Zoom vs. Prove Lenses - Part 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Prime Lenses
In the last post I spoke about the differences between prime and zoom lenses, in this post I will be talking about the advantages and disadvantages of prime lenses.
As I have spoken before, prime lenses have a fixed focal length meaning that it has a set angle of view which will give us some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
Cost. Modern prime lenses are less expensive than their zoom counterparts. A 24mm f/2.8 lens cost around $400 while a 24-70mm f/2.8 costs $1900-2300. For this reason, if you are on tighter budget, you can have access to world class optics for a fraction of the cost.
Size and weight. Prime lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than their zoom counterparts.
Learning factor. Sometimes “zooming” in and out by walking can be a good way to learn composition and finding better angles.
Aesthetics. Fast professional prime lenses can go as wide as f/0.95 and because of that they are better in low light situations and produce a very shallow depth of field which can result in beautiful bokeh.
Disadvantages:
Cost. Because they are only one focal length, it can become more expensive to have all your focal lengths covered.
You might have to switch lenses more often.
In this post I have been talking about the advantages and disadvantages of prime lenses. In the next one, I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of zoom lenses.
Canon EF 50mm 1.8 is a Prime Lens
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 is a Prime Lens