Versatility: Zoom lenses in actual shooting conditions. In the previous issue, the focus was on the versatility factor on prime lenses vs. zooms when used in actual shooting conditions. In this issue, the focus is on why zoom lenses are much more versatile for use in actual shooting conditions as well as why more photographers, whether beginners, amateurs, advanced amateurs or professionals, prefer to use them over the prime optics. Also, in recent years, Canon, as well as the other camera and independent lens manufacturers, have introduced newer zoom lenses than prime optics. For Canon, the majority of the single focal length lenses introduced is usually the L-series or high performance Ring USM types. In 1997, the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM and EF 24mm f/1.4L USM were introduced, followed by the EF 35mm f/1.4L USM in 1998. For 1999, Canon revamped its L-series super telephoto series by introducing the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM and the EF 600mm f/4L IS USM. And in 2000, the new EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM was the only single focal length lens to be launched. The EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM telephoto lens remains a prototype for 2000 until it is officially available for sale (pending further improvements) some time during the first half of 2001. Suffice to say, the last time that Canon launched any high-performance, non-L series Ring USM lenses was between the period when the EOS 5 (A2/A2E) and EOS-1N models were introduced to the world markets. They were the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM wide-angle, the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM and EF 100mm f/2.0 USM medium telephoto lenses. So far, there have been no USM substitutes to replace some of the older single focal length lenses that utilized the AFD (Arch Form Drive) Motor like the EF 24mm f/2.8, EF 28mm f/2.8 and EF 35mm f/2.0 wide-angles. These AFD lenses have been around circa 1990. For most beginner and amateur shooters, investing in one or two reasonably-priced zoom lenses to go with their first ever 35mm SLR camera purchase remains the practical choice as opposed to investing in four or five single focal length lenses, which are not cheap, compared to the zooms. And those zoom lenses are more versatile for their shooting needs, anyway. Example of using zoom lenses used in actual shooting conditions: Shot with EF 70-200mm (100mm) Shot with EF 28-70mm (28mm)     Shot with EF 22-55mm (22mm) Shot with EF 20-35mm (20mm << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .