Prime vs. zoom lens for long exposure photography explained. Learn how each lens type affects sharpness, flexibility, and image quality to capture breathtaking scenes.
Introduction:
Photography is a diverse field where long exposure shots are considered a mix of optical magic and meticulous science. These shots are often used for landscapes and light trails and literally capture time in a single image. Have you ever noticed that some waterfall photos look silky smooth? Or that shots capture the bustling activity of a city, which is smoothed out? All these are examples of long exposure photography, also known as “long exposure photography.”
Understanding long exposure photography:
These shots are made with an exposure time from half a second to several minutes or even hours. This allows a lot of light to reach the sensor and captures the entire movement of all elements in the image during the entire exposure time. Exposure and shutter speed play a role: the wider the aperture is opened, the more light enters and the shorter the shutter speeds – and vice versa.
This creates a soft effect in the final image through the overlapping of moving elements, while the frame remains still. For stable long exposure shots, a stable frame is required, for which professional tripods are used. The aperture range from f/8 to f/11 is considered optimal for balance, sharpness, and depth of field in the final images.
The ISO range of the camera body and the choice of lens also play a major role, as long exposures are very sensitive to optical flaws of the lens and its aperture.
Prime lenses vs. zoom lenses in long exposure photography
Since these are two common types of lenses, comparing them for long exposure photography makes sense. Zoom lenses are preferred by users who value flexibility, and their advantage in long exposures is the same.
Zoom lenses allow long exposures from significantly greater distances than prime lenses. This is practical when you can't get close to a subject, such as a waterfall or a busy alley seen from a skyscraper.
However, this comes at a price: zoom lenses are known for not providing optimal optical quality at full aperture and across the entire zoom range. Even if the aperture is not fully open during long exposures, the image sharpness of the finished photos still suffers.
In contrast, prime lenses are optically simpler and deliver more sharpness in long exposures. The finished images are clearer and more detailed, which is especially noticeable in night shots.
Optical quality with zoom and prime lenses
Common prime lenses often range from f/1.4 to f/2.0, while zoom lenses usually range between f/2.8 and f/4.0. This makes the aperture speed of prime lenses significantly higher than that of conventional zoom lenses.
Since the aperture of the camera lens determines how much light the sensor receives, a larger aperture of a prime lens is better suited for artistic blurs, night shots, and portraits with light trails. For capturing waterfalls, landscapes, and city views, smaller apertures of zoom lenses are more relevant.
If you aim for a shallower depth of field, larger apertures of prime lenses are the right choice. Zoom lenses provide a greater depth of field, making landscapes and night skies sharp throughout the image.
Best lens for long exposures 2025:
The SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 Full-Frame Autofocus Lens is a fantastic option for long exposures. It maintains consistent sharpness from edge to edge during long exposures and shows only minimal chromatic aberration even at the full aperture of f1.4. This flat lens retains the same sharpness consistency even at medium apertures from f/8 to f/11. The lens features an advanced optical design with aspherical, ED, and HRI elements that reduce distortion and chromatic aberrations even in backlight. Thanks to the high brightness of f/1.4, you can also use strong ND filters like the ND1000 without having to set the lens to extreme exposure times. An excellent lens option for long exposures in 2025.
Summary:
Both zoom and prime lenses are used in long exposure photography for various subjects. For razor-sharp shots without long exposure times and with minimal distortion, choose the SIRUI Aurora lens series.
