Lens choice and focal length can be touchy topics, with everyone having opinions. If you browse through threads or forums, you will find people adamant about their preferences.
Prime lenses are renowned for their wide maximum apertures, exceptional image quality, sharpness, and superior low-light performance.
Do you need a prime lens? It depends on the subject you are capturing. Let’s break it down.
Situations where prime lenses may not be beneficial
#1 – Landscape Shoot / Daytime
Wide apertures are unnecessary because you want a deep depth of field, ensuring sharp details in every corner of the scene.
#2 – Long Exposures / Daytime / Nighttime
For subjects like cloudscapes, seascapes, or light trails, a small aperture allows for longer shutter speeds.
#3 – Wildlife / Daytime
Since prime lenses have a fixed focal length, you must physically move closer or farther from the subject instead of zooming in or out, which can limit their effectiveness.
That being said, I have seen photographers walking around with super-telephoto lenses in real life.
Situations where prime lenses are beneficial
#1 – Portraits / Daytime / Nighttime / Indoor
A soft background creates good separation, making the subject stand out and effectively hiding clutter.
#2 – Bokeh / Daytime / Nighttime / Indoor
The wider the aperture, the larger the bokeh circles, enhancing the aesthetic quality of your images.
#3 – Milky Way / Nighttime
To capture stars, you will likely be in areas with minimal light pollution. A wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds and lower ISO settings, resulting in sharper details.
The bottom line
– If you use aperture smaller than f/4, such as f/5.6 – f/22, there may be no noticeable difference compared to using a zoom lens.
– If you love bokeh, a prime lens is your best friend.
– If you enjoy night photography, a prime lens helps a lot.
Zoom lenses are versatile for multiple genres. For example, a 70-200mm can be used for portraits, nature, landscapes, wildlife, and sports. If you are not fixated on a specific genre, a zoom lens is a good choice.
Prime lenses are built with better glass and result in sharper images. If you prefer quality over convenience, a prime lens is a good choice.
Technically speaking, any focal length can be used to photograph any genre. For landscape photography, for instance, both wide-angle and telephoto lenses can be effective. I have also created a video on focal lengths for street photography, showcasing photos from 16mm to 400mm.
As I said, focal length is very personal. Some photographers claim that using a telephoto lens for street photography is lazy; they prefer a 35mm rangefinder. Others argue that a 600mm lens can also be used for street photography. If only they knew how much a 600mm lens costs and how heavy it is…unless they are aiming for super compression.
If you’re unsure about which lens is suitable for you, visit local stores to try them out. This will give you some ideas on what to choose. For instance, you will find that a 70-200mm lens is not suitable for close proximity due to its minimum focusing distance. You will also discover that f/4 struggles in low-light or indoor lighting situations. An alternative option is to rent lenses for a day or two at a low price, allowing you to test the lens’s full potential.
Ultimately, it comes down to this – What is your vision, and which lens best captures it?