Written by Sanne
Edited on
11 January 2023
·
07:27
Do I need a zoom lens or a prime lens?
Which type of lens do you need? A zoom lens or a prime lens? To figure this out, it's important to know what the difference is between the 2. In this article, we'll list the differences. This way, you'll know which lens to choose.
What's a zoom lens and what can I use the lens for?
With a zoom lens, you can zoom in and out, like the name suggests. That's because you can change the focal length of a zoom lens by twisting the lens. This makes zoom lenses more versatile. You can bring objects from far away closer, or you can push them away, while you stay in the same spot. An 18-200mm zoom lens is suitable to take landscape photos, portrait photos, and nature photos, for example
What's a prime lens and what can I use the lens for?
A prime lens has a fixed focal length. That means you can't zoom in or out. With a prime lens with a focal length or 50mm, you can only take portrait photos, for example. A 35mm prime lens is very suitable for landscape photography. The big advantage of prime lenses is that they're more light-sensitive. The aperture is much larger and provides a smaller depth of field. In addition, the general image quality is better, because the lens is optimized for a specific focal length.
Which lens should I choose?
If you're looking for a versatile lens, you should choose a zoom lens. With this type of lens, you can take various types of photos, from landscape photos to portrait photos. Are you a more professional photographer? We recommend to buy a prime lens for a specific type of photography. Because prime lenses only have 1 focal length, their quality is better than that of zoom lenses. In addition, a prime lens has a larger aperture. So you can create a smaller depth of field.
