Your own definition of fast prime

[Dylan777]

Describe in Your own definition of fast prime lenses. How and when do you use it.

Share a photo or two to show your points

 

[midluk]

A fast prime lens is a prime lens that is faster than the fastest zoom I own at that focal length.
My 100 f/2.8L IS USM is a fast prime, since I only own the 70-200 f/4L IS USM with the same focal length.

 

[AlanF]

Does my definition matter? In any case, it depends on focal length. An f/1.8 50mm is slow compared with an f/1.2 but an f/1.8 800mm would be quite spectacular. I would use it in conjunction with a small crane for far away birds at dawn and dusk.

 

[rfdesigner]

Seeing as almost no zooms are faster than f2.8, I'd regard anything faster than f2.8 as fast, i.e. f2.0 and better.

but then with the lenses I have, I would, wouldn't I! :

 

[mnclayshooter]

The one mounted in the underbelly of the SR-71 was pretty fast, relatively speaking.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/sr_sensors_pg1.htm



Anything sub f2.8 is fast, borderline specialty-use, IMHO.

 

[Joe M]

The one mounted in the underbelly of the SR-71 was pretty fast, relatively speaking.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/sr_sensors_pg1.htm



Anything sub f2.8 is fast, borderline specialty-use, IMHO.

A fast prime is anything under f2.8. And off topic, speaking of fast, in my books at least, the absolute coolest jet ever. I never get bored of pouring over stats and pics of that bird. I can't imagine looking down from 26km at over 3,500km/h.

 

[LonelyBoy]

The one mounted in the underbelly of the SR-71 was pretty fast, relatively speaking.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/sr_sensors_pg1.htm



Anything sub f2.8 is fast, borderline specialty-use, IMHO.

Awesome!

You may have already read this, but for anyone else who's interested, here's a big PDF about the U2 program:

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/the-cia-and-the-u-2-program-1954-1974/u2.pdf

Fun story, I actually met an active U2 pilot at my now-wife's friend's wedding. Big Bengals fan, he was.

 

[Dylan777]

I have no words to describe. All I know it melts my heart every times I push that shutter

85mm @ f1.4

35mm @ f1.4 - through the bed frame

 

[slclick]

This post isn't going exactly as planned is it?

 

[Dylan777]

This post isn't going exactly as planned is it?

I was hoping to see more photos from CR members, how they use fast primes.

 

[beforeEos Camaras]

a 85mm 1.8 prime seems I have none to link to at the moment. I will fix that later infact 1.8 is my fastest non fd primes I have a 50 1.4 fd prime and a 135 3.5 fd prime so anything under 2.8 I consider fast

 

[neuroanatomist]

It might not be the fastest prime, but in this context I'd suggest the best prime is 503, because upside down it's EOS.

;D

 

[Pookie]

In the words of Nick Nolte in Tropic Thunder... "I don't know what you call it, I only know the sound it makes when it kills a man..."

I use them whenever I damn well please...

The 85 f/1.2 is a personal fav...


Or maybe a Summicron 50 wide open would work too...


In the MF world 2.8 is considered pretty fast...

 

[drmikeinpdx]

I have lots of good wide aperture shots with the 50mm F/1.2 L and my trusty 85mm F/1.8, but they are too naughty to share in this forum.

 

[applecider]

My definition of a fast prime is more intuitive than a dictionary definition.

I'd say any normal length lens below f2.8 is a fast prime, but the 300mm f2.8, 500mm f4, and 600mm f4 are all also fast primes.

Below are photos of my three fast normals, a zeiss 55mm f1.4, a rokinon 24mm f1.4 and a canon 35mm f2.0 IS all on the same subject but with size controlled by foot action. BTW illumination is provided by an LED panel to the left.
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=114

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/gallery/0/57161-070317021520-1121588.jpeg

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=112

I'm not in love with the new way of adding photos BTW

 

[Zv]

Since I own f/4 zooms anything faster than that is what I'd call a fast prime. I rarely shoot faster than f/2.8, had to really dig around on my Flickr page but found one taken last spring using the 135L @ f/2. The cyclist was a bit accidental but I decided to keep the shot.

https://flic.kr/p/F19zHs

Edit - found another one from that time period with the 135L. This tree was gorgeous but the background was busy so f/2'd it away!

https://flic.kr/p/F1iKUa

 

[slclick]

A test of the new way to attach an image, from the Abstract Gallery

Killing two posts in one here....

A fixed focal length lens which allows a large amount of light to enter resulting in either interesting specular highlights or an acceptable image in a low light scene. YMMV.

Lensbaby Composer, Sweet 35 , Canon 60D

 

[jeffa4444]

Depends what you want a fast lens for a. bokah at maximum apertures or b. to shoot in lower light. Lower light is equally affected by the sensitivity of the camera sensor so a high sensitivity sensor may give you the same result at f4 as you would get with a lower sensitivity sensor at f2.8 or f2.

Fast lenses to most manufacturers are 2.8 through to .95 etc. depending on whether they are fixed primes or zooms.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

I don't know if the phrase "fast" is even an appropriate term to describe a lens. Fast in relation to what?

Faster and slower to me are more appropriate.

"Lens X is slower than Lens Y"

"I wish Lens A was faster."

"If you were not such a noob, you would know to use a faster lens" ;D

"For your type of photography a slower lens would be more cost effective"

 

[slclick]

I don't know if the phrase "fast" is even an appropriate term to describe a lens. Fast in relation to what?

Faster and slower to me are more appropriate.

"Lens X is slower than Lens Y"

"I wish Lens A was faster."

"If you were not such a noob, you would know to use a faster lens" ;D

"For your type of photography a slower lens would be more cost effective"

It's slang... photog parlance. Nothing to be nitpicked, I think we all get it's meaning.