What Is The Best Prime Lens For Wedding Photography?
Wedding photography requires the use of high-quality equipment to capture the special moments and emotions of the big day.
Prime lenses, in particular, are a favorite among wedding photographers due to their ability to produce sharp, detailed images with beautiful bokeh…!
From wide-angle lenses that can capture the grandeur of the ceremony to telephoto lenses that can bring distant subjects up close, these lenses offer a range of focal lengths to suit every need
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best prime lenses for wedding photography.
List Of Top 5 Best Prime Lens For Wedding Photography
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
- Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
- Olympus Zuiko ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO
After hours of research and understanding customer reviews, I have curated this list of 5 best prime lens for your wedding photography needs
Lets dive right into it…!
1. Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Specifications
- Brand Canon
- Focal Length Description; EF 85mm 1:1.2
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Item Dimensions: 3.31 x 3.62 x 3.62 inches
- Item Weight: 2.26 lbs
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Maximum Aperture: 1.2
- Maximum Focal Length: 85 millimeters
- Maximum Aperture Range: F1.2
- Maximum Format Size: 35mm full frame
- Minimum Aperture: 16
- Minimum Focal Length: 85 millimeters
- Minimum Operating Distance: 0.95 meters
- Photo Filter Thread Size: 72 millimeters
Reasons To Buy?
- Wide aperture of f/1.2
- Sharp focus and excellent image quality.
- Fast autofocus.
- Durable build and weather-sealed design.
Drawbacks
- Expensive.
- Heavy and large
- May require frequent manual focusing
- May produce distortion at the edges of the frame
Description
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a lens that is popular among wedding photographers for its wide aperture of f/1.2 and beautiful bokeh.
It is a prime lens with a fixed focal length of 85mm.
The lens has fast autofocus and produces sharp images with excellent color and contrast.
Its durable build and weather-sealed design make it a reliable choice for professional photographers.
It is also quite expensive compared to other lenses on the market.
Buy It Now: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
2. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Specification
- Lens type: Telephoto Zoom
- Focal length: 70-200mm
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8
- Angle of view: 34°20’ – 12°20’
- Minimum focus distance: 1.4m
- Lens construction: 23 elements in 19 groups
- Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.21x
- Filter size: 77mm
- Dimensions : 83mm x 203mm
- Weight: 1490g
Why Should You Buy?
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and silent autofocus
- Internal focusing system
- Vibration Reduction (VR) technology
- Rugged and durable construction
- Superb optics including three ED glass elements and two Nano Crystal Coat elements
- 9-blade rounded diaphragm
- Zoom lock switch keeps zoom from inadvertently extending during transport
Reasons Not To Buy
- Cost.
- Size and Weight
- Minimum Focusing Distance
- Vignetting
- Chromatic Aberration
Description
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is a professional-grade telephoto zoom lens for Nikon DSLR cameras.
It has a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture that allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field, and a built-in image stabilization system (VR II) that helps reduce camera shake when shooting handheld.
The lens construction includes Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat, which help to reduce chromatic aberration and improve image sharpness and contrast.
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is a high-quality lens that is highly respected by photographers for its optical performance and build quality.
Buy It Now: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
3. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
Specification
- Focal length: 50mm
- Maximum aperture: f/1.2
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Lens mount: Sony E-mount
- Angle of view: 47 degrees
- Minimum focus distance: 1.32 feet
- Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14x
- Number of aperture blades: 11
- Optical design: 11 elements in 8 groups
- Dimensions: 3.5 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches in length
- Weight: 23.6 ounces
Why Should You Buy?
- Fast f/1.2 aperture allows for low light and beautiful bokeh
- Sharp, detailed images
- Smooth, silent autofocus
- Durable, high-quality build
Reasons Not To Buy
- Expensive compared to some other 50mm lenses
- Heavy and bulky
- No image stabilization
- Some distortion at the widest aperture
Description
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is a fast prime lens designed for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras. Its fast f/1.2 aperture allows for excellent low light performance and beautiful bokeh makes it a great choice for wedding photography.
The autofocus is smooth and silent, making it perfect for capturing candid moments at weddings. The lens is also built to a high standard, with a durable metal construction.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is a top-quality lens that is well-suited for wedding photography, but it may not be the best choice for everyone due to its high price and large size.
Buy It Now: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
4. Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
Specification
- Focal length: 56mm
- Maximum aperture: f/1.2
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Angle of view: 28.5°
- Lens construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
- Aperture blades: 7
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.5m
- Maximum magnification: 0.09x
- Filter size: 52mm
- Dimensions: 68.4mm x 63mm
- Weight: 345g
Why Should You Buy?
- Fast aperture
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Solid Build quality
Reasons Not To Buy
- Expensive product
- Size and weight
- Vignetting issue
- Chromatic aberration or colour fringing issue
Description
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R is a professional-grade portrait lens for Fujifilm X-series APS-C cameras.
It has a fast f/1.2 maximum aperture that allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field, and a high-speed processor and a linear motor for fast and accurate autofocus
The lens also has a durable metal construction, and a customizable aperture ring and focus ring.
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R is a high-quality lens that is highly regarded by photographers for its excellent image quality, fast aperture, and fast and accurate autofocus.
Buy It Now: Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
5. Olympus Zuiko ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO
Specification
- Focal length: 45mm (90mm equivalent on a Micro Four Thirds camera)
- Maximum aperture: f/1.2
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
- Angle of view: 27 degrees
- Minimum focus distance: 1.15 feet (0.35 meters)
- Maximum magnification ratio: 0.12x
- Number of aperture blades: 9
- Optical design: 11 elements in 9 groups
- Dimensions: 2.9 inch diameter and 2.5 inch length
- Weight: 11.6 ounces
Why Should You Buy?
- Fast f/1.2 aperture
- Sharp, detailed images
- Compact and lightweight
- Durable, high-quality build
Reasons Not To Buy
- Expensive compared to other 45mm lenses
- No image stabilization
- Some chromatic aberration at the widest aperture
- May produce some flare when shooting into the light
Description
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is a fast prime lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras.
With a focal length of 45mm, it is well-suited for portrait and close-up photography.
Its fast f/1.2 aperture allows for excellent low light performance and beautiful bokeh, making it a great choice for wedding photography.
It may also produce some chromatic aberration and flare when shooting into the light.
Despite these limitations, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is a solid choice for wedding photographers using Olympus cameras.
Buy It Now: Olympus Zuiko ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO
Conclusion
Choosing the right prime lens for wedding photography is crucial to capturing the perfect shots on a special day.
Each of these lenses offers a unique set of features and capabilities, making them ideal for a variety of different shooting situations. Whether you’re looking for a lens with a fast aperture for low light conditions.
Or one with a wide focal length for capturing intimate moments, there’s a prime lens on this list that will suit your needs.
These five prime lenses are some of the best options available for wedding photographers looking to take their craft to the next level.
Related:
- Best Tripod For Wedding Photography
- Best Monopod For Wedding Photography
- Best Mirrorless Camera For Wedding Photography
- Best Sony Mirrorless Camera For Wedding Photography
FAQ’s
What is a prime lens?
A prime lens is a fixed focal length lens, meaning it cannot zoom in or out like a zoom lens can. Prime lenses are known for their ability to produce sharp images and create a shallow depth of field, making them popular among portrait and wedding photographers.
Why are prime lenses good for wedding photography?
Prime lenses are good for wedding photography because they produce sharp images and create a shallow depth of field, which can help to make your subject stand out in a photograph. They also tend to have fast apertures, which allow you to shoot in low light conditions and capture beautiful bokeh.
Are prime lenses more expensive than zoom lenses?
In general, prime lenses tend to be more expensive than zoom lenses. This is because they are designed to be used for specific purposes, such as capturing portraits or low light images, and therefore tend to be of higher quality.
Can I use a prime lens for every type of shot at a wedding?
While prime lenses are great for certain types of shots, such as portraits and close-up shots, they may not be suitable for every type of shot at a wedding.