Questions tagged [prime]
A lens that has a single focal length.
64
questions
38
votes
8
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Why do people recommend 50mm or other prime lenses as starting lenses for learning photography?
I've seen quite a few people recommend the 50mm prime lenses, in particular the sub-$100 50mm/f1.8, as a starting lens for photographers (especially because they're likely to be using cameras with ...
- 4,645
24
votes
9
answers
6k
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Prime lens or flash: which upgrade will most improve baby photos?
I current own a Nikon D5000 with kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) and am looking to take better indoor photos of my fast-moving 9-month-old, which sometimes come out blurred or not natural I use the on-...
- 1,611
20
votes
4
answers
23k
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How can a lens with a single focal length focus on more than one plane?
By definition, a prime lens is a fixed lens system with a fixed focal length.
Then, simple physics tells us that it should be able to focus only on one plane (at a fixed distance) in front of it. But ...
- 3,979
20
votes
6
answers
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If I have a 18-55mm lens, is there a point in buying a 35mm prime lens?
I have the Nikon kit lens that came with a D5100 — the kit lens is
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom. I was thinking of getting a fast lens and I am looking to buy the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX.
...
- 311
14
votes
9
answers
19k
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Nikkor f/1.8G 35mm or 50mm?
I'm new to photography. I got a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55 kit lens.
I was looking to buy a f/1.8 prime lens, and I found two options:
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
AF-S DX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
How ...
- 317
1
vote
6
answers
2k
views
What would be a better lens, 40 or 50mm prime, for walk around? [closed]
I have a Canon EOS Rebel T5i/700D body, an EF-S 18-55 wide angle lens, a 70-300mm telephoto lens, and the kit lens that came with the body.
I am still building my lens collection and am looking for ...
- 139
52
votes
8
answers
14k
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Why is the 50mm prime lens the most standard?
Seems that most photographers choose the 50mm as their prime lens (at least from what I've read). I'm looking at getting a prime lens for my Nikon D3000 and the cost difference between the 35mm 1.8 ...
- 1,136
43
votes
10
answers
22k
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What software can show my most frequently used focal length?
Many people recommend a focal length of 35mm, 50mm, and sometimes even 85mm and upwards for those interested in purchasing a prime lens. I, however, would like to figure out what focal length(s) I use ...
70
votes
12
answers
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Is there a noticeable difference between 1.8 and 1.4 prime lenses?
I have been shopping around for a prime lens for my Nikon D50. I noticed that the 1.8 is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the 1.4 AF-S. What will I gain for that cost difference? Is it really ...
- 1,393
26
votes
7
answers
9k
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Is it worth it to have the 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens?
Is it really useful to have a fast prime lens for portrait photography, considering a low budget? If it is, what about the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II?
I have an entry level 18-55mm lens and a Canon 20D.
- 959
11
votes
4
answers
742
views
Would a fixed or zoom telephoto lens be better for learning?
My daughter has a Nikon D-90 camera body and two prime f1.4 lenses 50mm and 35mm. She is interested in learning more, and I am curious which of a zoom or fixed telephoto lens would help her best? Is ...
- 1,705
34
votes
6
answers
3k
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What is the definition of a "prime lens"?
There are many discussions of differences between prime, zoom and macro lenses. I have not heard about prime lenses until recently.
Could someone explain what exactly a prime lens is?
Is it ...
- 443
31
votes
3
answers
8k
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Why do wide angle prime lenses have relatively small apertures?
I've noticed that many of the wide angle prime lenses (at least for Canon) have somewhat smaller apertures than their normal or telephoto counterparts. E.g. the regular Canon 24mm prime is f/2.8 while ...
- 4,645
17
votes
11
answers
40k
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Which prime lens for Pentax APS-C?
My girlfriend is buying a Pentax K-5 (I already have a Pentax DSLR so we thought it made sense for us to be able to share lenses), and she's not sure about which lens to get with it, so I've been ...
- 365
23
votes
7
answers
3k
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Which scenarios are better shot with a prime lens versus zoom lens or macro lens?
What scenarios are better shot with a prime lens? A zoom lens? A macro lens?
- 2,087
16
votes
5
answers
5k
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Can I use my APS-C kit lens as a reference for choosing between 50mm or 35mm prime lenses?
I'm looking at getting a second lens in addition to my Nikon D7000's kit lens.
I want to know if it's possible to use my 18m-105mm kit lens to get an idea of the focal length for a 35mm lens vs. a 50 ...
- 7,896
16
votes
9
answers
3k
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Would a prime be redundant with a fast zoom?
Now that I am finally getting a fast zoom (Tamron 17-50mm 2.8) I've been considering a fast prime to go with it, specifically a Sigma 50mm 1.4. Despite its shortcomings, it still does really nice ...
- 1,240
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How do I compose photos with prime lenses?
I own a Sony NEX-5R, with two prime lenses: 19mm F2.8 Sigma, and 35mm F1.8 Sony. How do I best compose photos with prime lenses like these?
I can think of a few:
Walk towards or away from the ...
- 4,726
12
votes
14
answers
89k
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50mm vs 85mm for portraits on a crop sensor?
I've read several times that a 50mm lens will make features like noses noticeably stand out compared to an 85mm lens. However, I'm never sure if the post/article is describing results on a full frame ...
- 617
7
votes
3
answers
26k
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Would it be better to use a 35mm prime instead of a 50mm prime on a cropped sensor body?
It's said that 50mm is close to what the human eye sees and is a very versatile focal length in general, especially good for street photography which is what I'm most interested in. That being the ...
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3
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How can one use a reversing ring with Nikon G lenses?
So, this blog (credit to mattdm for pointing it out) says:
Firstly, when you turn the lens around you obviously lose the CPU connection between the lens and the camera, so say goodbye to autofocus, ...
- 5,602
19
votes
5
answers
73k
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What's the advantage of buying a fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens when my camera has an 18-55mm zoom lens?
I've got a Nikon D3100 with an 18-55mm zoom lens. I'm keen to experiment with some other lenses and a friend of mine recently reccommended I purchase a fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens as he said it's good for ...
- 465
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it normal for a fast prime to exhibit purple fringing in middle of the image?
I have just bought a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D prime lens.
I took this picture (leg of my glasses frame on a mouse, and a LED desk lamp is on top of it) : f1.8, 1/80s, ISO 200
The purple fringing is right ...
- 273
11
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Should I postpone buying a zoom lens until I've learned to zoom with my feet?
After several years of shooting with my point-and-shoot, I upgraded to an NEX-5R, with two prime lenses — a 35mm f/1.8 and a 19mm f/2.8. I don't have a zoom lens, not even the kit lens.
I've been ...
- 4,726
26
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Considerations when purchasing a prime lens?
What should I be aware of when buying a prime lens (other than that it will fit my camera)? What specs should I pay close attention to?
- 2,087
26
votes
6
answers
8k
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How hard would be photographing a wedding with just prime lens?
I was recently asked to photograph my cousin's wedding - ceremony at the church, some outside shots at the nearby park, maybe some shots at the reception.
Since my photography-related budget is right ...
- 557
20
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Fast prime vs. expensive zoom for indoor sports photograhy?
I plan to try shooting my kids' indoor activities (Tae Kwon Do and Figure Skating). I can get pretty close to the action for TKD, and I have access to ice/board level positions for shooting at the ...
- 5,085
19
votes
10
answers
3k
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Is replacing all my Fujifilm gear with this Canon zoom lens an upgrade?
I'm a hobby photographer. I like taking portraits, which I often do at festivals and conventions. I usually take the following gear: Fujifilm X-T2 (an APS-C sensor mirrorless camera), a 16-55mm f/2.8 (...
- 1,594
11
votes
8
answers
5k
views
What options do I have for a normal and fast prime lens for a Canon APS-C camera?
I'm looking for a normal prime lens, desirably fast and not too expensive, for my 450D. 50mm seems to be the normal focal length on FF, thus for APS-C, I need about 30mm.
I want it to be fast as I'm ...
- 2,446
11
votes
6
answers
545
views
On smaller prints, will a high-quality zoom lens provide near equal image quality compared to primes?
Let's say I shoot with Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L, Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, and a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Can these 3 primes be replaced with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 for the convenience of not needing to change ...
- 1,030
8
votes
4
answers
10k
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Is it difficult to focus on 1.4F prime lens, and if it is how to counter that?
Does difficulty in focusing have anything to do with 1.4F (Nikon G)?
Will it be still difficult if I use manual focus?
Is auto focus too slow?
Is there a way to counter it?
This example photo (from ...
- 5,602
7
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I accurately focus manually on an APS-C DSLR?
My favorite portrait lens is the Nikon 50mm 1.4G. I love the light and what it is capable of. My problem with it is that on my D90 the AF is sometimes horribly slow, and in many cases (mainly low ...
- 263
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Will a prime lens help me get better portraits at a wedding?
I have a Canon 600D with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. I have a friend's wedding coming soon, and I'm not sure if my zoom lens will do a good job or not. I was thinking of buying a prime lens so ...
- 6,477
1
vote
2
answers
473
views
Is there a low light picture quality difference between 50mm 1.8 G and 85mm 1.8 G Nikon?
Yesterday I went to the Nikon showroom and tested both the lenses with 5500 and 5300 bodies. Not sure which lens was mounted on which one though.
There were florescent yellow bulbs in the shop, no/...
- 5,602
30
votes
10
answers
41k
views
Why there is no image-stabilized Canon 50mm lens?
Canon's 50mm prime lenses are all non-IS (Image Stabilization) for some reason. Considering the popularity of these range primes, shouldn't Canon be interested in shipping a new, optically improved IS ...
- 637
21
votes
6
answers
13k
views
Is it true that there are no stabilized prime lenses (and if so, why)?
Fast prime lenses like the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens work nicely in low-light situations. But I'm quite sure they would work even more nicely if they had optical image stabilizers. It seems to me that no ...
- 229
14
votes
4
answers
1k
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Other than speed and weight, what advantages might a prime lens have over a zoom at the same focal length?
At the same focal length, apart from speed and maybe weight, what other advantages does a prime lens like the 50mm have over a zoom lens like the 24 - 70mm?
To put it better, If I set my 24-70mm lens ...
- 197
12
votes
8
answers
35k
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What is a good wide-angle prime lens for Nikon DX (APS-C) format?
I am looking for a wide angle lens for my D90, between 12 and 18mm focal length, preferably a prime, because I like fast(er) and cheap(er) lenses.
Any recommendations ?
- 1,067
10
votes
6
answers
3k
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Which prime lens to get after the 18-55mm & 55-250mm?
I started out with the 18-55mm IS kit lens on my Canon EOS 550D over a year ago, and added the 55-250mm IS a couple of months back to augment my telephoto reach (based on the recommendations in one of ...
- 4,645
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are prime lenses sharper than normal or telephoto zoom lenses?
Example:
The prime lens Nikon 1.4F G is said to be very sharp at F3.5.
So, if I compare that with the normal or telephoto zoom lens's F3.5, will the level of sharpness be same?
If no, then will the ...
- 5,602
5
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Will a 35mm lens work for great indoor pictures of my kids?
I just purchased the Nikon D5100 DSLR. The kit lens that came with it (18-55mm vr) is great when shooting outdoors, but once I try to take indoor pictures of my kids, the images aren't that good. Is ...
- 101
4
votes
3
answers
581
views
Choosing first lens for Nikon D-90 body
I'm looking to get a prime lens to go with the Nikon D-90 body. I'm looking at 50mm or 35mm and f/1.8 or f/1.4 and AF or AF-S. It appears that VR (Vibration Reduction) is not an option for any of ...
- 1,705
4
votes
5
answers
20k
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Why do some people prefer 50mm to 35mm prime lenses, even for a crop sensor?
Comparing the two lenses for an APS-C sensor:
EF50mm f/1.8
EF35mm f/2
here
Leaving out cost as a factor, EF 35mm has the following advantages:
43 degree while 50mm has 31 degree
Its equally fast ...
- 3,496
3
votes
5
answers
743
views
How do I compare two prime lenses of different focal lengths?
I have a Sony NEX-5R with two prime lenses: 19mm F2.8 Sigma, and 35mm F1.8 Sony. I'd like to compare these two lenses to see why the second lens cost me more than twice the first, what the differences ...
- 4,726
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
How to compare the focal length of a 50mm prime lens with the default lens of a point and shoot camera?
To imagine the 50mm focal length of a prime lens 1.4F, can I simply zoom the lens of my point and shoot camera up to 50mm?
Will both the focal lengths be same?
Any other way to imagine the focal ...
- 5,602
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
35mm DX prime lense on dx crop sensor(nikon d3300) [duplicate]
I have Nikon D3300 DSLR. I'm confused with 35mm and 50mm prime lenses on FX and DX cameras. Somewhere I read that if a 35mm prime lens is used on a FX camera the focal length is equivalent to around ...
- 599
13
votes
4
answers
542
views
Does it make sense to get a non-macro and a macro of similar focal lengths?
I recently asked a question on which prime lens to get after the kit lenses, and in my shortlist of lenses there was quite a lot of overlap of focal lengths along with macro & non-macro versions ...
- 4,645
11
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Why are 50mm no longer the default kit lens for prosumer SLRs?
Every time someone asks me for a kit recommendation I point them towards some sort of prime lens with a standard focal length. Similarly, almost anyone I talk to about the ideal budget kit swears that ...
- 2,704
9
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Does a 35mm prime lens show the same bokeh as a 50mm prime lens on a cropped sensor?
I came to know that a 50mm prime lens on a cropped sensor behaves like an 75mm prime lens.
So, does the 35mm prime lens behave like a 50mm prime lens on a cropped sensor?
If yes, then will it show ...
- 5,602
7
votes
5
answers
410
views
What's the point in high quality rather expensive cameras with permanently mounted prime lens?
Sony RX1R II and Leica Q are two good examples for the current state of technology. Both are packed with a lot of neat features, both have high ISO, impressive stabilization, both are rather compact ...
- 1,059
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