Zoom vs Prime. What should your first lens be?

Zoom or Prime

Choosing a lens for your camera can be tricky, with things like focal range, aperture, and price there are many variables to consider based on your needs and budget. You generally have two options like the photo above, a zoom lens, which covers a range of focal lengths such as 18-55mm, and a prime lens which covers one focal length as with the 50mm lens. Let’s first discuss the prime lens.  

Prime Lens

It might sound like the better value for money to purchase a zoom lens because it covers a larger focal range, but there are a number of reasons you might want to consider a prime lens. 

1.) Size and Weight 

I like to travel light, and any chance I get to reduce the weight in my camera bag makes me a happy guy. Since a prime lens covers only one focal there are fewer moving parts involved with the lens meaning less weight. 

2.) More light

In my opinion, the biggest benefit of a prime lens is that it allows more light into your camera due to its larger aperture. This is especially important if you take photos in low light situations because, with a larger aperture, you won’t need to adjust your ISO or shutter speed. 

3.) Shallow Depth of Field

With a larger aperture comes a shallow depth of field in your images. If you’re looking to get shots with a super blurry background, and the subject of your image is sharp, getting a prime lens might be a better purchase for you. 

Zoom Lens 

If you are looking for a do-it-all type lens covering a wide range of focal lengths you might want to consider a zoom lens for a few reasons. 

1.) Versatility

The greatest benefit of a zoom lens is the versatility.  By this I mean you can have your zoom lens shooting super wide at 18mm then zoom in to 50mm to have a new composition with the same subject. 

2.) Economic Value 

Can we all agree camera gear is expensive?! With zoom lenses you get great value because you cover several focal lengths with one lens. Most major camera companies have the holy trinity of zoom lenses the; 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm. 

3.) Fast Focus

Since zoom lenses have a smaller aperture, in comparison to prime lenses, this allows the camera to focus on your subject more quickly. So, if you’re looking to a lens that is quick to focus and lets you cover a wide array of focal ranges, a zoom lens might be a smart purchase for you. 

What are your thoughts regarding prime and zoom? Let me know in the comments below!