Choosing your first prime lens

Why do I need a prime lens?

Do you have a digital SLR camera and the lens that came with it (the "kit lens"), but you're frustrated at the photos you're getting?

There is one simple thing you can do to improve your photography. Well, after you've attended one of my beginner's photography courses that is! Yes, after that, my next suggestion is to invest in a prime lens. They are a great way to kickstart your photography, and so much better for learning compared to the frankly quite-rubbish kit lens which I encourage you to steer clear of.

But - which one?

If you don't know what size sensor is inside your camera now is the time to find out, it is crucial to know this when choosing a lens. For your first prime lens I recommend a 50mm focal length lens, which is both an economical but flexible choice.

For a FULL FRAME SENSOR camera I would recommend a 50mm prime lens.

For a CROP SENSOR camera you should ideally purchase a prime lens around 35mm focal length - this will look about the same when you look through the viewfinder as the 50mm on the full-frame sensor camera. To understand more about focal lengths and sensor sizes - read more about how lenses work differently on crop-sensor cameras.
 

The Shortlist

As Canon, Nikon and Sony are the most popular camera manufacturers, I’ve provided suggestions for these three. I have also only added models that retail at £200 or less, as this is about the maximum level that most amateurs want to spent at the start of their photography journey. If you want to spend more, you will indeed get a better lens, and I would suggest you look at the same lenses but with a larger aperture which will likely give you an all-round improvement in quality across the board in terms of sharpness and bokeh.

OPTION 1 :  Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

Price : around £140 to £160 - check current price on amazon or check current price on wex

Suitable for : Crop sensor cameras

This lens says it is 35mm on the box, but because you have a cropped sensor, this lens is effectively a 52mm lens on your camera - a "nifty fifty".

The only real downside is that this lens won't work with a Full-Frame camera body, should you wish to upgrade in the future. However if you are investing that amount of money - as full-frame bodies are generally used by professional photographers so they aren't cheap - then you probably won't mind buying another lens anyway.
 

OPTION 2 : Nikon AF-S NIKKOR f/1.8G Lens - 50 mm

Price : around £190 to £200 - check current price on wex

Suitable for : Full frame sensor cameras AND crop sensor cameras

This is a 50mm lens, but on your crop sensor it will act effectively like a 80mm focal length lens. That means it has higher magnification - ie. you have to stand further back to use it in the same way.

This lens also gives you fantastic bokeh. However, on a crop sensor it is a less flexible than the 35mm one. Being a longer focal length it doesn't work so well where space is limited such as at home, as you need to be standing at a greater distance to take the same photo.

If you have a full-frame camera, this is the “nifty-fifty” for you. This lens is a good choice if you’re on a crop sensor camera and soon planning to upgrade to a full-frame camera body.

OPTION 1 : Canon EF 50 mm 1.8 STM Lens

Price : around £100 - check current price on amazon or check current price on WEX

Suitable for : Full frame sensor cameras AND crop sensor cameras

This is a 50mm lens - however on a cropped sensor it's actually a 80mm lens  - a much longer lens. Combining this with the large aperture of f1.8, this makes it a fabulous portrait lens on a crop sensor, producing dreamy bokeh.

The downside with that long focal length is that you need to be at a greater distance to your subject, this can be a little tricky when first learning and therefore makes it not a flexible as a "nifty fifty" lens. Although it has the highest aperture of the Canon lenses listed here, it will also be the most difficult to use indoors if space is limited.

However it is incredibly good value - £100 for a lens like this is peanuts. As long as you understand the limitations it is a good choice.
 

OPTION 2 : Canon EF 40 mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Price : around £160 - check current price on amazon

Suitable for : Full frame sensor cameras AND crop sensor cameras

This lens says it is 40mm on the box, but on a cropped sensor it is similar to our "nifty fifty", with a focal length of 56mm. The only real downside is the maximum aperture of f2.8. This is vastly different to the 50mm which has a maximum aperture of f1.8.

However, the good news it that it will still produce a better bokeh than your standard kit lens, which generally goes to only f5.6 on the longer focal lengths. And it is also more flexible that the 50mm, having a shorter focal length so not being so bad in limited space and for taking wider shots.
 

Option 3 : Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

Price - around £150 - check current price on amazon

Suitable for : Full frame sensor cameras AND crop sensor cameras

On a cropped sensor, this lens works out as effectively 38mm focal length. That's a bit wider than the "nifty fifty" we would like and with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 you will see some bokeh but not as great as on Option 1 or Option 2.

If however, you think you will be taking lots of documentary shots, or landscape and group shots, this would be most suitable for that. And if you have very restricted space in your house and plan to shoot there a lot, this could be a good choice.
 

So which lens for Canon crop-sensor cameras?

Unlike with Nikon, there is no clearcut “winner” for your first prime lens here - so to decide I suggest thinking a bit more about what you most want out of the lens.

If you know that you want to take lots of close-up portraits with maximum bokeh, and have some slightly older children who might stand still for at least a few moment, Option 1 (50mm) will be a better choice on a crop-sensor camera. This lens will also perform better in low light due to the wider maximum aperture.

However if you have smaller children, or limited space where you’re shooting, options 2 or 3 will be a better bet. You won’t get the lovely bokeh that you will with Option 1 but the lens is more versatile and will be easier for a beginner to handle.

If you’re not sure what focal length might suit you, try turning your zoom on your kit lens to that focal length and test shooting for a few hours at that length, and it will soon become clear which length suits your shooting style.
 

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OPTION 1 : Sony FE 50mm f1.8 Lens

Price : around £170 - check current price on WEX

Suitable for : Full frame sensor cameras AND crop sensor cameras

If you are shooting with a Sony full-frame camera, this is the nify-fifty lens for you. Happily, compared with many other Sony lenses, it is extremely good value. Win-win!

However on a cropped sensor it's actually a 80mm lens  - a much longer lens. Combining this with the large aperture of f1.8, this makes it a great portrait lens on a crop sensor, producing dreamy bokeh. But the downside with that long focal length is that you need to be at a greater distance to your subject, this can be a little tricky when first learning.

Option 2 : Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Lens - Sony Fit

Price - around £250 - check current price on WEX or check price on amazon

Suitable for : Crop sensor cameras

On a cropped sensor, this lens works out as effectively 45mmm focal length. So this would be the perfect “nifty fifty” lens for a crop-sensor Sony camera. The maximum aperture of f1.4 is also the largest aperture of all the lenses I’ll mention - however of course, that comes at a price, so it’s the most expensive lens in my shortlist. And that’s the only reason I’m also

Option 3 : Sony E 16mm f2.8 Pancake Lens

Price - around £190 - check current price on WEX or check price on amazon

Suitable for : Crop sensor cameras

On a cropped sensor, this lens works out as effectively 24mmm focal length. That's a LOT wider than the "nifty fifty" we would like and with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 you will see bokeh but nothing like as much bokeh as Option 1 or Option 2.. However I’m including it as a suggestion just beacuse there aren’t that many “affordable” choices for Sony cameras. If you think you will be taking lots of documentary shots, or landscape and group shots, this would be most suitable for that. And if you have very restricted space in your house this would be a better choice that the 50mm, and a little more affordable than the Sigma 30mm - just don’t expect it to give you fantastic bokeh.

So which lens for Sony crop-sensor cameras?

Sony doesn’t have a large number of “affordable” lenses to choose from, so once again I woudl consider what focal length would suit your shooting style. If you’re not sure whether the 50mm lens might be too restrictive, try turning your zoom on your kit lens to 50mm and shooting for a few hours - it will soon become clear whether it is too restrictive for the available space, or for your subject if they are fast-moving kids!

If you know that you want to take lots of close-up portraits with maximum bokeh, and have slightly older children, Option 1 (50mm) will be a better choice on a crop-sensor camera. This lens will also perform better in low light due to the wider maximum aperture.

However if you have smaller children, or limited space where you’re shooting, options 2 offers the best of both worlds - if you can afford the higher price point. You will find it more flexible than the 50mm, but will also be able to enjoy amazing bokeh with that f1.4 maximum aperture.

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So once you have made your decision - where should you buy?

The other question I'm often asked by my photography workshop students is where's the best place to buy photography equipment in the UK.

Many UK high-street camera stores and electronics retailers have either closed or don’t offer the specialist advice or stocklist they once did,

However there are a handful of excellent retailers - online and with a few stores throughout the UK if you want to actually get your hands-on the equipment before purchase.

I recommend Wex Photo, Park Cameras and the London Camera Exchange (not just in London despite the name!). Personally I opt for the best priced option amongst these - but occasionally Amazon does offer a better deal, however I would always check it is sold by Amazon (or one of the aforementioned retailers via Amazon.

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