Prime Lenses vs Zoom Lenses: Why I Only Work With Primes

Hate it or love it. One swears by it, the other despises it: prime lenses. What is a prime lens and what are its advantages and disadvantages? In this blog post I will explain my vision on it; prime lenses vs zoom lenses.

To start with: what is a prime lens? A prime lens is a lens without zoom function. Every prime lens has its own focal length. Actually, it is something very old. In earlier photography, it only gave itself prime lenses and zoom lenses had yet to be invented.

Until 2020 I worked with zoom lenses. Standard on one body the 24-70 and on the other the 70-200. Nice and safe a full range from wide angle to telephoto zoom within reach. However, the switch to prime lenses started to attract me more and more. Did the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? I was in doubt about it for a long time.

The disadvantage of prime lenses is that you cannot zoom in situations where you have to act quickly. Your feet are your zoom function. The advantages of prime lenses are that they are generally much sharper and have a larger aperture. The glass is also much better than most zoom lenses. But honestly, these advantages were not even the decisive factor to switch. Because not being able to zoom, is that really a disadvantage? Instead of thinking in problems, I prefer to think in possibilities. I regularly get strange looks when I take one of my lenses out of my suitcase.

“With a prime, you are not flexible at all if you have to switch quickly?” The fact is that a prime lens generally makes you a better photographer. When you do not have a zoom at your disposal, you are forced to think more carefully about your composition. Where you would normally give a swing to your zoom ring, you now have to think seriously about how you can capture the subject as captivatingly as possible.

At the end of 2020 I threw myself to the lions and sold the 24-70. In its place came a 14mm, a 35mm and a 50mm. I had already bought an 85mm lens.

Especially in the beginning it certainly took some getting used to. When you have worked with zoom lenses for 8 years, it feels uncomfortable in the beginning. As depressing as the corona period was, without many commercial assignments it gave me the time to get used to this form of photography undisturbed without feeling the pressure to perform. As soon as all paid assignments started again around March 2022, I was completely at home working with prime lenses. My photos clearly improved. The images were sharper than ever and the compositions were better thought out. In general, the photos had become much more interesting for the viewer. Even at the most important moments where I only had one chance to take the right photo, I felt completely comfortable with missing zoom range. I simply didn't even think about it anymore, it felt so natural.

Today I estimate that I take at least 75% of my photos with the 35mm. There are plans to write a blog at a later stage about why I am so incredibly attached to my 35mm. As soon as it is online I will make an announcement on the socials! Either way: I would not go back to zoom lenses for anything!

This is not just any stock photo, but my own 35mm!