Every novice photographer is faced with the question of what a zoom lens and a prime lens are, how do they differ from each other and which one is better?
Instructions
Step 1
Focal length.
The so-called zoom lenses are lenses that can change their focal length. In other words, while standing in one place, you can shoot objects both near you and at a fairly distant distance.
Fixed lenses do not have this feature, these lenses have a constant, fixed focal length. With them, as they say, you will have to crop with your feet, i.e. move farther or come closer to the subject.
Step 2
Sharpness of pictures. Fixed lenses always produce sharper images, which is especially important when shooting close-up portraits of people. However, if you are mainly shooting landscapes or architecture, this sharpness can be neglected.
Step 3
Aperture ratio. Fixed lenses are much faster, which is important if you often use the camera indoors, and less important if you shoot outdoors during daylight hours. In this case, the lower aperture of the zoom lens will not interfere with your shooting.
Step 4
Possibility of additional photo effects. With zoom lenses, you can create more diverse photo effects, for example, by using the ability to change the focal length at the moment the shutter is released. A fixed lens cannot produce this effect.
Step 5
Cost.
Fixed lenses are simpler in their design, so their price with comparable quality mechanisms and materials will always be much lower than their zoom counterparts.
