Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Harrison McClary wrote: > > Mark, > > Even though I own and use extensively a 70-200 Canon zoom, I agree with > what I think you are saying about zooms being "a key to mediocrity". For > me, also, they are the same. I find myself getting very lazy when using > the zoom...need closer just turn the ring...sometimes is a way of getting > a photo easy instead of thinking about composition and such. Back when > shooting news I never used zooms...always shot primes. ><snip> > Don't know if this makes sense or not, but just the way I > "see"...probably ought to just get on with it and go back to all primes, > but dern it is nice to only carry one lens where I used to have 3..... > > More power to those of ya'll who think in zooms. > > On 7/4/99 1:17 PM Mark Rabiner wrote: ><snip>But I haven't shot with a zoom in years, I ><snip> An indispensable tool for most, a key to mediocrity for me. > > Best regards, > Harrison McClary One reason a zoom might be a key to mediocrity is it gets you using flash so you can use your zoom inside. The flash then makes your color darn easy to balance as it is consistent. I like the idea of shooting with either a 35 or 50 inside and squeezing them off flashless. That fact that I've been able to specialize in black and white makes this more possible. I have been saying "I hope you like Black and White!" and saying no to color jobs. This makes my wife's regular paycheck very comforting. I used mainly zooms for years but I switched to fixed lenses 8 years ago 2 years before I got my first Leica M(6). I realize I sound slightly snotlike but what the hey! I'm shooting with lip smackingly excellent glass and I'm darn happy about it. I'm 48 and due for a handfull more basic changes in life/outlook before I croak. I could be shooting 8 by 10 in millennium #2 -replace my enlarger with a VC lightbulb. Mark Rabiner