Nikon 18-55 MM Lens vs 50 MM Prime Lens
When you start off as a photographer you hear people talking about how great a 50 mm lens is in comparison to the 18-55 mm kit lens that comes standard with most cameras.
Here is a comparison of the two:
• The kit Lens has image stabilizer, 50 mm prime lens has no image stabilizer.
• Kit lens has variable focal length 18-55 mm, 50 mm prime lens has a fixed focal length.
• 50 mm prime lens is more durable than kit lens as it has more metal casing on it’s back.
• Kit lens f/3.5 – 5.6 / 50 mm prime lens f/1.8.
• Kit lens 8.89 cm tall, 50 mm prime lens 6.35 cm tall.
• Kit lens 207 g / 50 mm prime lens 169 g.
• Diameter of the lens filter – kit lens 58 mm / 50 mm prime lens 49 mm.
In this test I will mount the lenses on the same body with the same settings and see how they will perform.
Distance:
From the close up pictures we can see both lenses produce same amount of noise and take the same time to focus on the subject.
Bokeh comparison:
From the comparison we can see that the 50 mm prime lens at f/1.8 produces a much better Bokeh effect. Along with brighter images than the kit lens set at 50mm at f/5.6.
Low light comparison:
Kit lens has a wider point of view compared to a 50 mm prime lens, which has a 1 to 1 ratio.
50 mm prime lens gives a fixed and narrow field of view as compared to the 18-55 mm kit lens with a variable focal length.
In summary 18-55mm kit lens is great for wide angle and close up shots but gives poor results in low light. 50 mm prime lens is great for closeups/ portraits, low light shots and night photography. Due to the low f-stop on the 50 mm prime lens it allows for brighter images as compared to the kit lens.
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Very nice and helpful to watch your video.