What s the difference between a zoom lens and a fixed focal length (prime) lens?
A prime lens is a lens in which the field of view (focal length) cannot be adjusted. The only way to take in more or less of the scene is to walk closer to or further from the subject. (sometimes jokingly called zoom with your feet, though this is technically inaccurate since changing camera position is not the same thing as adjusting the focal length) Or you have to carry a selection of lenses of different focal lengths with you and swap them out as required. A zoom lens is a lens in which the field of view can be adjusted. If you can t fit in all your friends in the picture, for example, you could just rotate the zoom ring on the lens until they re all in there. Or if that bird is too far away you could rotate it the other way to zoom in closer. Up until the late 1980s prime lenses were the most common lens sold, because from an optical design standpoint it s much easier to design a high quality prime lens that can take nice sharp photographs than a decent quality zoom lens. But a pr
Related Questions
- What is the difference between a fixed lens and a manual zoom lens? When do I need to use a fixed lens and what is the benefit of using a fixed lens over using manual zoom lens?
- Pictures taken with a telephoto zoom lens are not as sharp as those taken with a shorter focal length lens. Why?
- How do I back focus a camera fitted with a fixed focal length lens?
