In this episode I talk about lense choices. Specifically Prime v Zoom lenses. Let me know which ones you have and let me know your use cases.
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Hello everybody. And welcome to episode seven of create a cafe. Lens choices. Today, we'll be tackling the topic. That's often deliberated amongst photographers and videographers that like. Prime lenses versus zoom lenses. I'll be exploring the differences. Provide examples of the use cases for each. And discuss the best focal length. For those professional talking headshots, we all know and love. And our live streams and YouTube videos. So grab your camera. And let's get started.
So let's start with the basics. What exactly are prime and zoom lenses. So prime lenses have a fixed focal length. Meaning that they don't zoom in or out. They come in a variety of focal lengths. From a wide angle [00:01:00] to tele photo. But each lens is set to one specific focal length. For example, the nifty 50. Which is a 50mm millimeter prime lens. Is always 50 millimeters. On the other hand, zoom lenses offer a range of focal lengths within one lens.
For example, a 24 to 70 zoom lens can cover anything from a wide angle at 24 millimeters on a full frame. Of course, two-way short telephoto. At 70 millimeters. Giving you more flexibility without needing to change lenses. So let's dive into the pros and cons of each type of lenses. And let's start with prime.
Now prime lenses generally offer superior image quality they're typically sharper because they're optimized for a single focal length and they tend to have a sharper images with less distortion and fewer aberations.
[00:02:00]
Prime lens is also typically have larger, maximum apertures.
You may have heard the term fast lenses fast means that they have a wide. Aperture such as F at 1.4 or 1.8. And this allows for better performance in low light and the ability to achieve a shallow depth of field. Creating that beautiful Bocquet effect or is it Boca?
I never know. Anyway.
Build in size now, primes are often smaller and lighter than zoom lenses. Now this depends on the manufacturer of course, but this makes them easy to carry around and less obtrusive. When shooting, you don't want to be carrying a ton of lenses. That's going to weigh you down.
So let's look at some of the cons relating to prime lenses. One of them is flexibility. So think of this. If you need to change your composition, you're going to have to either physically move closer or farther away from the subject or switch lenses. Now there [00:03:00] are ways obviously to digitally punch in and you can also switch from full frame to APSC mode. On some of the cameras will cover that. in another topic.
One of the other potential cons of prime lenses is cost. Depending on the glass. And the aperture, the manufacturer, obviously. Prime lenses can be really cost prohibitive. So it might be more cost-effective to buy a zoom lens. If that's a consideration.
In summary prime lenses are fantastic for situations where image quality is paramount and you can control your environment.
For example, in a portrait photography situation. Uh, 50 millimeter or 85 millimeter prime lens is often preferred because of the sharpness and the ability to create a pleasing background blur. Also the focal length is more natural compared to how we see things in real life. Similarly in low light situations like indoor events or astrophotography [00:04:00] wide aperture of a prime lens can make all the difference
now let's talk about zoom lenses. Let's look at some of the pros first off, the most significant advantage of a zoom lens is the versatility. With a zoom lens, you can adjust quickly your framing without changing your position or swapping lenses. Now, this is obviously incredibly useful in dynamic environments like weddings, sports events, or wildlife photography. But keep in mind that. With some zoom lenses. That don't have a constant aperture. You may find that the aperture is going to change. As you zoom in and out.
Another, the pro is convenience carrying one zoom lens that covers multiple focal lengths. Is often more convenient than carrying several prime lenses, especially for traveling or when a quick change is necessary to get that all important shot.
Let's look at some of the cons associated with zoom lenses. Image quality could be a consideration here. [00:05:00] Whilst zoom lenses have improved significantly. They generally don't much the image quality of prime lenses. They can suffer from more distortion. At lower sharpness, especially at extreme ends of the focal ranges. Under the consideration is aperture zoom lenses typically have a smaller, maximum aperture compared to prime lenses, such as F 2.8 or F four. So this could be limiting in low light conditions. And makes it harder to achieve a shallow depth of field. But depending if you zoom into the subject, then you could achieve a nice shallow depth of field and some distance associated, depending on how far you zoom in. Zoom lenses are ideal for scenarios where flexibility and convenience are crucial.
For example, a 24 to 70 zoom lens is a favorite among wedding photographers because it loads into quickly adapt to different scenes. From wide at group shots to intimate closeups without missing a moment. Similarly [00:06:00] for travel photography, a versatile zoom lens can cover a range of shooting situations. As we said before, without need to carry multiple lenses.
So, which one would you choose? The decision between prime and zoom lenses ultimately depends on your specific needs. And your shooting style and budget. Of course. If you prioritize image quality and often shoot in a controlled environment and prime lenses might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you need versatility and convenience. Then zoom lenses could be more suitable for the type of shot that you're trying to achieve. I'm going to talk now about one specific use case. What is the best focal length for a talking head video shot. For those of you that know my channel. I typically have a sit down, talk in headshot and then go into some sort of demonstration. For me, I use a 35 millimeter prime lens. At a fixed [00:07:00] aperture. I have 1.4. I typically shoot wide open. I like the shallow depth of field.
The 35 millimeter focal length for my particular environment, for my particular use case, suits me just fine for my videos. But there are other focal lengths that could lend themselves to be good for this type of shooting. And typically that would fall between 50 millimeter and 85 millimeter.
These focal lengths, give a natural perspective. As a focal length in this range will often give a natural perspective without the distortion you get from wider lenses. You don't want to exaggerate certain features on your face. Typically, a 20 millimeter will exaggerate your features. More than a 50 or 85 millimeter. The 85 and 50 millimeter focal lengths closely mimics how we see with our own eyes. Making this object appear more natural and flattering.
So in summary, both prime and zoom lenses have their unique [00:08:00] advantages and are valuable tools in any videographer or photographers kit.
Your choice should be guided by your specific needs. Shooting conditions and obviously your creative vision. If you are just spending time. Doing talking headshots, similar to what I do on my YouTube channel. The maybe a single 35 millimeter, 50 or 85 millimeter fixed prime lens may suit you just fine.
I'd be really interested to know the type of lenses you use. Why did you choose them in the first place or what is working best for you? Thanks a lot for listening. Jami next time on the creator cafe podcast.
