To hell with ‘joom’ lens
Time and again a few of my friends ask me about the camera to buy. My advice has always been simple, buy an SLR, which in these days implies, buy a DSLR. It’s by no means a fair or objective opinion. It’s just that I dont consider anything else as cameras. Just like those who’ve got on a bullet will never see anything else as a bike.
Ok, they agree on a DSLR. The next question would obviously be which is the best brand? I’ve suggested only 2 - Canon or Nikon, because I’ve used only either of them for long and both are good. Asking which is better is like asking to choose between Anna or Sherapova. Both are good in their own ways 
At least in the good old 70s and 80s, amateurs used to love Canon and professionals always relied on their Nikons.
So either a Canon or Nikon body. How about the lens? Here I have to add one thing. People have this fascination for zoom lenses. Probably since it sticks out like a gun, people think it’s kind of sexy and cool. From my observation, those with the zoom lenses on their cameras receive a few more gasps and envious glances than those without. The camera manufacturers sensed this and decided to make these zooms as part of their standard kit.
Ironically, nobody asked me till date if zooms are better than the normal 50 mm lens. Its an irony because, for once I have a clear cut, objective and categorical opinion on this.
If you are new to photography and want to learn photography like msyelf , never go near a zoom.
My reasons for not advocating a zoom are as follows
- when you decide to buy a zoom, invariably you will look at the cost and will naturally opt for the one which comes either as part of the body or gives more mm range per dollar. Both are dumb ideas. Lets face it, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and unless you go for an exhorbitantly priced one, you are as likely to get a good quality zoom as you would a rajini movie with logic.
- Zooms lenses are ’slow’. When i say slow, it means their maximum apertures will always be in the region of 1:4.5 - pathetic for low light photography. 50 mm lenses on the other hand go upto 1:1.4. No, the high ISOs in DSLRs doesn’t help much. Pictures turn out grainy.
- Nothing teaches you the basics of composition like a 50 mm lens. No ‘jooming’ business. If you don’t like the frame, you have to move further or closer, period. Its the way it should be, atleast when people like me are still learning.
- 50mm lenses are built to a much better quality specification.
Personally, i’ve used my zooms for some time and am totally frustrated with the quality fo the output. Shots which look beautiful in the viewfinder turn out to be damp squibs. The tragedy is, you would not even realise it’s damp squib till you compare a shot taken on a 50mm. Till date, some of my better pics were those taken in 50mm lens. It’s another matter that those have not seen this blog or my flickr album. Some are lost for ever.
Enough is enough. I’m going back to the good old days of 50mm lenses.
I’ve asked my friend to get me an F/1.8 50mm AF Nikkor when he comes here in Aug. It costs about 110 USD and I know it’s value for money.
Let those who want to look cool and who are happy to take ‘Smile please’ vacation pics take their mediocre zooms. To hell with joom lens.
June 24th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
PK
I agree. Here is a review. Looks like a great lens indeed.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5018daf.htm
June 24th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
sorry, i don”t know anything abt cams n zooms…came in just to tell you that urs is a fine blog and i do visit it often
June 25th, 2007 at 12:16 am
hi PK,
I have plenty of experience with both the 50 mm and the Jhoom’s.
Had a 28-80 and a 70-210 Sigma lens with my Elan. They were both great.
Recently I got a EOS 400D and one of my friends has a 18-200 Tamron. This was designed for lazy folks who still wanted good pictures. So I got it.
It is awesome. You can see the picture of a squirrel I got at almost a 100 feet after sunset and it still came out good.
Your point is well taken though. You should start with a 50mm. Especially when you are young (no wife, kids, no time constraints). That way, when you have to take a picture of a Bison at yellowstone, you can go that extra 30-40 feet and get that shot. 50 mm is the right choice!
When you grow older, have a few screaming kids, and a wife who says “you have 5 minutes to take that picture and get back in the van!” , you might long for that jhoom. Add to this the fact that you start resembling those pot bellied TN police that Vivek makes fun of in movies and you cannot remember “when was the last time you ran, anywhere” and the possibilily of getting closer to the Bison sends shivers down your spine, a Jhoom is best.
will have to check out your Flickr site..
June 25th, 2007 at 6:53 am
every time I comment here..I type twice :((
half the time I forget to adjust w/t in the camera and keep walking forward and backward to get everyone in the screen
indha post enakku illainga
June 27th, 2007 at 11:41 am
PK,
Perfect. I could visualise you talking the entire post. LOL… Atleast for the past 14 years I am fed up of answering questions on camera, lenses and stuff. Ha..ha..
You have mentioned very clearly what I always say to others who asked my opinion. People always think they could get a clear picture if they have a zoom lens. I had an opportunity to see a Nikon lens in Dubai with an aperture 1.2. I was so tempted and wanted to buy it. It cost a fortune and I did not worry about it at that time. 50 mm.. Perfect. But thought I shall compare the price and never had an opportunity again to buy. I heard they have stopped manufacturing such lenses. But again because of the popularity many manufacturers are going for the varied zoom lenses and people without any idea about photography go for a DSLR and zoom lenses.
Questions on lenses is OK. Just two days before a person asked me tips to take stills on a birthday party and I started laughing. These stuff really sucks unless the opposite party has interest. If they ask just for the sake of it, I get pissed off.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
narayanan sir,
yes i believe so.:) thanks for the link
rathna,
thanks! keep visiting
sundar narayanan
LOL!
i agree with some of your points. But have you tried a shot from long range first using a ‘jhoom’ and then using a fixed focal length lens?
I bet the latter would have that ‘punch’ which differentiates the shot from ‘also taken’ ones.
Btw neenga national geographic ku wild life laam eduthu kudukara range, a? evlo jooms vechirukeenga?
i’m talking abt beginners like me
June 27th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
>>every time I comment here..I type twice (
idhuku rende reasons dhaan,
1. u like to write comments twice. edhavadhu vendudhal a?
2. maths la nee rombo weak a? :))
June 27th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
balaji sir,
i totally agree with yr points! adhey adhey!
June 28th, 2007 at 6:24 am
vendudhal illainga…unga blog vekara imposition
btw…sum 10 dhaandaama kostens vainga…enakku 10 fingers dhaan