So, we already addressed the idea of replacing your primes with a nice zoom lens, but let’s talk about going the other way, for a moment. If you love your zoom lenses, here are some primes that might lure you to the other side, or just make a nice addition to your kit.
Simply the Best: Zeiss Otus
Primes are loved over zooms primarily for their optical superiority, and the Zeiss Otus line proves that nothing can possibly beat a prime. Boasting outstanding optical quality in every way imaginable, Zeiss has designed lenses as close to perfect as you can get, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4. Now the manufacturer is offering a versatile lineup, with a standard 55mm, wide-angle 28mm, and portrait-length 85mm. With an uncompromising design, the Otus series should eclipse the performance of any zoom lens.
Bokeh you Won’t Believe: Leica Noctilux
Another benefit of primes is their ability to get much faster apertures without becoming absurdly large, and one of the fastest and most well-known primes is, of course, the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. This lens was originally designed for Leica’s famous M rangefinders, and is quite compact, given its aperture. It is able to achieve a very distinct, almost dreamy look wide open that cannot be replicated by slower lenses. Also, if you are working in low light, the f/0.95 aperture will let in more light than almost any other lens on the market. If the price is a little out of reach, don’t worry—many other manufacturers are getting into the super-fast lens game.
Get in Close with a Macro
Zooms are great for doing a lot of different tasks, but they are poor performers when it comes to specialized applications, such as macro. Not only is optical performance optimized for close-range focusing, they also have added features to make focusing a great deal easier. The Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is a wonderful option in this category, with 1:1 magnification, internal focus, image stabilization, and crystal-clear imaging capabilities. While 1:1 may be plenty, some shooters will want to get even closer, such as the 5:1 magnification ratio possible with the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 Macro. This lets you get super close, and since these optics are designed for close focusing, they are almost always razor sharp. Other benefits include easy ways to mount lights for macro lighting.
Perfect Portraits Every Time
Designing for a single focal length not only permits faster apertures, but also improved optical quality with less distortion and other aberrations. And one area where primes excel is in the portrait-length arena. The mainstay of this category is the workhorse 85mm, which sits in the Goldilocks zone of not too short and not too long, making it perfect for a variety of portrait types. If I had to choose a single lens of this focal length, I’d have to go with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, since it manages to squeak out a slightly larger aperture than all of its competitors. This lens is well known to Canon shooters, being the de facto portrait option for them; with its beautifully warm colors and dramatically shallow depth of field, it smooths out features perfectly and accentuates the eyes. Nikon shooters shouldn’t feel left out though, as they received a soon-to-be-legendary portrait option of their own with the release of the AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED lens. This lens takes things a step further than the 85s, with a slightly more compressed look and even shallower depth of field. There is no way you can achieve this look and quality with a zoom lens.
Perspective Correction, Tilt, and Shift
If there is one thing we have never seen in a zoom lens, it is full tilt-shift functionality. These lenses can be absolute lifesavers, correcting for distortion and convergence with ease. Adding tilt and shift options to your photo kit can introduce numerous creative options, and is similar to what you could achieve with a large format camera with bellows and adjustable standards. Some applications include a true miniature effect, narrowing focus onto a particular part of the scene, and more. Architectural photographers love them for their ability to correct perspective so you can get straight lines that would’ve been impossible at the angles from which photographers are forced to photograph buildings.
If you have been using a zoom forever, hopefully, some of these primes can get you thinking. And If you are looking for a place to start, you could always go with the tried-and-true nifty fifty.
