I think I’ve finally been converted from fixed length prime lenses to zooms.
Recently I swapped out my $2200 16-35/2.8 wide angle GM lens, a premium Sony offering with a price tag to match, for the $1800 pairing of the Tamron 17-28/2.8 wide angle which I waxed lyrically about here and their corresponding standard zoom, the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8.
Which I LOVE.
I’m really surprised at how much I love this lens. It just makes beautiful images.
Honestly I don’t know quite how to describe why I love it. It’s soft but not in a way that stops it from being sharp (because that makes sense….?), the colour rendering is just gorgeous.
I’d been swayed by the opinions of many that prime lenses are just superior, and that’s the end of the argument: and while there’s truth nestled in there, the implied assumption that zoom lenses are just not worth bothering with is just… well, rubbish.
It’s just BEAUTIFUL.
Okay, I’ve figured out how to describe it.
Recently my wife and I were treated to a meal at Zahav in Philadelphia, which (FYI) was named the top restaurant in North America in 2019. We chose the chef’s tasting, which essentially means they serve you a lot of small plates. One of these plates was hummus, which I never normally go for because of the grainy texture. I’m big on texture.
But this. This was HUMMUS, my friend. It was smooth as double cream. Creamy as the lightest cheesecake. Just pure uncomplicated deliciousness.
That is the food equivalent of this lens.
I mean, come on.
And yes, I did google that Zahav hummus recipe.
“‘Solomonov’s recipe for hummus is one of the best you’ll ever eat […] It is a time-consuming process since the dried chickpeas must be soaked overnight and then cooked until they’re nearly mush. (That’s the secret to the ultra-smooth hummus.)’”
So there you go.
Anyway: hot damn. I am excited to go camping (really glamping, since we sleep in the Subaru) this weekend and put the 28-75 and 17-28 to some serious use. Since they’re so light - did I mention that yet? They’re really light - it’s really a pleasure to use them, and you never think ‘I would, but I can’t be bothered lugging that massive lens around’ like I admit that I was starting to with the 16-35 G Master lens.
All of which means more photography! And possibly some hummus. Possibly.
Mmm. Even simple leaves have this luscious creaminess to them.