is no exception! I am primarily a Leica film shooter. The 50mm is my favorite focal length. I find that I can shoot just about any subject just using the 50mm, 35mm, and 21mm prime lenses.
I also have a 'trusted' M3 and a few years ago, added a new M-A Leica (no meter). Using both camera bodies has taught me a lot about reading existing light.
Keep up the great work, you are one of just a few competent TH-cam channels left that cover film photography. I think more photographers should give it a try. I find shooting film and developing and printing the pictures myself in my darkroom to be very therapeutic.
Jerry
Thanks Jerry - My darkroom in the basement has been unused for a long time. Proud of you for hanging in and still developing and printing your work. I plan on using my M5 and M3 more. Now that they are fixed up they work great. Also the Canon A1 will get also get some use. My dad’s Leicaflex and a few lenses are going to be brought back to life as well. I think what amazes me the most about some of the “film” shooters on YT is the photography is just not very good. They are mostly young and have a niche of sorts. The kid Willem Verbeek shoots all film and develops and prints his own color work but the photography is just not very good. Just my opinion of course. Thanks for replying!
Great comparison and good points.
Started with a box camera.
Was gifted a used Rollei twin lens which was of course a "prime" lens.
Moving to 35mm, the Miranda Sensorex EE came with the standard 50mm lens...BUT...then I got a Soligor 90-230mm zoom, which lived on the Miranda and went everywhere... mountains, beaches, forrest.
Now I have Fuji and yes...finally got the 70-230 zoom, which lives on the XT4, and can also do closeups...
But yeah, it all started with a 1/60sec f8 fixed lens box camera. No flash.
Sounds like a long journey to Fuji but worth it!
You’re spot on Kirk! I think the greatest value of single focal lengths is that by composing with your feet you are also affecting perspective!
You made a great point, keep moving in until you are showing just what needs to be shown! As always great, informative video!
Thanks Bill! Yes affecting perspective perfect!
In a way, smartphones introduce people to primes. The 24-28mm equivalent FOV of their primary cameras have made that more or less the de facto standard focal length. Of course, people tend to treat their phone cameras as zoom lenses anyway, whether that be digital only or in-between the lenses their smartphone has.
I’ve been using the xf 18-55mm as my primary lens for the last three years. The pictures look great for a kit lens, but I was relying on the zoom a little too much. After watching your video I went out and bought a sigma 16mm F1.4. First couple of pictures looked amazing. I can’t wait for the weekend to take many more.
That’s great! Now go out with purpose looking for images that fit that focal length. Get in close and you will get some great images. If you are to far away they will not have impact.
Only prime Lenses !
I agree!