What Is A Prime Lens Nikon?

What is a prime lens?

a prime lens is a lens with (fixed) focal length that cannot be changed, offering fine-tuned optical performance, beautiful background blur and razor-sharp image quality

nikkor z mount lenses fall into two categories: zooms and primes. a prime lens is a lens with (fixed) focal length that cannot be changed. zooms, on the other hand, allow you to change the focal length across a predefined zoom range.

what is a prime lens? well, it's a lens that isn't a zoom. a prime lens has a fixed focal length which means it has only one focal length.

what is a prime lens? well, in terms of what it's not, it's a lens that isn't a zoom – rather than have a range of focal lengths, it has only one. but in terms of what it is, it's far more than simply a fixed focal length lens.

Prime lenses and zoom lenses

• nikkor z mount lenses fall into two categories: zooms and primes.
• a prime lens is a lens with (fixed) focal length that cannot be changed.
• zooms, on the other hand, allow you to change the focal length across a predefined zoom range.
• if a prime lens gives you only one focal length, but a zoom gives you a range of focal lengths, what are the benefits to using a prime lens?

Size and optical performance

prime lenses are generally smaller and more compact than zooms. as prime lenses have an optical formula optimised for one specific focal length, they produce razor-sharp images with fewer visual aberrations compared to zooms (which must accommodate multiple focal lengths).

• prime lenses, are smaller, lighter and more compact than zoom lenses and tend to be faster, offering wide apertures of f/2.8, f/1.8 or even f/1.4.
• also, as primes are often simpler in construction than zooms, this means they are not only often slightly less expensive to make, but they also tend to have fewer visual aberrations such a colour fringing and image distortion, giving you a more technically correct image than a zoom can at the extremes of its focal range
• the simpler construction of prime lenses often makes them more affordable options.
• primes are, by and large, simpler and sharper.

Wide apertures and low light

prime lenses are almost always faster than zooms because they offer wide apertures – the opening in your lens through which light passes to enter the camera. a wide aperture allows you to shoot when there is less light and also creates a shallow depth of field, meaning you get that lovely background (or foreground) blur, or bokeh, while your subject remains in focus.

• some nikon primes boast maximum apertures below f/2.8, such as the nikkor z 50mm f/1.8 s nikkor z 50mm f/1.2 s nikkor z 58mm f/0.95 s
• don’t forget that the lower the f-stop number the bigger the aperture and the greater the blur.
• the large apertures let in more light, which benefits the photographer in a number of ways.
• first, you can use fast shutter speeds with large apertures to freeze motion.
• this becomes important when you're shooting in low light.
• by using a high iso, and wide aperture, you'll be able to use high enough shutter speeds so you can hand-hold the camera.
• secondly, because fast lenses let in lots of light, the viewfinder will be brighter, and so it will be easier to confirm focus, ensuring your images will be sharp.

Bokeh and shallow depth of field

many photographers love prime lenses for their bokeh.

one of the most sought after benefits of using a prime lens is for the bokeh achievable by photographers, especially portrait shooters. bokeh refers to the pleasing diffused softness of the blurred background in an image with shallow depth-of-field.

• another popular benefit of a prime lens is the bokeh it will achieve, especially for portraits.
• bokeh is the pleasing, diffused softness of the blurred background in an image with shallow depth of field.
• achieve the perfect bokeh as wide aperture creates a shallow depth of field, meaning your background is blurred and your subject always stays in focus.
• wider aperture allows lower iso and shutter speed so you can freeze motion easier.

Prime lenses at a glance

• wide aperture (as low as f/0.95) lets in more light – perfect for low-light situations.
• sharpens your technique: a prime lens means you have to move around to achieve the shot you want.
• sharper image quality as there are fewer components within the lens.
• compact, lighter and often more affordable than zoom lenses.
• achieve the perfect bokeh as wide aperture creates a shallow depth of field, meaning your background is blurred and your subject always stays in focus.
• wider aperture allows lower iso and shutter speed so you can freeze motion easier.

Moving with a prime lens

according to many photographers, a byproduct of using a prime lens is that you physically have to walk into- or step back from your subject(s) when shooting—since you can't zoom in and out. this will often cause them to be more creative in their picture making.

and then there's the fact that with a prime, to make your subject larger or smaller in frame, you actually have to move towards or step back from it when shooting, as you can't zoom in and out from a static position as you can with a zoom lens. many photographers appreciate primes for this exact reason, as they say it encourages them to be more creative in their picture making – it certainly makes you think more about what you're shooting.

Subjects and genres

• primes suit a variety of genres, including action, landscape, close-up, low-light, portrait, wedding street photography video!
• primes are well suited to a variety of subjects, including action/sports, architecture, close-ups, flora, landscape, low-light nature, portraits and street photography, as well as video.
• there are currently 53 primes in the nikkor lens line-up, with the newest addition being the af-s 105mm f/1.4e ed, and they range from the ultra-wide ad dx fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8g ed and af fisheye 16mm f/2.8d to the super-telephoto af-s 800mm f/5.6e fl ed vr.
• there are also primes designed for specific uses, such as the af-s micro 85mm f/3.5g ed vr for close-ups, and the pc-e micro 45mm f/2.8d for perspective control.

Using a prime lens for video

when shooting hd video, prime lenses are ideal to use. they give you the ability to achieve the same shallow depth-of-field at wide open apertures for your video footage as you already get with your still photography. this is something that is generally difficult to do using a traditional video camera.

many photographers who are shooting hd video with their nikon d-slrs will appreciate the prime lenses ability to autofocus precisely and quickly when af-f (full-time af) is selected or even to manually focus, which will lessen the occurrence of noise from the lens being picked up by the camera's internal microphone.

• prime lenses are a fantastic choice for filmmaking.
• pretty much every movie you’ve ever seen is mainly shot with primes.
• some of the reasons are creative, but there are also some very good practical reasons for including a prime or two in any camera bag.
• primes don’t. they do one thing and the simpler construction and lack of weight has great advantages.
• easier to balance on gimbals, easier to put on dolly tracks, easier to handhold and just plain easier to cart around.
• over a long shoot you’ll be glad of a prime lens.

Compromises

of course, with any piece of kit there are always compromises, and with primes they tend to be twofold: first, whereas you can cover off a range of focal lengths in a single zoom, you might need several primes to do the same, and secondly, they can mean missing out on fast-happening photo opportunities, whereas with a zoom you do have more flexibility.

ultimately, it depends on what you want to shoot and how you like to work. but for many photographers, prime lenses' stunning image quality and speed, especially in low light, usually make them an indispensible part of their kit.