Prime vs. Zoom Lenses - Which should you buy?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- Prime lenses and zoom lenses both have their places in the kit of a professional photographer, but which type of lens is best for you? In this video I compare the positives and negatives of both types of lenses, and give you a recommendation on which lens you should buy. This video is relevant for both beginner photographers looking to upgrade their 18-55mm kit lens, intermediate photographers looking to understand lens selection a bit more, and professional photographers who are in the market for their next pro lens. Let's talk lenses!
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Video Breakdown:
0:00 - Intro and updates
2:10 - Difference between prime and zoom lenses
3:06 - Benefits of prime lenses
7:30 - Benefits of zoom lenses
10:35 - Which lens should you buy?
15:05 - Ultimatum!
📸 If you had to choose between prime lenses or zoom lenses to shoot with FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, which would you choose?
I would choose prime lenses and zoom with my feet.
@@allee2445 a wise decision ;)
📷
Primes! If I could only have one lens, 50mm macro
Great video! Always good advice. I shoot with Fuji. I had a couple of zooms, but have sense gone all prime. Pretty much everything from the Samyang 12mm to the Fuji 90mm. Mainly street and candid portrait and architecture are my subjects. I think prime makes you work more for the shot, meaning more creativity for the shot as well. Just my opinion.
Best teacher ever from never holding a camera before to people going crazy over my pics in 14 days now I even know how to edit my photos
Hey Dee thank you so much! I appreciate that. Pumps me up that your photos are getting some traction! Keep up the good work :)
@@seandalt I will teacher 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Hey man that's great! Best of to you 😊
Totally agree with your explanation. Just like everyone I'm started with the basic zoom lens (kit lens) and my first prime lens was 50mm. Zoom lens help me to find out what type of photographer was I am. While the prime lens teach me how to face the situation to get the good photo. Finally I understood both of them have their own benefit depend on our situation. If we already know what kind of photo we will take so bring the prime lens with you but if you are not sure what will waiting for you out there bring your zoom lens. Don't take a risk because sometime the good moment happen only once. So for wedding photography if you work alone bring the zoom lens but if you have a team prime lens will be the great weapon...
Great video! As a relatively new hobby urban/street photographer using an entry level Nikon DSLR I recently bought a Nikkor 35mm 1.8 prime lens which I love to bits. Completely upgraded my hobby experience. For now now Im sticking with that..
Very good video … crisp and precise info 👌
Thanks for the help and insight! Great video by the way!
Hey Austin thank you buddy! Appreciate you watching the video
Hey nice content man, much appreciated.
If I had to choose that one lens to use for the rest of my life, it would definitely be my Sony 35mm F1/4 GM Prime Lens.
It's light, portable, versatile, and the results are amazing! With this particular lens, I can shoot portraits, real estate, macro shots, landscape, environmental portraits, you name it and it's a really nice lens to shoot 4K videos on my A7iii :)
Great lecture thanks.
Sean you really opened my eyes about prime lenses. Thank you Thank you
Thanks bro 👍🏻its very helpful 👍🏻
Long time, No see... Welcome back
I always look forward to your videos!
Appreciate that brother, thank you. More content coming soon :) Let me know if you have any topics you'd like to see! Hearing from viewers like you is very helpful
🧂
@@oskartomaszmarmol-infante919 🌶
Thinking about getting the 35mm f1.4 the most sought out lens for fuji. Currently using the kit lens that came with my xt100 beginners camera.
Thanks. Great video!!
This is so helpful, thank you! I’ve started investing in new lenses after making a transition in cameras and I’ve been on the fence. I’m going the prime route for now with one zoom lens for landscapes :)
Hey Kat, thank you! I think that's a great choice :) Primes are the best!
Thank you for great video!
Great video, thanks!
No worries Mica thanks for bein here!
Thanks Sean !
i couldn't agree more.. very informative and precise.. i love to use my primes coz it brings out more my creative way of shooting.. but it really differs on what circumstances and situations that zoomie bois are actually very useful because of it's versatility. .kudos!
Hey Chad appreciate the love man, thank you. Both types of lenses have their places!
@@seandalt Your video is the very best I have seen on the subject of lens choice, zooms versus primes!
Cant believe this has so few likes, this was so nice and informative!
Quite good, sensible advices and train of thought.
Thank you Maxim, I appreciate the sub as well!
awesome video!
Thank you!
One other consideration is sensor dust. With zooms there is less of a need to change the lens as often, and with mirrorless cameras sensor dust can be an issue. Fortunately, though, Canon's technology includes a curtain that protects the sensor from being exposed quite as much. That said, I still prefer the primes for sharpness and weight.
Thank you for sharing this video. Totally I agreed with you though currently I'm using mostly Prime Lens, sometime I do feel to have zoom lenses. Will upgrade my Lenses and explore more about photography
Hey Kenchan no problem, thank you for watching. Keep moving on your photography journey and you'll discover the lenses that suit you most in time :)
My most used combination is my Fuji xt4 apsc with a 35 F2. (Nifty 50)
I also own a 16(24) and a 56(85).. and a Canon R5 with 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 35 1.8 and an adapted EF 70-300 4.5-5.6.. and I’ve owned a Sony A7iii with Tamron 17-28,28-75,70-180, Sony 50 1.8, 85 1.8, 24 1.4 and 200-600.
I used to believe wanting to “get the shot” but now I just “want to get the best shot” and that’s why I love a simple lil kit. Horses for courses we say in Australia. I shoot landscapes wide open.
Hell of a kit man! I get what you mean too. I really want to purchase a Leica with a fixed 28mm lens. Massively simplifies the shooting experience and that's something I appreciate when shooting for myself. Things are different when you're shooting for a client though, unfortunately!
Also landscapes wide open, hell yeah. Me too.
Great video! When you made that recommendation for a 50mm prime, did you mean 50mm full frame but 35 apsc? I own the 35mm apsc 1.8 from Sony and I really like it. I bought that 18-105 f4 as well. It’s wonderful for outdoor video.
Great points 🤙
Thanks for watching man!
This was such a helpful video. Thank you! I love your style and your photos. My husband bought me a Nikon camera as a gift a while ago and I cannot tell you how much I love taking pictures! I watched a ton of TH-cam videos and I learned how to shoot in manual mode. It didn't take long to understand the settings. My first lens purchase was the 50mm 1.8 and it completely changed my life. Then I splurged on the 24-70mm 2.8, the older one without the VR. It also changed my life. My kids sports photos improved by leaps and bounds. I have had these two lenses for a while now and I am wondering what lens to get next. Any suggestions for me? I am mostly taking travel photos at this point. Thank you!!!
105mm 2.8 Nikkon Micro...it's a prime, and is great for Portraits as well as Macro..I love it...
If I had to choose one it would definitely be a good zoom. Versatility for more shooting applications and still have great image quality.
100%. Zooms are amazing!
As an all in one solution for travel and landscape a 2.8 zoom is great, but I hate using big lenses and they are not pratical as a daily carry when I'm are going places for work and such.
2.8 wide primes are super small on the other hand and are pretty much perfect to take with you all the time. There are some that are super sharp at 2.8 so if you have a 40+mp camera you'll have some flexibility to crop a little if needed.
I would go for zoom lens. It’s just convenient. If you are on the road, the convenience of zoom lens can’t be beaten. These days image quality between zoom and prime is very marginal.
So convenient. I wish I bought zooms sooner!
@@seandalt I know! I got 24-105 zoom and ever since it is sitting on my camera the most!
Absolutely agreed!
I'm definitely looking for a zoom to shoot events. I use my 35mm when I can have control of situations or not pressure. Regards from Chile.
Sean do you have online classes? I like the way you explain and it help me with my photography skill a lot so thank you
Hey Erik, yes I do! I have tons of classes on Skillshare :) Use this link and get 2 weeks free to all my classes. I recommend my Photography Essentials and Lightroom classes: www.skillshare.com/r/user/seandalt
My 50mm is probably my fav lens. I love it for family photos. But I’ve always wanted to get a 100-400mm f4 for when I’m out in nature.
100-400mm is such an insane lens. I actually wish I bought that over the 70-200mm 2.8 to be honest. 100-400 is insane range!
Hey Sean, I live in Jakarta, maybe sometime, if you come to Jakarta, we can do a street photography together!
Anyway, nice video!
My fav combo is A6600 + 18-105 F4 or Sigma 56mm F1.4!
Hey Carry thanks for reaching out! Shoot me a DM on IG so I have your info, would be awesome to do that. And you have quite the combo! That's a really great kit.
Prime, all primes for me :)
Primmesssss 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
I prefer prime lenses because they are typically smaller and lighter then zoom lenses.
Definitely, but not if you require range! Zoom lenses can result in a lighter kit because you need to carry less lenses to cover the same range. That's why I don't travel with my primes. But for a one lens kit/someone that doesn't require range, primes are lighter.
Dear thanks for your videos. Can you suggest me Sony beginner camera (think for Sony a7c) and much needed lens as a beginner ( traveller photos, family portrait photos)
Thanks
I'm still looking, but for starting out I was thinking on getting a Sony fe35mm f1.8 then later get a zoom,
Only thinking of this as it gives me something to practice with one system and I think 35mm is a good place to start not to zoomed in and not too zoomed out, with a zoom I don't know I might not fully learn all the settings if I keep changing the mm size, so if I stay at 35mm for now I get use to it and then upgrade later
I shoot on a fuji XT-3 and looking to buy a 16-55 f2.8 or the 16-80 f4 zoom as a everyday lens. What would you recomend. Currently using the xc 35mm f2 prime aswell as a 50mm f1.4 vintage Nikon lens wich manual focus but really nice for Portraits because of the f1.4. I also just want something wider than a 35mm. Also I have a manual focus 24-70 f2.8 sigma lens that also has a nikon mount but I adapted it to fuji-x. I use it almost only for events since it is REALLY heavy! Almost 2kg I belive.
I'm new at photography and currently have the canon kit lens and a 55-250 mm zoom lens. I prefer the zoom lens because of the flexibility
Great choice!
@@seandalt Thanks
Just got the 24 70 sigma for my a6400 and love it after only shooting primes....
I feel like I'm going to miss that crop factor when I get a fullframe though... do you find yourself using your lense on aps c mode to get a larger crop? Maybe the 24 to 105 would have been better
Hey Shane, solid lens man! I rarely use APSC crop mode on my fullframe, because I can just crop in post if I want. I do have the setting binded to a button though so I can quickly switch to APSC crop. I would be much more inclined to use it if I had more MP to work with. The Sony A7III only has 26mp I think, cropping in too tight reduces image quality quite a bit.
I don't think you made a bad choice with the 24-70. The extra stop of light is more important to me than the extra 35mm on the tight end!
@@seandalt good to hear, thanks for the input. Great video by the way, I love your style, fantastic photos, and of course, the video image quality is really good. Thanks for your practical advice, looking forward to more :)
I’m a beginner with the goals of opening a studio of being a Beauty and Portrait photographer and Outdoors photographer, which camera and lenses should I acquire?
Please help me , I’m actually confused on which one to buy.
I have a Nikon D5600 which prime lens would be better 35mm or a 50mm ? Thanks
I'm curious, what happened to your 18-105mm F4, and why don't you use one now?
I was looking for a video like this a long time ago. I actually has been looking for a lens for my Sony 6500 and after doing some research I’m more confused of which one I should buy 😂. I’m currently shooting with a Sony 35mm f1.8 and I love it, but some times I’m missing some thing that I want to capture on my pictures. So far, I’m between a tamaron 28mm - 75mm f2.8 but I really want to know a recommendation for a prime lenses that I can use as my to go lenses. Thank you in advanced 🙏🏻
Hey Juan, love the 35mm 1.8 but I know what you mean. If you plan to stay crop sensor I would totally recommend the Sony 18-105 f/4 G. Such a good lens. But if you plan to upgrade to full-frame in the future I would recommend the Sigma 24-70 2.8. The 4mm on the wide end is much more valuable than the 5mm on the high end. I don't think it's much more expensive either. It is heavier however.
Thank you for you recomendación. I will start looking for one of those. Fan of your work man. Waiting for more classes to keep learning and improving the skills.
Generally 18-55 kit lenses are awful except for Fuji xf 18-55 f2.8-4. Because I can confidently say that this is the best kit lens in camera lens history
Fuji's lens lineup is pretty solid across the board, even their kit lens. 2.8-4 on a kit lens is amazing. Great products!
What do I need to look for in comparing lenses? I see Canon 18 - 105 mm F4 lenses priced from $375 up to $1200.
I am gonna go for zoom lenses, I just got an EOS M50 Mark ii, could tell me whether I should get the EF-M 18-150mm or some other zoom lens?
Great choice. I’m not sure about the options for lenses on the M50. 18-150 is awesome range but what’s the maximum aperture of the lens?
@@seandalt The Aperture is f3.5-6.3
zoom lensc are convenient but for sharp photo is better a prime
Definitely!
As a beginner with the goals of being a wedding photographer and newborn portrait photographer, which lenses should I acquire?
I would go for zoom like 20-70 mm. There is limit that you can grow as a beginner photographer with fixed focal length of prime lens. I think prime lens is for one that knows what kind of photography they are doing, is more dedicated kind of work.
@@kai64 will get me a zoom lens then. I have 24mm 50mm and a 85mm prime lenses so far
Definitely agree with Kai. 24-70 2.8 is probably your best bet. If you can't afford it the f/4 version is also fine, but that extra stop of light makes the 2.8 worth it.
Sean help me decide which lens is better
Sigma 24 to 70 f2.8 or Sony 24 to 105 f4
Sony 70 to 200 f4 or sony 100 to 400mm
Sony 16 to 35 f4 vario tessar or sony 24mm GM?
Hey bro, here's my selects, but you can't go wrong with any of these lenses.
Sigma 24-70 2.8
Sony 100-400mm
Sony 24mm GM (sharpest lens I own by far, it's insane)
@@seandalt can i know why u pick the 100-400mm instead of the 70-200 f4? is it because it can shoot both telephoto and also macro?
@@seandalt hey sean u there?
@@DJHiroProductions hey bro. Because 100-400 is much better range than 70-200. It’s an awesome lens.
are you still based in Bali ? I'm from Indonesia, and shoots with Fujifilm
What lenses good for food photography and coffee photography?
50mm or 85mm full frame equivalent!
Is it good to use in APS-C camera? I use Sony A6400
In my view, Micro Four Thirds solves the size and weight of the lenses issue. On other systems they are too big and heavy.
For sure, they’re tiny! But you make other sacrifices with a micro 43 sensor.
@@seandalt
True, although for amateurs or new photographers these sacrifices are more than negligible (and the advantages are quite good). I also have seen here on TH-cam quite a lot of even professional photographers and old(er) photographers using a M43 camera for their work. And many videos on why they, successfully, transitioned to the M43 system. There are quite a bit of myths regarding M43 too.
Bigger sensors seem to be necessary (or useful) only for absolutely best results, and for certain scenarios too. And that's a very small percentage of who buy or has a camera.
In other words, I think everyone should give M43 a good try. I think in most cases people will find it more than enough in terms of the results it will produce for them. Plus all M43's advantages.
By the way, have you ever give M43 a try? If yes, in what ways it wasn't enough for you?
For some people also for myself weight could be also a factor you could cosider
Weight can be a factor. I actually originally talked about that in the video but took it out because there's so much variation in lens size. This is a similar argument as the price argument. Zoom lenses are often heavier, but you don't need to carry as many thus a zoom lens kit can be lighter than a prime lens kit. I don't carry my prime lenses traveling specifically to save weight.
@@seandalt A year late but just to add for further viewers: it really depends on wether the prime lens is F1.8 or 1.4. The 1.8 versions tend to be around half the weight of the zoom lens, where as the 1.4 version is similar and sometimes even heavier.
The best in this video are those cats, dnt care about the lens anymore! Lol! Kidding aside, thanks for this insightful video!
So my canon ef 18-55mm is junk? Bummer. I really like that Lens. Can't afford anything else, man lenses are spendy
Honestly, it's not. For most people it's fine. Sure, it's not the best lens on the market. But, it still has decent range and it's more than enough for 99% of people that own a DSLR. You will know when it's time to upgrade, but until then just enjoy the shooting experience :)
@@seandalt whew thank you. a newbie here and so far it's been good with a tripod. All I'd good thank you!
Even Nikon has got the patent for 2 zoom lens with F1.2
Coming from a poor a6000 user not full frame user yet
I own the
Sony 18-105 f4
Sigma 16mm f1.4
Sony FE 85mm f 1.8
Sony 70-350mm f4.6 to f5.6
Sony 35mm f1.8
If I go full frame then I would have to sell all these lenses except the 85mm to change into full frame. What a sad story
Hi, I actually don't know if I should get the sigma 16mm or the 18-105... I want to do different things but at the moment I really enjoy doing landscape and night photography. What do you suggest? I'm getting a sony a6100 with the kit lens.
Don't think it's sad at all man. You've been saying this a lot. You got an amazing kit. Stop thinking about full-frame and just keep shooting. Gear is such a small piece of the puzzle.
18-105mm is an amazing lens man! I would definitely recommend that. You can still shoot at night with the 18-105mm. Use a tripod and you'll be fine!
@@matteo7306 i mainly use the sigma for low light shot if i really want a wide angle shot with a tripod or handheld and also future astrophotography shot. 18-105 is for mid range zoom shot during the day but yeah like sean said u can still use the 18-105 with a tripod at night just maybe u will gain a little more noise by bumping up your ISO but shouldnt be much of an issue if your only posting to social media. They are both great lenses i love them both.
@@seandalt yeah u think so? i got almost all kinds of lenses for different situations to shoot with from but still feeling a little down because it aint a full frame . Sigh photography life is tough sean.
85 f 1.8
Hell of a lens!
Thanks for the recommendations! If you have to choose only one zoom for a street / urban photo trip to China / Japan, would you go with the Sony 24-70/2.8 or 20-70/4?
I shoot a mix of day and night shots and often carry a tripod for long exposure, so undecided which I should go with. Each has their own strength and both can resolve my A7R5’s 61MP sensor, so would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks!
24-70 f2.8 has become the standard of all lenses that exist, the f4 on 20-70 is too much, like shooting with a kit lens.
Sigma has 50-100 f 1.8
That's true, they do. Can't say I know much about it though. Very untraditional lens, but on paper it sounds epic and I'd like to try it. Big fan of the brand.
zoomie bois. hehe
haha zooomay boissss. Gotta love them
Primes ... Always primes hahaha
less bullshit at the start would be nice ;-)