Complete Guide To Choosing Lenses - Our Fast Prime Picks

Canon: 50mm f/1.4 USM   

‘Canon makes great claims for this lens, concluding: "If crisp images with little flare are important to you, they can be obtained even at the maximum aperture with this robust lens." This is not hyperbole: our technical testing revealed the most amazing set of MTF figures.'

Sigma: 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

‘An amazing lens that is priced above the norm but delivers results that are similarly elevated.'

Sony: 50mm f/1.4 SAM

‘A very useful lens that performs well and carries a rock-bottom price tag. If I were a Sony user then this lens would simply have to be in my camera bag.'

Nikon: 50mm f/1.4 D

‘Performs very well, and the fact that it's so compact gives it additional appeal.'

Olympus: 25mm f/2.5

‘Standing so little proud of the camera body that it hardly protrudes from beneath the pentaprism, this is little short of a miniature marvel.'

Pentax: 55mm f/1.4 SDM

‘Ergonomically the lens is a delight to use, though there is some fringing at wide apertures.'

Zeiss: 85mm f/1.4 ZA T*

‘Fantastic portrait lens for Sony Alpha users.'

MFT: Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7

‘Compact pancake lens ideal for when slipping the camera into a pocket.'