Stupid lens choices

[xjjohnno]

Why is it when I go out taking a few pics I see some of the most inappropriate choices of lenses for the environments on offer?
One place that comes to mind is the Queen Victoria Market, workable focal lengths are 100mm and less, so why are so many 70-200mm zooms spotted, same with Melbourne's CBD.
The focal lengths that lens has to offer is not what I'd consider particulary useable unless one has a fetish to take acne or nasal hair pics. Add the mandatory herd of pedestrians getting in the way once the desired pic has been dialled in and things become a total waste of time.
Lets face it, in tight enviroms wider is sweeter for framing and getting that pic, even when out getting those seriously embarrassing candid pics.

[mechawombat]

cause most people think that its all about size??

Seriously

My favourite lens for walking about is a 18-105mm or 28-100mm.

[Jules]

Everyone has their own shooting style. Some people prefer wider lenses for street shooting, others like a bit of reach to focus on details. Each to their own.

[ricktas]

Depends what your photography interests are. Some like a 200mm lens for street photography, cause they can capture those candid moments with the subject being completely unaware they are having their photo taken. Isolating the subject from the hustle and bustle around them

Others like a wide angle, cause the architecture and overall 'crowd' are what they enjoy capturing.

And others just simply have no idea.

In the end, three of us could go out, one with a 10-20, one with a 50mm and one with a 200mm to a location, and we would all get something unique from our choice of lens. There is no right or wrong, and to think that way could very well be stifling your own creativity.

[jasnat]

On a full frame sensor it could make perfect sense.

[swifty]

As others have suggested, there's really very little 'wrong' lens choices.
Maybe a 14-24mm for birding might be one or a 800mm mirror lens for indoors events.
But without going to extremes, most lenses work and provides a unique perspective.
But that's not to say there arn't better or more conventional choices for certain subjects. But who wants to be conventional :P

[KeeFy]

I use the 70-200 both on a full frame and a crop in the city.

Examples of 70-200 on a 7D






I'm not taking acne or nasal hair pictures. It's all about understanding your FOV and using it to your preference. A longer lens flattens the perspective a little to give emphasis on the background a little more. The first picture in B&W the 70-200 was needed because i was after that intersection it is a bend. I needed the distance to capture the shot straight down the middle.

Maybe if you had a 70-200 you'll understand better?

[William]

I've been shooting Landscapes/Seascapes lately with a 120-400, Not conventional , But I like the Image compression it gives , But the main thing is it's different

[Ezookiel]

It's even simpler than that - we can't all afford multiple lenses. I shoot with an 18-200 because it's all I own.
I'm happy to use a lens that's more appropriate if you're happy to shout me a few new ones :P
Though I agree with what's been said above. It might be a difference in what people are seeking to acheive.

[wideangle]

Shooting styles and what people are shooting are as diverse as people themselves, hence you see a 200mm, then around the corner you might see someone shooting with a wide-angle.

[fabian628]

I think if you are ust shooting for fun then a long focal length or limited focal range is interesting becuase you take shots you may never take with a super zoom lens.

[JM Tran]

I've been shooting Landscapes/Seascapes lately with a 120-400, Not conventional , But I like the Image compression it gives , But the main thing is it's different

nice use of compression with tele there William

[LJG]

Maybe if you had a 70-200 you'll understand better?

I'm with Keefy on this one. A 70-200 on a FF is a very handy lens and gives a completely different perspective to UWA shots.

[jim]

I use my old 300 f4. It's a brilliant lens both for landscapes and for streetscapes.

While I probably use wide-angles more in both applications, it's well worth trying an unusual focal length to see the different perspective it gives.

[Bennymiata]

While I have a nice UWA (Tokina 11-17mm F2.8), I also use my 100-400 for landscapes, and have used my UWA for close-ups of flowers to give a different perspective over using a macro lens.
Hell, I've even used my 100-400 to take shots of spiders!

Sometimes, using a lens that many may think inappropriate can give you some wonderful results.

[Xebadir]

As others have suggested, there's really very little 'wrong' lens choices.
Maybe a 14-24mm for birding might be one or a 800mm mirror lens for indoors events.
But without going to extremes, most lenses work and provides a unique perspective.
But that's not to say there arn't better or more conventional choices for certain subjects. But who wants to be conventional :P

I dunno, do you want to ask this guy why I was using a 14-24?


I'm not a street photography type of person (personally I think its what gets us into trouble with the photo police, and certainly has some stalker like tendencies ), but I believe any lens can be used for any shot you want to take - the limit is your imagination. There are alot of properties to various lenses that are attractive if you are wanting to accomplish something in particular - I am a wide angle nut but sometimes I yearn for that compression from a 70-200 (soon my pretties...soon) to do something a little different. Its up to the photographer, and nothing should be considered right or wrong until you have seen what they are actually shooting and how they are doing it. If everyone followed the same pattern it would be boring as hell.

[andrewvid]

as many others have said, everyone has their unique way of doing things, after all everyone sees photography in different ways, some like landscapes, portraits and so on. There is no rule about what type of lens you should use for that type of place/landscape etc.. and it's not until you (not as in you directly, as in everyone) start experimenting and see what other types of shots you can get, some shots may not appeal as much to your own personal liking and some will.
I must say, even myself sometimes i wonder.. i'm probably not using the right lens at all.. but i still take the shots and see what comes up and as ezookiel said, not all of us can afford these expensive items and after all not all of us are professionals or extreme hobbyists

[ameerat42]

...Why is it when I go out taking a few pics I see some of the most inappropriate choices of lenses for the environments on offer?
One place that comes to mind is the Queen Victoria Market, workable focal lengths are 100mm and less, so why are so many 70-200mm zooms spotted, same with Melbourne's CBD.
The focal lengths that lens has to offer is not what I'd consider particulary useable unless one has a fetish to take acne or nasal hair pics. Add the mandatory herd of pedestrians getting in the way once the desired pic has been dialled in and things become a total waste of time.
Lets face it, in tight enviroms wider is sweeter for framing and getting that pic, even when out getting those seriously embarrassing candid pics...

xjjohnno. I hate to be blunt, mate, but I'm missing your point. What you have said consists of two opening "begged questions" (and a bonus if you count the title itself) and then two assertions. You've put this thread into F/stop, but perhaps Out Of Focus would have been nearer the mark. In fact, I don't know where it should really go, as we do not have a dedicated "Rant" forum.

No doubt something is untoward in your perception of photography-land, but what is it? OK, I'll volunteer for a "BEX and a good lie down", and I hope it'll all be clearer tomorrow.
H(A)mm!

[jim]

Xebadir: Birding at 16mm...what an excellent photo to illustrate your point!

[reaction]

I guess if you see ppl using weird expensive lenses somewhere they're obviously getting some pics out of it.

Then I'd rather wonder what creative angle they're getting that I've never considered than dismiss them as having the 'wrong' lens.

otoh I'm still not sure how to correctly bounce flash off the sky after seeing it many times.