Photographing with Canon's cheap primes

Friday 13 May 2022, 22:44 by Nando Harmsen | 5,540 views | 6 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

In collaboration with Canon, I went out with a set of prime lenses for their mirrorless camera system. What is it like working with fixed focal lengths, especially when it comes to relatively cheap primes? I took them to the Tarn in France to find out.

The French Tarn, an area full of vineyards and beautiful bastide villages. I took the trinity of primes with me. Photographed with the RF 35mm

Most photographers use zoom lenses. This is not surprising, as they give you a wide range of focal lengths in a single lens. This means you have to change lenses less often, and you can cover a huge range with two lenses. However, zoom lenses have a few disadvantages.

Disadvantage of zoom lenses

The main disadvantage of a zoom lens is its relatively small maximum aperture. A compact zoom lens soon gives you a maximum aperture of f/4 to f/5.6. That does not have to be a problem, until there is less light available.

Albi Cathedral. With a slow zoom lens, you need to use very high ISO values here. Photographed with the RF 35mm

If you want a zoom lens with a larger aperture, you soon end up with the often extremely expensive professional lenses. These have a maximum aperture of f/2.8, with only a few offering one stop more.

Apart from the cost, the disadvantage of zoom lenses with a large maximum aperture is their size and weight. They are big and heavy, which not everyone will appreciate. This can become less pleasant, especially when you are out all day.

Which do you prefer? One is expensive, heavy, large and flexible. The other is cheaper, lightweight and small. You are somewhat less flexible, though.

Those large, heavy zoom lenses now produce good image quality. If you choose smaller, lighter and, above all, cheaper zoom lenses, you lose out not only on light sensitivity, but often on image quality too.

A set of compact prime lenses can be a good solution.

The trinity of primes

There are two types of prime lenses: the large, heavy and especially expensive primes, and their smaller, cheaper alternatives. Those smaller versions are particularly interesting.

Despite their small size, they still have a large maximum aperture, even larger than the expensive professional zoom lenses. They also deliver fantastic image quality because they have just one focal length.

A set of primes like these is easy to take with you. In principle, you can take 90% of your photos with them.

I chose to spend a week out with an RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, an RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM macro, and an RF 85mm f/2 IS STM macro. Three small, light-sensitive lenses with which I photographed landscapes and the bastide villages of the French Tarn.

The bastide villages of the French Tarn. A wonderful place to photograph. This one was taken with a drone, by the way.

The numbers at a glance

To make a fair comparison, we have to assume that you need or want a large maximum aperture. At least f/2.8, as that is what the zoom lenses offer at most. This means that in this case we are comparing two professional zoom lenses.

For comparison, the best options are the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM. Together, they give you more or less the same range as the set of primes. Both have an aperture of f/2.8 throughout the range.

It seems more convenient to use the zooms, but walking around with those heavy lenses all day can become less pleasant. Since I do not have an RF 24-70 lens, I have to use the EF 24-70 with an adapter.

Together, these lenses weigh 1.8 kg and measure 88.5 x 126.8 mm and 88.5 x 125.7 mm. At the time of writing, the two lenses have a combined purchase price of 4,875 euros.

The RF 16mm, RF 35mm macro and RF 85mm macro have maximum apertures of f/2.8, f/1.8 and f/2 respectively. Although the RF 16mm does not let in more light than the zoom lenses, the other two let in roughly twice as much light.

The trinity of primes, a 16mm, a 35mm and an 85mm. The 35mm and 85mm also allow you to take 1:2 macro shots.

The biggest difference is in the weight and dimensions. All three lenses together weigh just 970 grams. Their dimensions are 69.2 x 40.1mm, 74.4 x 62.8mm and 78 x 90.5mm. The purchase price is 1,597 euros.

The RF 35mm and RF 85mm have another advantage. These two lenses allow you to take macro shots at a magnification of 0.5x. Zoom lenses often only reach a magnification of 0.25x. The primes effectively make a separate macro lens unnecessary.

With the RF 35mm and RF 85mm, you are flexible enough to take a macro shot when needed. I took this battered swallowtail with the RF 35mm.

A condition for comfortable use of primes

I took the three primes and my Canon EOS R5 in a small backpack. That seems like a good choice, but it is not. Since you have to change lenses more often with primes, a backpack is not practical.

I used a backpack, but that was not practical. A small shoulder bag like this Domke works better.

A shoulder bag gives you immediate access to your lenses. It does not need to be a large bag, as your lenses are so small and light. If you carry the camera with the RF 35mm in your hand or around your neck, you only have 665 grams left in your shoulder bag. That is the same weight as a bottle of water.

Using them in practice

The Canon EOS R5 with an RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM macro is compact and light, and the focal length is ideal for almost every type of photography. It was an ideal focal length for walking and photographing in the bastide villages.

Photographing in a bastide village in the early morning light. Photographed with the RF 35mm

The RF 16mm worked perfectly for landscapes. This combination is even more compact than the camera with the RF 35mm. For the times when I needed more reach, both in the landscapes and in the bastide villages, I had the RF 85mm available.

The red dunes of Maraval, photographed with the RF 16mm.

A landscape with a 35mm is perfectly possible too. In that respect, the RF 35mm has the most versatile focal length for almost all photography.

A landscape with a little more telephoto reach. This is the village of Campagnac, surrounded by vineyards. Photographed with the RF 85mm.

In practice, the frequency of changing lenses was not too bad at all. Above all, exploring all the villages and landscapes was a joy because I had to carry very little weight.

The large maximum aperture of these lenses came in handy when visiting the beautiful churches and the impressive cathedral of Albi. Photographing without a tripod was no problem at all. The large maximum aperture also gave me that beautiful shallow depth of field.

The church of the bastide village of Puicelci. The large maximum aperture of the RF 35mm makes it easy to photograph in these conditions.

Is 85mm enough?

The question of whether 85mm is enough reach will inevitably come up. It is also a perfectly valid question, as in some situations a longer focal length would be desirable. At present, there is no prime available that is longer than 85mm, apart from the RF 600mm and RF 800mm.

Fortunately, I have 45 megapixels at my disposal, making it easy to simulate a longer focal length by cropping. This means that with an 85mm focal length, you can still get a crop equivalent to 170mm or even 200mm.

Sometimes 85mm is not enough. You really want a longer focal length then. Consider cropping a little in post-processing. If you are left with 16 megapixels, that is more than enough for almost any purpose. Photographed with the 85mm and cropped.

However, I could count the situations in which I found the focal length too short on one hand. In that respect, I do not think you will quickly feel that anything is missing. If those moments do occur frequently, a different choice of lenses will be necessary for you.

Disadvantages of the cheaper primes

There are some compromises you have to make with Canon's small, light primes. You notice a considerable difference compared with the more expensive L-primes in terms of build and performance.

The stepping motor (STM) that provides autofocus makes more noise and is noticeably slower than the fast USM motors. The lenses also extend when focusing.

The construction is simple, using plastic materials. This is not a problem, as it is good-quality plastic, but you miss the robustness of the more expensive lenses. They are also not weather-sealed against water and dust.

The waterfall of d'Audoulou, hidden deep among the hills of the Tarn. Photographed with the RF 16mm.

In terms of image quality, you naturally do not get the quality of the L-series lenses. In general, that is not a problem at all, as it is barely noticeable for this type of use. You may see a little less sharpness around the edges of the photo. You have to look carefully, though.

These disadvantages do not outweigh the benefits these lenses offer. Their lightweight and compact design makes them perfect travel companions.

The bastide village of Cordes du Ciel on a sunny day. Photographed with the RF 35mm.

Conclusion after a week of photography

Until now, I have always photographed with lenses from the L-series. For trips like this one to the French Tarn, I would have chosen two zoom lenses. In this case, the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM and my old, trusted EF 24-70mm f.2,8L II USM with the adapter. Two relatively large and heavy zoom lenses.

However, I really enjoyed using the lighter primes. I mainly used the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM macro, simply because it has such a pleasant focal length. Where necessary, I changed to one of the other two lenses.

This is how I would have liked to walk around, rather than with a backpack. Lightweight and compact. This Domke bag contains the Canon EOS R5, the RF 16mm, RF 35mm and RF 85mm. Ideal for holidays, don't you think?

I did make the mistake of using a small backpack, which made changing lenses less pleasant. I should have known this, but I had not thought it through properly. A small, compact shoulder bag is the best choice in this case.

If you want to travel light without the disadvantage of a small maximum aperture, I can certainly recommend a combination of three primes like these from Canon. They offer so many advantages that they far outweigh the disadvantages.

A small river between a beautiful forest. Photographed with the RF 16mm.

It is wonderful to have a large maximum aperture, especially when you enter dark environments such as this hidden cave in the Tarn. Photographed with the RF 16mm

The Bilstein ruins, photographed playfully with the RF 16mm.

What about other brands?

Of course, I use Canon lenses because I chose this brand at some point. That does not mean that all these advantages apply only to Canon. Nikon and Sony have similar small and light lenses in their ranges.

If this way of photographing appeals to you, do have a look at what your brand has to offer in terms of small, compact and, above all, relatively cheap primes.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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6 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Friday 13 May 2022 at 23:24 | reply
Een heel interessant artikel en ik ben het eens met je Nando. Het is natuurlijk wel zo, dat je met primes je benen moet gebruiken om te 'zoomen'. Dat laatste is voor mij dan weer moeilijk omdat ik slecht terbeen ben in niet stabiel los op mijn benen kan staan. Dat beperkt me met het innemen van het beste standpunt. Vandaar dat ik voor landschap-, architectuur-, straat- en natuurfotografie vrijwel altijd zooms gebruik. Ik heb wel een aantal primes, maar die gebruik ik voornamelijk in mijn studio en bij macrofotografie.
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martinphili wrote on Saturday 14 May 2022 at 07:16 | reply
Ik heb jarenlang de beroemde Plastic Fantastic 50 mm 1.8 van Canon gebruikt, totdat hij op de grond viel en ik er twee had.
Zelfs zo'n goedkoop dingetje levert geweldige prestaties en kon toen op tegen de duurdere zoom objectieven. Dat vergelijk zal tegenwoordig wel anders uitpakken vermoed ik, de zoom objectieven zijn een stuk omhoog gegaan in kwaliteit, waarmee veel noodzaak voor een prime vervalt.
Primes zijn inderdaad heerlijk licht, vooral prettig als je een hele dag rond moet lopen. Toch zijn er anno nu best wel een aantal lichtgewicht compacte (systeem) camera's die in kwaliteit heel goed mee kunnen komen.
Ik loop zelf rond met een 5D plus batterij grip en een 24-105 (en op het circuit soms zelfs met een 40D met 70-300 daar bij) en ben het na zo'n dag best zat, dat mag ik best toegeven. Maar ik kan wél iedere situatie aan en ik hoef geen mooi moment te missen omdat ik heel snel een lens moet wisselen. Dat maakt de keuze voor mij heel duidelijk, ondanks mijn vermoeide rug.
De beeldkwaliteit van vooral de 5D heeft me nog nooit teleurgesteld dus daarvoor hoef ik ook geen prime te gebruiken. Bovendien is voor mij het plaatje zelf, het verhaaltje dat de foto vertelt, véél belangrijker dan scherpte.
Bijkomend voordeel is nog dat mijn sensoren niet zo snel stoffig worden. Dat scheelt weer een ritje naar de foto vakhandel
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Michiel wrote on Saturday 14 May 2022 at 10:29 | reply
Ik ben nu natuurlijk heel benieuwd of jij, Nando, nu vaker met primes opstap gaat, en gaat werken.
Primes spreken mij zeker aan, omdat je al snel kunt beschikken over een lichtgevoeliger objectief dat vaak ook compacter is. Het gewicht is dan mooi meegenomen.

Terecht wat Donald zegt over zoomen met je benen, ikzelf vind het daarnaast ook een uitdaging om beter met je compositie en je standpunt bezig te zijn dan wanneer je “ff een zoomobjectief gebruikt”.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 17 May 2022 at 09:14 | reply
@Donald Willemsen en Michiel: zoomen en 'zoomen met de voeten' zijn twee totaal verschillende dingen. Het resultaat is niet hetzelfde.

@Michiel: of ik vaker op pad ga met primes? Dat doe ik al regelmatig. Maar de drie objectieven die ik nu had, die moeten weer terug naar Canon.
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Michiel wrote on Tuesday 17 May 2022 at 10:26 | reply
Haha, je hebt gelijk Nando, even niet goed opgelet bij mijn antwoord.
Zoomen met een prime kan natuurlijk ook prima door je objectief te wisselen voor een andere brandpuntsafstand.
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 17 May 2022 at 10:28 | reply
@Nando, klopt helemaal. Bij zoomen met een lens wijzigt de beeldhoek. Bij zoomen met de voeten blijft de beeldhoek altijd hetzelfde. Bij zoomen met de voeten kan je meer afstand nemen van het onderwerp waardoor je bijvoorbeeld van een gebouw meer op de foto krijgt.
Dus Nando, je hebt helemaal gelijk. Het resultaat is inderdaad niet hetzelfde.
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