PRIMES VS ZOOMS
Some photographers swear by primes; others by zooms. But which is right for you? Will Cheung shares how to make your prime vs zoom lens choice
Photographic journalist Will has been involved in photo magazines for over 35 years, including editing several titles, and has been an experienced photographer for even longer. He is a Fellow of the RPS. Visit www.williamcheung.co.uk
Zoom lenses let you change the focal length, or the angle of view in other words, while you’re shooting; but prime lenses offer just a single focal length. It sounds like a zoom lens should be the obvious choice, then, but prime lenses have advantages too.
Experienced photographers have learnt what lenses they prefer to use. But if photography is a fairly new passion to you, the decision whether to go for primes or zooms might cause some stress. Rest easy, we’re here to help. Read on…
The idea of a single zoom lens replacing several primes or fixed focal-length-lenses in the camera bag has always appealed to photographers. With greater flexibility, potentially less weight to lug around and not having to take a few steps forward or back to fine-tune compositions, what’s not to like?
But photography, just like life, is not straightforward and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. As vlogging, video and travel/adventure photography gain in popularity, compact and lighter camera systems are becoming more important. The lens typically contributes much of © ROD LAWTON the bulk and weight of a camera, so plenty of shooters are swapping big, heavy zoom lenses for smaller and lighter primes – or they are using both types depending on the shooting situation.
In the prime vs zoom discussion, key areas to look at include maximum aperture, image quality, handling differences and bulk. Then there’s budget, what you enjoy photographing and personal preferences. There’s much to ponder. The current photographic world has zooms that match or even surpass the performance of primes. Naturally, it depends on which lenses you’re comparing. But the point is, if top-quality results from your high-resolution camera is what you need, that is achievable regardless of lens type. In fact, some lenses are so good that portrait photographers and movie makers are using filters such as the black mist-type to take the edge off their sharpness.
So, the first thing to say in the prime versus zoom debate is that there’s no right or wrong answer and plenty to room for both lens types in your kit bag. If you need guidance, then you are in the right place.
What do you shoot and how?
What you shoot and how you see yourself working as a photographer is important. Many photographers prefer the compositional flexibility of a zoom while there are plenty who enjoy the discipline of primes.
