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There is an old debate dating back to the early 60's when Nikon produced their 1st zoom lens.
It goes something like this...Which is better, fixed focal lenses (the term 'PRIME' came much later)
or zoom lenses.
Share which lens type you use most, and why. Thanks...Enquiring minds and all that.
My question.
My answer:
I have selected primes over zooms.
Yes, the cost is higher, but I am crazy for sharpness and control. Primes give me all that, and keep my feet moving, too.
My camer bag includes: 24mm, 50mm, 85mm. and yes, a 80-200.
There are zooms out there that are just as sharp (or sharper) than an a prime of the same aperture.
Canon 70-200 2.8L IS II
Nikon 70-200 2.8 VRII
Nikon 24-70 2.8
Nikon 14-24 2.8
for example
There's some pretty soft primes out there too.
Most 50 1.8 lenses are soft IMHO as well as some of the other 'budget' primes.
The benefit of a prime over a good sharp zoom is this.
Speed (wider aperture) and the shallow DOF that comes with it.
PERHAPS Cost... there are some primes that are very sharp and don't cost that much, Sigma's 50 1.4 and 85 1.4 are great examples. Also there's a much of 1.8 primes that give people a taste of shallow DOF for a reasonable price.
I have all the Nikon 2.8 zooms and a 50 1.4 (sigma). I use them all for various situations. I'm planning on getting a Sigma 85 1.4 for head shots eventually. The 50 1.4 looks great for this, but for head shots I have to get too close and the perspective distortion at that distance sorta makes heads look slightly too big.
My current gear consists of 3 primes ( Nikon 35, 50,180m ) and 2 zoom lenses ( Sigma 10-20, and Tamron 28-75). I made a move from Olympus to Nikon about 1 year ago. If money grew on trees, I would shoot with nothing but " Primes ". As a way to save money, I recently started exploring the older AI/ AIS primes and it tends to fit my shooting style better.
JLBrown wrote: My current gear consists of 3 primes ( Nikon 35, 50,180m ) and 2 zoom lenses ( Sigma 10-20, and Tamron 28-75). I made a move from Olympus to Nikon about 1 year ago. If money grew on trees, I would shoot with nothing but " Primes ". As a way to save money, I recently started exploring the older AI/ AIS primes and it tends to fit my shooting style better.
I have quite a few Nikkor Ai/Ais Primes...20,24,28,50,55 Micro,100,105,200,300 & also several zooms, 35-70, 36-72,35-135,50-135...Then I've got my AF lens (but I won't list those now)
I like the long lens for candid portraits and unobtrusive street shots. It is a must for shooting critters that won't let you get too close. For proper framing though you sometimes need to zoom out so you get more than a few pores of a closer subject and for landscapes. I like the versatility a good optical range provides.
That being said I'm anxious to get a prime for my bag so I can get some of the image quality those lens often give you. Particularly in Macro shooting which I am anxious to embrace.
Zoom for now but likely to change in the short term.
“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
Complex debates I shot both Prime or zoom depending on the situation. For instance while travelling when you don't really know what you'll see the flexibility of a zoom is great. In this situation I usually go for a 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200. For portrait shooting I prefer prime lenses like 50, 85, 135 and 200.
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I shot both Prime or zoom depending on the situation. For instance while travelling when you don't really know what you'll see the flexibility of a zoom is great. In this situation I usually go for a 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200. For portrait shooting I prefer prime lenses like 50, 85, 135 and 200. 
lol. 
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