Why You Need a Prime Lens in Your Camera Bag

When choosing a lens, the first thing to consider is the context in which you’ll be using it. Shooting a sports game? There’s a lens for that—you’ll want to go with a zoomable telephoto. Shooting landscapes? There’s a lens for that, too—definitely a good wide angle. For portraits, though, there’s no question that prime lenses are the best fit. Here’s why.

The first and most important reason to use a prime lens for portrait sessions is that they typically allow you to use a wider aperture, or smaller f-number, which gives you that crisp, clear subject and deliciously blurry background, so ideal for portraits. Think f/1.8 or f/2.0, versus the f/5.6 of a typical of kit lenses. Sure, there are a few zoom lenses that showcase a wider aperture, but they’re not cheap. The bottom line is, prime lenses lend to a beautiful, shallow depth-of-field that’s hard to achieve with zoom lenses. Portrait photographers can’t get enough of that bokeh.

Another common accolade awarded to the prime lens is its exceptional low light performance compared to most zoom lenses. The prime’s signature wide aperture allows more light into the camera. This allows for quicker shutter speeds, and thus, brighter, clearer shots. If you like to shoot at night or in dimly lit spaces, your prime lens will have your back. 

Even photographers who shoot subjects other portraits can agree that prime lenses offer better image quality than zoom lenses. A sharper shot? Count me in, always. There are a few downsides to prime lenses, unfortunately, one being that they’re typically more expensive than zoom lenses. While they boast better image quality and low light performance, they’re less versatile than zoom lenses. You also need to consider that it’s not always ideal to be lugging around your collection of different primes when you’re on the move. Like I said, though, you can’t beat them if portraiture is your game. Once you shoot your first session with your brand new prime lens, I promise you’ll never go back to your zoom. It also doesn’t hurt that primes are much lighter than zoom lenses. That means weight literally lifted off your shoulders. Are you convinced yet?