Not enough "Prime" lenses for DSLR?

[idb]

Hi,

I am an old 35mm photographer and I still have (and use) my 35 mm stuff as well as my new(er) digital SLR.
I have several fast, fixed focal length (aka "prime") lenses in my 35mm bag, such as a 50/1.4, a 35/1.8, an 85/1.7 and a 135/2.0

It seems to me that there are not very many equivalent lenses for digital cameras or they are extremely pricey.

Can anyone give me a good reason why camera makers have not continued to produce fast prime lenses for their digital cameras?

They seem to favour zoom lenses instead, and although I understand and appreciate the advantages of zoom lenses, there are advantages to fixed focal length lenses too, especially lens speed and quality.

Thanks.
idb

Money.

~Eric

[Jim Poor]

I'm not sure there is realy a lack of primes.

Off the top of my head, I own or have owned the following primes for my DSLRs:
20mm f/ something
35mm f/ something
60mm f/something
50mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4
105mm f1.4
200mm f/2
300mm f/2.8
400mm f/2.8
600mm f/4

I'm sure there are others that I've not owned and have had no interest in.

Price, is another discussion completely.

[kirbinster]

There is another reason. In their day, zoom lenses were not very good quality, today their are some very good zoom lenses that will rival your primes. Some that come to mind are the 24-70 f/2.8 AF-S and the 70-200 f/2.8 AF-S VR

[Jim Bryant]

Canon and Nikon still male prime lenses for their dSLR systems.

[LoveDSLR]

Sure we needed fast primes in the old days since some of us often shoot at ASA 25 & 64.

Now I consider using primes with modern DSLR liked using vacuum tubes in audiophile amplifiers.

[sk66]

I do think that there are still plenty of (expensive) primes available.
I also think that moderate zooms (meaning not too great of a range between min/max mm) are approaching the image quality of older primes. I also think current primes are getting (marginally) better as well, but there is less room for improvement there.

[RustySterling]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

Now I consider using primes with modern DSLR liked using vacuum tubes in audiophile amplifiers.

Well, yeah. Analog sounds much better than digital. You can't get the same sound out of solid state that you can from a tubes.

As for primes for DSLR, I have a 28 f1.8, 50 f.18, 85 f1.8, 100 f2.8, 200 f2.8L. Seems there are plenty of primes for DSLR. Only thing I don't have that I really want is the 135 f2L and that will come in time.

[idb]

Originally Posted by idb

Hi,

I am an old 35mm photographer and I still have (and use) my 35 mm stuff as well as my new(er) digital SLR.
I have several fast, fixed focal length (aka "prime") lenses in my 35mm bag, such as a 50/1.4, a 35/1.8, an 85/1.7 and a 135/2.0

It seems to me that there are not very many equivalent lenses for digital cameras or they are extremely pricey.

Can anyone give me a good reason why camera makers have not continued to produce fast prime lenses for their digital cameras?

They seem to favour zoom lenses instead, and although I understand and appreciate the advantages of zoom lenses, there are advantages to fixed focal length lenses too, especially lens speed and quality.

Thanks.
idb

OK, should have been more specific - not enuff primes for MY DSLR, which is a Pentax K200D, altho at least I have the advantage of being able to get used glass that will also fit.
Maybe I am showing my age, but I still like to shoot at a lower ISO and with available light if I can, so that's when a faster lens is good.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by idb

OK, should have been more specific - not enuff primes for MY DSLR, which is a Pentax K200D, altho at least I have the advantage of being able to get used glass that will also fit.
Maybe I am showing my age, but I still like to shoot at a lower ISO and with available light if I can, so that's when a faster lens is good.

Ah yes, the disadvantage of "other brands"...I really wish that wasn't the case, but it's all supply and demand.

BTW, pretty much anyone with any experience prefers to use lower ISO if possible. That's showing some experience, not age. (but I might readily sacrifice ISO for aperture in many situations)