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Prime? It seems that everything with the word prime means something good, prime lens, prime numbers (?), heck even Optimus Prime (he’s a good guy).

What’s a prime you ask?

A prime lens is a fixed focal lens, meaning its fixed to a certain focal length and cant be extended, popular fixed focal length would be 50mm and 85mm, but you can also get primes in 14mm, 30mm, 200mm even 400mm.

Back then when zoom lens were currently in their infant stages, prime lens was still popular due to its unparalleled sharpness and optical quality. Now you can have zoom lenses with about the same if not more quality than a prime.

Picture (above) : Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G

The prime lens shown in the picture above is a new lens incorporating Silent Wave Motor technology, so it can be used on the entry level Nikon DSLRs, namely D40 D40x and D60. It has abbreviation ‘G’ as it doesn’t have an aperture ring.Take note that the price also jumps a notch from the old 50mm Af-D f1.4

So why use a prime then?

Here’s the other thing about prime lenses, they usually have very wide apertures, with f1.4 and even f1.2 (Yes, the smaller the number the bigger the aperture is). With a wide aperture you get more light gathering capability, the amount of light that enters your lens and falls onto your sensor increases, thus making the use of fast shutter speeds possible. Thus they are often called fast lens.

This is true of zoom lenses having the f2.8 aperture as well. Useful in low light situations such as concerts, night photography, without using a tripod. Other than that, prime lenses are really sharp when stopped down from its widest aperture, being that a 50mm prime f 1.4 is really sharp when stopped down to f1.8 or f2.0.

Picture (above) : Nikon Nikkor 50mm f1.4

Photo by fidofido

So why else would you want a prime?

Since primes are usually small, compact, minus the 200 and above primes, they’re a valuable addition to your gear, and you should definitely have one in your camera bag (LENSA recommends!) as they’re so damn light!

Their small sizes means less weight, and less weight means less glass in the lens = a much much cheaper lens. Especially the 50mm f1.8, at less than 100 quid its a steal. For slightly more light gathering power grab the 50mm f1.4, better build quality at around 170 quid, both for Nikon and Canon.

Bokeh-okay : For all you interested in creamy dreamy bokeh, primes are excellent because of its shallow depth-of-field (wide aperture value). So isolating your subject and the background is a breeze, and depending on the number of diaphragm blades on the lens, you’ll get naturally rendered bokeh effects. The 85mm f1.8 is a favoured lens for portraits among the pros. So knows you knows.

Picture (above) : 28mm and 85mm f1.4 Nikkor Prime lenses

Photo credit: Perfect match by droїd

Now before you guys start scraming off to ebay or amazon for your primes, make sure that prime lenses are compatible with your current DSLR’s. Because most primes are currently old models, they don’t have built in motors inside the lens, so the camera operating the lens should have a screw motor.

Camera’s which are not compatible with primes are the Nikon D40, Nikon D40x, Nikon D60, I’m not sure for Canon because I cant find info on it, but just make sure you do some research before buying.

Picture (above) : Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens – £323.25 (Amazon)

Photo credit: 85mm Prime by S.Su

So don’t say that you’re going to “reconsider” a prime, coz its something you should already have in your bag. It really is worth every penny. Should you not like it, please return it to the seller and please leave a comment proving I’m wrong ; p

Related posts:

1. Fast lenses, on the CHEAP!
2. Battle of the 50s
3. Nikon Lens Jargon Buster
4. SIGMA Lens Jargon Buster
5. Lenses, Lenses, Lensa.