New lens arrived...really excited

[phil1066]

Its not brand new but its my first prime lens, a F2.8 macro zoom and I got a real bargain 

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro HSM - it weighs more than my DSLR!!

yay

[hardingbr]

Hi Phil,
I'm very excited for you and can't wait until you show us some photos with it.  F2.8 will drastically change your shooting style for the better.  You will be taking shots of things you never thought of before.  The brightness, colours and detail should be superior to anything you've shot before.  And yes, F2.8 lenses are very heavy.  Normally, when I refer to a "Prime" lens, I am referring to a fixed focal length lens, such as 100mm or 200mm.  Later down the road if you can pick up a good f2.8 fixed focal length lens, you will even see more detail and more vivid colors, and I venture to think you will never go back to zoom lenses.  Again, congratulations and I hope to see some photos with it soon.

[NIGDAW]

Its not brand new but its my first prime lens, a F2.8 macro zoom and I got a real bargain 

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro HSM - it weighs more than my DSLR!!

yay

Hi, congratulations. 18-50 is a versatile zoom for landscapes. I know what you mean about the weight, my Sigma 10-20 is a tripod job unless its really bright. Hope you have fun with it.
Regards Nigel

[JamesC]

Hi Phil, technically speaking Brian is right that a 'prime lens' is one with a fixed focal length, however let's not be so pedantic! I used one of these lenses on my Canon 400D instead of the crappy kit zoom and we got on very well. I think it's definately worthwhile to invest in good glass as it's probably more important than the sensor. You are turning in some great shots and deserve to have good gear to record it with. Have fun .

[hardingbr]

Sorry James,
The only reason I brought it up was that Phil, in previous posts, seemed to be looking for something to make a big change in hi photography and I had recommended trying a prime lens.  Phil's photos are superb with the equipment he already has and the lens he just purchased should bring him lots of joy and will open up all kinds of photographic opportunities that he hasn't had before.  I did want him to know the difference, though, so that later on he can even go a step higher.  If you know me, I still consider myself a mere rookie, and would never criticize anyone or belittle anyone's equipment.  No offense was indended and I hope Phil understands that.  I was so shocked at the sharpness, color and detail the first time I tried my 200mm/f2.8. that I almost dropped it.  I am simply offering a recommendation for down the road.

[JamesC]

Primes are superb - when using medium format that's all I had. However with advancements in technology zooms have made up a lot of ground and if you buy a good one it could be all you ever need. Sometimes with a prime you end up having to crop the photo later and lose some of the advantage gained in quality. The exception in my case was buying the prime macro lens where it's easier to frame up the shot before hand. Regardless of prime or zoom it doesn't pay to skimp on quality - Sigma EX lenses are excellent and my macro lens is an EX, it does the job nicely .

[NIGDAW]

Hi, having used the versatile zoom lens practically all my photographic life (apart from the 50mm you used to get as a standard lens with a camera), I have always wondered what you do if you invest in a fantastic prime long focal lenghth lens, then when you come to use it you are too close to what you want to photograph. You can't zoom out. For example I took some pics of a heron today, which was so close, with a long prime lens I would've been taking pictures of its eyeball.
Regards Nigel.

[hardingbr]

I have the Canon 100mm/f2.8 macro lens. and a Canon 200mm/f2.8 with a Kenko 1.4x and a 2.0x teleconverter.  With the 100mm lens I can go from 100mm, 140mm, and 200mm, amd with the 200mm lens I can go from 200mm, 280mm and 400mm.  Two downsides are that I am constantly changes lenses and teleconverters and I do have to move around a bit.  A good zoom lens sure would make life easier plus I would not need to do so much sensor cleaning.

[NIGDAW]

Hi, I guess my loss is the speed of my lens, at f5.6 its not that fast so iso 400 a=or above is a must. Heres the Heron, he was sitting in a tree, very still, luckily.
Regards Nigel

[hardingbr]

It is still a nice shot.

[NIGDAW]

Hi, the weather did me a favour, the lake is frozen so all the birds come to the edge to feed. Thanks for the compliment, hopefully he will appear on a well known site soon.
Regards Nigel

[phil1066]

Thanks guys - Im certainly not offended in any way guys - takes a lot to do that with me. Yes, of course, in my excitement I called it a prime lens when it isnt - hehehehe

Good discussion around what one is and how to use it though. Will post up some pics when I get time to take some 

[JamesC]

Maybe you were thinking of 'fast' lens. This would include your new zoom being f2.8 maximum. Hope to see some car details with very blurred backgrounds  .

[phil1066]

Sorry for the delay in getting a shot up - hows this? the only bit in focus as far as I can tell is the stamen in the centre flower - woah. that was on F3.5 aperture too.

[JamesC]

Nice Phil - the closer you get the less depth of field too. You have to be very selective in your focussing sometimes but this can work to advantage in isolating parts of an image. If you ever get a dedicated macro lens (which I would recommend) you will see how little depth of field that's available when you get close up .