What's the difference between prime & zoom lenses?
The main difference between a prime lens and a zoom lens is the focal length (effectively the field of view). Prime lenses have a single, unchangeable focal length (e.g., 35mm, 50mm, 85mm) whilst zoom lenses offer a range of focal lengths (e.g., 24-70mm, 70-200mm), allowing you to adjust the field of view without changing lenses.Â
For those of you new to the concept of focal length, it is the measurement in mm from the lens to the camera sensor when the subject is in focus. It determines the field of view (how much of the scene is captured) and the magnification (how large subjects appear in the frame). The focal length of human eyesight is around 50mm; lenses which provide focal lengths less than this (a wider field of view) are said to be 'wide angle' and lenses which provide focal lengths more than this (more zoomed in on the scene) are said to be 'telephoto'.
Benefits of prime lenses
Prime lenses, which have a fixed focal length (such as 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm), offer several key benefits, especially in comparison to zoom lenses, including:
Sharper Image Quality
Fewer Glass Elements: Prime lenses typically have simpler optical designs with fewer moving parts, leading to better image sharpness and clarity.
Less Distortion: Since they are optimized for one focal length, prime lenses tend to produce less distortion and chromatic aberration compared to zoom lenses.
Wider Max Aperture (Better Low-Light Performance)
Larger Maximum Aperture: Many prime lenses offer wide apertures (e.g., f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8), which allow more light into the lens, making them great for low-light photography.
Shallow Depth of Field: With wide apertures, prime lenses can produce beautiful background blur (bokeh), which is ideal for portraits and isolating subjects.
Lightweight and Compact
Simpler Build: Prime lenses are often smaller and lighter than zoom lenses, making them easier to carry and handle during long shoots or travel photography.
Encourages Creativity and Skill Development
Fixed Focal Length: Since you can’t zoom, you have to move around to frame your shots, which can help you think more critically about composition and perspective.
Improves Technique: Using a prime lens forces you to focus more on the fundamentals of photography, such as framing, focusing, and exposure.
Faster Autofocus
Simpler Mechanism: With fewer internal elements to move, prime lenses tend to have faster autofocus systems, making them excellent for capturing fast-moving subjects.
Better Value for Image Quality
Cost-Effective for Quality: Prime lenses generally provide higher image quality for the price compared to zoom lenses with equivalent sharpness and apertures.
Versatility Across Genres
While prime lenses are often associated with portrait photography, they’re also excellent for street photography, landscapes, architecture, and even video production, depending on the focal length.
Benefits of zoom lenses
Zoom lenses, which allow you to vary the focal length (field of view) by zooming in and out, have a number of important advantages over prime lenses:
Versatility
Multiple Focal Lengths: A zoom lens covers a range of focal lengths, allowing you to capture wide-angle and telephoto shots without changing lenses. This is especially useful in dynamic situations like events, wildlife photography, or travel.
Convenience
Reduced Need for Lens Changes: Zoom lenses reduce the need to carry and swap multiple lenses, saving time and effort. This also reduces the risk of dust entering the camera sensor when changing lenses in the field.
Space and Weight Savings
Fewer Lenses to Carry: Instead of carrying multiple prime lenses, a single zoom lens can handle a range of situations, helping you travel lighter while still having flexibility in your shots.
Cost-Effectiveness
Value for Money: While some zoom lenses can be expensive, they often offer more value compared to buying several prime lenses that cover the same focal lengths.
Fast Composition Adjustments
Quick Framing: With a zoom lens, you can quickly adjust the composition without physically moving closer or farther from the subject, making it ideal for fast-paced environments like sports or street photography.
Flexibility in Framing and Perspective
Creative Framing: Zooming in and out gives you more flexibility in framing your shot, enabling you to explore different perspectives and crop the scene differently without moving.
Staying in Place
Difficult to Approach Subjects: Zoom lenses allow you to capture subjects that may be difficult or unsafe to approach, such as wildlife, sports players, or street scenes, from a distance.
Image Stabilization (on some models)
Sharper Handheld Shots: Many zoom lenses feature built-in image stabilization, helping to reduce camera shake at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths.
Fewer Missed Shots
Capturing the Moment: A zoom lens enables you to quickly adjust your focal length without missing fleeting moments, which is useful for unpredictable subjects like animals, children, or live events.
How to decide between prime and zoom?
This is the tough question to answer, as it depends on so many factors. But essentially, Choose prime lenses if you prioritize image quality, low-light performance, and a lightweight kit. They are perfect if you enjoy taking the time to compose shots and work within the limitations of a fixed focal length. However, Choose zoom lenses if you need versatility, flexibility, and the ability to adjust focal lengths quickly in dynamic environments like events, wildlife, or travel.
Personally I have a mix of the two; using zoom lenses to cover the whole range of focal length between 14mm (ultra wide) and 600mm (ultra telephoto). This gives me flexibility to cover a wide range of situations. In addition, I have a couple of prime lenses to give me the best tool for specific types of shot, including a 24mm f1.4 prime which provides a large maximum aperture for low light shots such as capturing the Milky Way, and a 100mm prime which is a dedicated macro lens. Â
In the end, there is no right or wrong answer as the choice depends on your specific situation, but hopefully this guide will help to point you in the right direction....
Want to improve your photography skills?
Don't forget that if you want some direct help with your photography, I offer a range of 1-2-1 photography courses for Devon based folks. If you're not nearby then I also  offer residential weekends for beginners or improving photographers.
About me
I first got into photography after walking the beautiful South West Coast Path: I was so disappointed that my photos didn't do justice to the beautiful coastal scenery that I decided to walk all 630 miles all over again, but this time to also teach myself photography along the way! Â
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A few years later and I find myself as a professional photographer, widely published and with landscape photos which have won national awards. But I do much more than landscapes, providing photography training to businesses & individuals on how to take beautiful photographs, and providing professional photography services to businesses across the South West. My commercial specialisms are property photography, business photography, people photography & aerial (drone) photography.
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I’m also an author with a number of published books and I give regular talks about my passion for photography, and for Devon, to camera clubs and other groups.
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