As we continue our look into party and event photography kits our next stop will be talking about lightweight prime lenses. Now, prime lenses are generally not as popular in a part/event atmosphere due to many photographers in this arena preferring the versatility of zoom lenses to be able to quickly react to the party environment. We will, of course, be looking at zoom lenses later, but for now, we wanted to hit on prime lenses.
One reason you may choose a prime lens over a zoom is that you will have access to faster apertures, allowing you to take advantage of shorter shutter speeds – reducing the chance of motion blur and other undesirable side effects of shooting movement in a low light situation. Another reason is that they are generally much smaller and light-weight, meaning less stress on your body over the course of a long event.
Regardless of the reasons, if you are looking into adding a prime lens or prime lenses into your party or event photography kit we recommend checking out the following options.
Canon Shooters
Canon obviously has a ton of great lens options out there for party and event photographers thanks to its EF/EF-S mount having one of the most extensive lens selections on the market. Here are our picks for Canon party and event photographers looking at prime lenses:
- High End Choice: Canon 35mm F1.4L II – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B014EOML6S’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’545a1691-5dc5-11e7-a2ec-41b70faebd69′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B014EOML6S’ text=’Canon 35mm F1.4L II’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’44ae3f53-5dc5-11e7-924c-e55652bfc8ba’])
- Budget Choice: Tamron SP 45mm F1.8 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B014ULAFJA’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’0f796073-5dc6-11e7-888f-978a6196acde’] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B014ULAFJA’ text=’Tamron 45mm F1.8′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’0414a8b7-5dc6-11e7-a147-15cd2d3f5986′])
Nikon Shooters
Just as with Canon, Nikon’s F Mount also enjoys access to a really extensive array of quality prime lenses for photographers to take advantage of. While there are many options, here are our picks for Nikon event photographers:
- High End Choice: Nikon 58mm F1.4G – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B00FY3T9DW’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3e1889c1-5dc7-11e7-aedb-bfa6631cc581′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B00FY3T9DW’ text=’Nikon 58mm’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’32ccff63-5dc7-11e7-a44d-63e1a2c3c074′])
- Budget Choice: Tamron SP 35mm F1.8 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B014ULAEQ4′ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’94f838e2-5dc7-11e7-a993-4b6fef05e99b’] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B014ULAF0O’ text=’Tamron 35mm SP’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7e94b7cf-5dc7-11e7-a755-1d296d398349′])
Sony Mirrorless Shooters
Sony, as with most mirrorless systems, doesn’t have quite the lens selection that Canon and Nikon shooters enjoy. But that doesn’t mean that there are not some great options for you Sony event photographers. Here are our picks:
- High End Choice: Sony-Zeiss 50mm F1.4 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B01IALYGU0′ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’43e06b66-5dc9-11e7-a9d1-13965a56c83d’] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B01IALYGU0′ text=’Sony 50mm f1.4′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’362d0830-5dc9-11e7-bf4e-c788fe973a45′])
- Budget Choice: Sony FE 50mm F1.8 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B01DLMD5O6′ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’af24e62c-5dc9-11e7-b661-e3bc8380a7ff’] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B01DLMD5O6′ text=’Sony FE 50mm’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a4ef8668-5dc9-11e7-b0a0-f3498091a143′])
Fujifilm Shooters
Fujifilm has some of the best light-weight prime lenses around, they offer excellent image quality and AF speed, and many of the newer options are weather sealed. Here are our Fujifilm picks:
- High End Choice: Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B00EZ8BEXK’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8ebac049-5dca-11e7-a12a-27f530795430′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B00EZ8BEXK’ text=’Fujifilm 23mm F1.4′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’83d79522-5dca-11e7-b3f0-fdbf968931f8′])
- Budget Choice: Fujifilm 35mm F2 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B016S28I4S’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c9eda150-5dca-11e7-8ed6-531de02bb177′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B016S28I4S’ text=’Fujifilm 35mm F2′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c11b062b-5dca-11e7-92da-236c9cd76707′])
Micro Four Thirds Shooters
Olympus and Panasonic may not have a reputation as big time event or party cameras, but that doesn’t mean there are not some great prime lenses that M4/3 shooters can take advantage of in these situations. Here are our picks:
- High End Choice: Olympus 25mm F1.2 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B01LW4IFUI’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a50b7b93-5de0-11e7-8d51-d3596cbee955′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LW4IFUI’ text=’Olympus 25mm F1.2′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9c213a22-5de0-11e7-baaa-4fbe1cde4444′])
- Budget Choice: Panasonic 15mm F1.7 – Read Our Review ([amazon_textlink asin=’B00J8HV6DG’ text=’Buy One’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’fbb749a7-5de0-11e7-b129-4955b4ce56d4′] | [amazon_textlink asin=’B00J8HV6DG’ text=’Panasonic 15mm F1.7′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f22185f0-5de0-11e7-af53-71ab74f70904′])
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Make sure and check back later for our look at zoom lenses you should consider for your party and event photography kits.