The Value of a PRIME

The Value of a 50mm PRIME

First off... What is a prime? 

I wont get into technical definitions; so simply put a prime lens is a lens with a set focal length.  There are pros and cons to any lens, but "cons" could also be considered to be good things by some. I do not know every prime lens out there but from the ones I am familiar with here is a quick list of pros and cons.  

Pros:

     1. Usually have a shallow depth of field (large aperature)

     2. VERY Sharp Pictures

     3. Well built

     4. Fast focusing

     5. Price vs zoom lenses is low

Cons:

     1. You have to move to change the framing of your subject

Pros:

1. Shallow Depth of Field 

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikkor 50mm 1.8g

Aperture: f1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/640

As you can see the small aperture that is commonly found with prime lenses creates a very small area of focus that can allow you to be creative with your pictures.  A 50mm prime lens is also Ideal for portraits especially when you are not using a full frame DSLR.

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikkor 50mm 1.8g

Aperture:  f1.8

Shutter Speed: 1/1250

2.  VERY Sharp Pictures

A prime lens has simple but high quality "glass."  Zoom lenses will have a "sweet spot" where they are sharpest and then the rest isn't as good of quality.  A prime lens is a "sweet spot" in and of itself.  It is sharp and it is easy to get those sharp photos that you are hoping for.  You can see in the picture how crisp the details are in her eyes.

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikkor 50mm 1.8g

Aperture:  f2.2

Shutter Speed: 1/400

3.  Well Built

Because there are less moving parts (and on most modern primes all the moving arts are internal) the lenses are naturally more secure than a zoom lens.  If any of you have owned a zoom lens over a long period of time you will be able to notice that they can "relax" over time and not feel as solidly built.

4.  Fast Focusing

This will of course depend on the lens itself but for me I have noticed that Prime lenses are super quick when it comes to focusing.  They are simply built and therefore preform well.  Also, because of the large aperture (small f-stop) a prime lens will have an easier time capturing light, and because of that will still focus quickly in low lit situations.  

5.  Price

The price of a 50mm prime is very low when compared to the world of lenses.  However some of the other primes can get more expensive. For example I bought my 50mm 1.8 for $220 but a 85mm 1.4 Professional Lens runs at $1700. A 50 mm on a DX camera (not full frame) is a great option for those who don't have thousands of extra dollars but still want great results!

CONS:

1.  You have to move to frame your subjects

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikkor 50mm 1.8g

Aperture:  f2.5

Shutter Speed: 1/320

For this shot it would have been easier if I had my zoom lens and could have stayed on the trail to take the picture.  However, I wanted to use the shallow depth of field so I set my camera on the settings I wanted, and left the trail, moving closer hoping not to scare off the squirrel.  This is an inconvenience but it allowed me to get the feel I was looking for and gave me a fun experience.  Using the prime forced me to think about my shot rather than just simply stopping clicking the button and moving on (as you see so many people doing).  So although it is a con, moving to frame your subject can keep you creative and innovative with your photography.  

In Conclusion:

My recommendation for every Photographer of any skill level would be that they have a 50mm prime in their kit.