When you bought your DSLR, it probably came with a zoom lens that easily lets you get a wide range of coverage with just a quick twist of the wrist. So, why on earth would you go back in time and pick up a prime lens that only offers a single focal length?
It’s all about aperture.
Most prime lenses offer apertures that open as far f/1.2 to f/2. These wide openings let in a lot more light, which is truly useful when shooting in existing light or low-light environments.
Prime lenses are universally faster than zoom lenses and typically are much cheaper as well. This is due to the way the lenses are manufactured. Prime lenses have fewer moving parts and elements than zoom lenses.
Having a prime lens or two in your kit will really come in handy in the following situations:
- When you need to shoot in very low-light conditions
- When you want to shoot with a shallow depth of field to blur your background or give the video a more filmic look
Be sure to check out the book — Creating DSLR Video: From Snapshots to Great Shots