page_title: Prime lens
hierarchical_section_title: Prime lens
caption_attribution_description: English: Canon 85mm f/1.2 L II and f/1.8 lenses compared.
context_page_description: In film and photography, a prime lens is a fixed focal length photographic lens, typically with a maximum aperture from f2.8 to f1.2. The term can also mean the primary lens in a combination lens system.
  Confusion between these two meanings can occur if context doesn't make the interpretation clear. People sometimes use alternate terms—primary focal length, fixed focal length, or FFL to avoid ambiguity.
context_section_description: In film and photography, a prime lens is a fixed focal length photographic lens (as opposed to a zoom lens), typically with a maximum aperture from f2.8 to f1.2. The term can also mean the primary lens in a combination lens system.
  Confusion between these two meanings can occur if context doesn't make the interpretation clear. People sometimes use alternate terms—primary focal length, fixed focal length, or FFL to avoid ambiguity.
caption: Prime lenses have large apertures, compared with zoom lenses. These 85 mm lenses have maximum apertures of f/1.8 (left) and f/1.2 (right).
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