As prime lenses don’t need the moving parts and extra glass required for a lens to zoom in and out, they can focus on other features. Bringing a sharp and affordable go-to portrait lens for an incredible mirrorless system. Keep in mind that newer mirrorless systems are usually not quite so affordable. SLR Lounge helps over 1.5 million photographers master their craft. Login to access your dashboard, watch tutorials, submit photos for critiques and and get recognized for awards. Description: A prime lens is a lens that has a single focal length, as opposed to a lens which can vary its focal length, known as a zoom lens. Get Premium for $178 During Black Friday 2020. Despite the improvements seen in modern zoom lenses, prime lenses can still offer a myriad of attractive features. While you can keep going beyond 85mm, this is a well-balanced focal length that isn’t too large (nor too expensive). All Rights Reserved, By clicking "Continue" I agree to SLR Lounge's, iPhone Photography Tutorials (And Other Smartphones). A 50mm lens is just a 50mm lens. ‘However there are a couple of reasons that pros would use a prime lens over a zoom.’ ‘I now use zooms much more than in the past; A - because they are now so good; B - because they are so versatile; and finally C - because one zoom takes up a lot less space and weight than several prime lenses.’ Pancake lenses are the most extreme example of this, where a lens is shorter than it is wide. A prime lens is a lens that has a single focal length, as opposed to a lens which can vary its focal length, known as a zoom lens. First and foremost, prime lenses often have a wider, or “faster,” maximum aperture. The aperture controls how much light enters the camera, and more light means better low light performance, faster shutter speeds, and more. Here are some of the best prime lenses at a few favorite focal lengths for different camera systems. Shooting at a wide aperture of f/1.4 provides more out-of-focus blurring effect (‘bokeh’) than there would be if you were to shoot at f/2.8. A prime lens has a characteristic fixed focal length (as opposed to a zoom lens which has a variable focal length). Information and translations of prime lens in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. A prime lens is one that does not zoom Prime lens have a fixed focal length. Fixed to a single focal length, such a lens may sound like a disadvantage, and while that would be true in some situations, primes can also offer numerous advantages. Prime Lens. A very cheap prime lens won’t necessarily outclass an expensive zoom, but a $200 prime will almost assuredly be sharper than the $200 kit lens that comes on many DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. It gives you one angle of view, and that’s it. The primary photographic lens in a combination set of lenses. You can still upgrade to premium anytime. A Prime Lens. Professional zoom lenses often have relatively fast f/2.8 apertures — and prices well within the four-figure range — but even the cheapest 50mm primes lenses can get you to f/1.8, which is over twice the light-gathering capability, sometimes for less than $200. The best example is the popular 50mm lens that most beginner photographers put in their bag as their first fixed lens. First, zoom lenses are often a must to capturing action and events without missing the moment because you are too busy swapping lenses. Common focal lengths for prime lens designs include 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and many others. So what makes such a seemingly basic lens so valuable? Prime lenses have very wide or large You can use these simple techniques and the gear you already have (a camera, a lens, and maybe a tripod) to level up your creativity. While zoom lenses may be lighter and cheaper, you’d have to invest in more lenses to cover the same range. Prime lenses are easier to calibrate (e.g. If you’ve just bought a new DSLR, the kit lens that comes with your camera is almost certainly a zoom lens; most come with an 18-55mm lens, which means that lens covers every focal length between 18mm and 55mm. Add a credit card now and it will be charged for an Annual Premium Membership ($499) at the end of your trial. The term Prime Lens has one of two meanings: A photographic lens which has a fixed focal length. Definition of prime lens in the Definitions.net dictionary. A 50mm is a great natural focal length that’s not too wide, but still fits a good amount into the frame. Here’s how in 5 tips (plus 3 bonus tips)! We’ve seen a push toward higher-end prime lenses in recent years as camera companies compete to attract professional customers, but you can still find affordable primes for many systems. ‘However there are a couple of reasons that pros would use a prime lens over a zoom.’ ‘I now use zooms much more than in the past; A - because they are now so good; B - because they are so versatile; and finally C - because one zoom takes up a lot less space and weight than several prime lenses.’ With the advent of computer-aided design, however, zoom lenses began offering both features: professional-grade sharpness, and relatively fast apertures. Here are five tips for creating beautiful natural light family portraits with posing tips to elicit authentic emotions. Likewise, primes costing in the thousands of dollars are revered by professionals for their sharpness compared to high-end zooms — the $4,895 Hasselblad XCD 80mm f/1.9 is a good example of this. All rights reserved. day Free Trial. Prime lenses have a wider maximum aperture than zooms, enabling you to take advantage of a shallower depth of field. Common maximum apertures found in modern prime lenses include f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0, and f/2.8. Called a “niffty fifty,” a 50mm f/1.8 is popular in many genres, including portraits. Our new Head to Head Series is here to offer HONEST, objective gear reviews and share what it’s like to actually live with the products and use them in real-world situations. A lens that has a fixed focal length is known as a prime lens. Your account will be downgraded to a Free Account at the end of your Premium Membership trial. Premium Membership For DSLR shooters, Canon’s basic EF 50mm f/1.8 is only $125, while Nikon’s AF-S 50mm f/1.8 is about $216. As zoom lenses became more common, they were often a serious compromise of image quality compared to a prime lens: prime lenses were both sharper, and faster-aperture. Historically, zoom lenses are a relatively recent invention; early camera optics were entirely single focal length designs. A prime lens is simply a lens that doesn’t zoom. 24-70mm). Follow along as we set up a home portrait “studio” (with a budget cap of $20 for a reflector), capture our shot using whatever gear we already have (including a phone camera), and edit the image in Lightroom and Photoshop. Here are a handful of budget-friendly options for multiple mounts. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. A prime lens is simply a lens that doesn’t zoom. It also has a fixed angle of view. While prime lenses are still capable of the fastest apertures such as f/0.95, or f/1.4, many (sharp) zooms exist with an f/2.8 aperture, and some even with an f/1.8 or f/2 aperture. While having a prime lens that is all three of those things is common, faster apertures are another separate advantage of primes, one which sometimes requires a compromise on weight or affordability. Enter your username or email address to receive a link to set your password. Check it out! Copyright 2019 SLR Lounge. Prime lenses come in a wide range of focal lengths from wide angles through to the very longest of tele-photo lenses used by many sports photographers and paparazzi. If you are shooting a mirrorless or DSLR camera with the kit lens that came with the camera, a prime lens offers a serious boost in image quality without a big investment. Without the complexities of a zoom, prime lenses are often sharper, as well. If you’re new to the world of photography, the idea of a lens that doesn’t zoom might seem a bit odd. How do we get tack-sharp images, especially when it comes to groups, when we’re shooting with a wide-open aperture? there are actually a bunch of reasons to choose a prime! What is a Prime Lens? The answer, perhaps surprisingly,…, Prime vs. Zoon Lens | Transcription In this video, I want to talk about prime versus zoom lenses. While you can easily buy two prime lenses to cover the most important focal lengths of a zoom, if you absolutely need to cover every possible focal length in that range, you’ll be adding more weight to your bag and spending more money than simply opting for the zoom. And yet, some of the best lenses for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have no zoom at all. Besides the image quality, using a prime lens simply means a much lighter, more compact lens. A prime lens is one that has just one focal length only (in contrast to a zoom lens that covers a wider range of lengths). Primes are often smaller and lighter than zooms as well, making them more portable and inconspicuous. Nikon Inc. announced two innovative additions to the growing lineup of NIKKOR Z lenses, the ultra-wide angle NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and powerful NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S lenses. Prime lenses can be smaller, lighter, and more affordable than zooms. This makes primes a great choice for lightweight mirrorless systems. Depth of Field refers to the range of focus in your image. But if you’re looking for a compact one-lens solution, a prime is often the best way to go. to account for barrel distortion, CA, or light falloff) as these factors vary throughout the range of a zoom lens thus you must calibrate for … Common maximum apertures found in modern prime lenses include f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0, and f/2.8. 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