There is a saying that zoom lenses can make you a lazy photographer. And that can be true if you use them the wrong way.
Recently I had a chance to try something new Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II . Lensand while I wanted to touch on the specifics of this lens a bit, while using it I was reminded why I prefer prime lenses.
Now, I am not making this claim because this lens is not good. In fact, the lens is pretty awesome, and it might actually be the first zoom lens I’ve decided to add to my bag since switching to prime over eight years ago. This lens has things like an aperture ring, iris lock, click-deactivation switch, and two customizable function buttons. It even has a switch so you can adjust the feel of the zoom, make it tight or smooth, basically a way to make the lens more user-friendly for videos or photos, depending on your needs.
This new version also overcomes one of my biggest limitations with zoom lenses, their sheer size and weight. In fact, the lens is as small and light as my Carl Zeiss 35mm f/1.4, and if you compare it with the first version, you can immediately see the difference. If you think about it, it’s a pretty impressive feat of engineering. Not only did they take this premium G-Master lens and make it an all-around better lens by using an all-new optical path, a new floating focus mechanism coupled with four linear motors XD and the handle is even better in terms of things like distortion and chromatic aberration, they also make it significantly smaller and lighter. In fact, it’s the smallest and lightest 24-70mm f/2.8 on the market!
But all of this aside, the reason you might be using a zoom lens the wrong way is that for the longest time, I’ve actually been using them the wrong way myself. And while testing this lens, even now after rigorously using primes for eight years, I quickly fell back into my old habits.
When you’re shooting something at 24mm and you decide you want to fill the frame a little more with your subject, what a lot of photographers will do is simply zoom in a little. And this makes sense, right? The subject is far away and I want to get closer, so I zoom in. The problem is, in my opinion, this is the completely wrong way to approach this situation. Because if you’re at 24mm and you only need to zoom to 70mm to fill your frame, you’ve completely changed the optical characteristics of the lens.
So the image you saw that you wanted to change slightly by “getting closer” is now completely changed, because you haven’t really gotten any closer. What you’ve actually done is basically change the lens. In the example below, I have my daughter the same size in the frame and there is a noticeable difference in angle of view even from 24mm to 36mm.
I’ve seen this done so many times watching other photographers at work. Usually, a photographer will stand in some arbitrary position and their feet are almost glued to that position. From here they get wide, medium and tight images and never move an inch. Or on the wedding day, the photographer would plant a tree on the back wall of the room and simply zoom in and out of their moment. The point is that you shouldn’t use the zoom function of the lens to get closer or further away from the subject. Instead, you should use the zoom function of your lens to select the desired focal length. And you should make this decision based on the optical quality of that focal length, not on your position in relation to your subject.
When I first started shooting weddings, I didn’t understand this. And even if I switch to prime lenses, I really don’t know. All I know is that when stuck on a prime lens, I have to work harder to get the image I want, but I also get better photos as a result. After a while, I realized it was because I was moving my legs. So, instead of just zooming around a room, I chose the lens for its storytelling characteristics and then positioned my camera where it needed to tell that story.
So if you shoot on a zoom lens and you find yourself not really moving your feet. I think this little mental change can really make you a better photographer. The cool thing about this whole move your feet is that not only are you using your focal length for the right reasons now, but as you move around more, you see more angles. , explore more layout options and feel more comfortable inside instead of trying to magnify it your way. This will help the viewer feel like they are in the moment.
The last thing I want to mention is that this opinion is purely based on your having freedom of movement. If you’re a wildlife photographer, you can’t really get up and move around without scaring your subject. closer to your subject to fill the frame. And in the world of weddings, if you’re attending a church service where you can only shoot from behind, then yes, that zoom is perfectly fine. But you will be better served in your profession if you can learn to use your zoom lens to simply choose a focal length and from there, use your feet to get closer or further away from your subject. when needed.
In conclusion, I think the new Sony 24-70mm is a great lens. Anyone in the market for something light, compact and versatile should consider buying it. However, I also believe that a large number of photographers could benefit from using this type of lens in a more purposeful way. But that’s just me. What do you think? Let me know in the comments section.
