In a message dated 3/4/2001 1:41:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I think the zoom lens, in the hands of an experienced
photographer is a powerful tool, but in the hands of an
untrained tyro it is as dangerous as a loaded Colt 45 in the
hands of a child, from the POV of the finished photograph.
Most zoom lenses, in the hands of the inexperienced are in
fact dual focal length lenses. Almost invariably, they are used
at the extreme ends of the focal range. Just slide the zoom to
the stop, compose as best you can, focus and pray, ahem, shoot,
seems to be the way of it.
Anything that allows or encourages laziness of vision is
going to hurt the final photograph. What the zoom lens does is
teach us to stand in one spot and compose with the lens, when we
should be composing with our feet. Sure, you can fill the frame
with an 80-300 at the long end, but would the picture be better
if you walked up to the subject, and used a lens of a more
moderate focal length? Many zoom lens users never find out.
Here is a general question: How many of us see something
that interests us, lift the camera to the eye and press the
button. Then move on?
How many of us, upon seeing something interesting, walk up
to it, wander around it inspecting for a while, then lift the
camera to our eye? >>
What has this turned into, a "bash the zoom owners" forum?
Let's see: had I carried only primes in my 37 years as a PJ, I might have
missed 90% of those "It's happening now but they're too far away so I'll run
with this 40 pound sack of lenses, changing lenses all the while as I close
in on them" shots.
It is no accident ~EVERY~ major maker has f/2.8 28-70 something and f/2.8
70-200 something lenses in their lineups.
Even the super zooms 100-500, 250-600, 150-600 and that ilk, have a raison
d'être, reaching across crowded convention floors or across 12,000 canyons to
snare a Big Horn Sheep serving as prime (get it)? examples.
At the same time, a $2,500 prime in the hands of a tyro will make poorly
composed, out of focus-dreck.
If we are to be consistent at all in our philosophy regarding creating
meaningful images, we must strictly hew to the old bromide:
it's the photographer-stupid!
Unless that is, there is a situational ethic brewing...
Mafud
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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