Sometimes we get drawn into heated discussions, like deciding whether jigsaws or drills are the best woodworking tools. 🙂 I appreciate that some of you may be thinking that the comparison posed is ludicrous… perhaps even bordering on asinine. And yet as photographers… we sometimes get drawn into these types of pointless comparisons on a regular basis… especially in online chatrooms.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
Recently I had a reader ask me if I thought the M.Zuiko PRO 300 mm f/4 IS prime, was a better lens than the M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom.
I responded by asking him if jigsaws or drills were better woodworking tools.
He was somewhat taken aback and replied that my comparison was “kind of silly as the two tools you’re comparing are designed for different jobs”.
I pointed out that the two lenses that he asked me to evaluate were also designed for different jobs. It is true that both lenses are used for nature photography. But… it is also true that jigsaws or drills can both be used in woodworking.
He explained that there was a debate going on in an online chatroom. Apparently folks were debating whether the M.Zuiko PRO 300 mm f/4 IS prime was a “better lens” than the M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom.See AlsoScrews Vs. Nails: How To Know Which Is Right For Your Project - Hunker| Woodworking AdvisorProfiles Hair Nail & Skin · 1830 NE Pine Island Rd # 165, Cape Coral, FL 33909, USAPicking Proper Outdoor Screw Types For Longevity (Explained)
Of course there is no right answer to the comparison posed in that chatroom. The fundamental issue boils down to the specific needs that a nature photographer has when they make their lens purchase.
Can you cut a circular hole in a piece of plywood with a jigsaw? Yup. Will it be as precise as a hole cut with a drill? Probably not… especially if the required hole has a small diameter. Any tool does have its limits.
Can you cut out an intricate, solid wavy line in a piece of plywood with a drill? Yup… if you have enough time and patience. Will it be as smooth as one cut with a jigsaw? Probably not. Some tools are more flexible than others.
There’s an old saying that if all you have is a hammer… then every problem looks like a nail.
If you own the M.Zuiko PRO 300 mm f/4 IS prime, there’s a good chance that you value that lens because of its low light performance and overall image quality. So… when in an online chatroom debate you’ll probably push your perspective.
If you’ve invested in the M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom then it’s likely that your photographic needs are highly skewed to having a broad range of in-field flexibility. Your online debate contributions will likely push this perspective.
Any lens can only be evaluated within the context of the specific needs of an individual photographer. What is perfect for one photographer, may not be a good fit for another.
Personally I find these types of prime versus zoom lens comparisons and debates a total waste of time. Each of us has our preferred hammers in our camera bags… and we all see our own visions of nails around us.
Just for the record, my personal camera kit has eight lenses in it. Six jigsaws and two drills. Would I ever consider buying the M.Zuiko PRO 300 mm f/4 IS prime? No doubt it is an outstanding drill.
Nope, I’d never consider buying the PRO 300 mm f/4 IS. It doesn’t matter to me how excellent that lens may be for its intended purpose… it simply doesn’t fit my shooting style or needs. I’m a jigsaw kind of photographer.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld using camera equipment noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,429 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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