Will a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens do? Or do I pay through the nose to get an f/1.2?

(Image credit: James Paterson)

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 and Z 50mm f/1.8 on my Nikon Z9 - one costs four times more than the other. But is it worth it? (Image credit: James Paterson)

I cannot think of another type of photo gear where the gap between the top spec and budget option is more out-of-step with performance than prime lenses. Take  the mainstay of any self-respecting camera bag, the 50mm prime. You can pick up a 50mm with an aperture of f/1.8 in most mounts for a couple of hundred pounds or so. But if you want the f/1.2 version then you can easily end up paying a couple of thousand. That’s a massive difference.