When I first started reading photography books or magazines I would glance over the parts that mentioned what type of lens was used for the session because I had NO clue what it meant when they spoke of Prime(fixed) lens.. I kinda figured out Zoom but was it a wide angle zoom?

And forget about what those little numbers were on the front of the camera.

I was l.o.s.t. And the result of being lost; I ended up spending money on lenses that where either very similar or not what I wanted.  What I wanted to do today was just give a very simple overview of what a Prime/Zoom lens can do and what the number on the camera mean.

Here are the definitions from Digitial School of Photography explaining Prime and Zoom:

Prime: A prime lens is a lens that has one focal length only. They come in all focal lengths ranging from wide angle ones through to the longer telephoto ones.

Zoom: A zoom lens is a lens that has a range of focal lengths available to the photographer in the one lens. These have become increasingly popular over the past few years as they are obviously a very convenient lens to have on your camera as they mean you can shoot at both wide and longer focal lengths without having to switch lenses mid shoot.

The 'f' (f/stop) number on the lens is the maximum aperture the lens will go too.  So let's say that you own a lens that is 70-300/ 3.5-5.6.  It means that at 70mm the f/stop will be f/3.5 and at 200mm the f/stop will be f/5.6.

At 70mm you will be at the widest the camera will open (shooting wide open) allow the most light hitting the cameras sensor.

When I first purchased my 50mm 1.7 lens I hated it because I felt like I had no control over what I was framing.  I felt like I was unable to "get the shot".  Then I had my friend Mishelle, who is a brilliant photographer,  explained to me the wonders of a prime lens. She explained, "You move, not your lens.  You become the zoom."

With her advice and armed with my 50mm I spent the next month shooting only with this lens.  It challenged me to think more creatively, to act quickly.  Then when I switched back to my zoom lens I knew that my love of shooting would be, prime lenses.

I still shoot often enough with my zoom lenses, but if I am doing a portrait session, I can guarantee that I am shooting with my 50mm or my 85mm.

There are really valid arguments on shooting Prime vs. Zoom.  A major advantage of a zoom lens has to be the versatility. Using a zoom lens give you the ability to quickly and properly frame a shot.  You have the ability to capture and reframe the shot in seconds where as if you were using a Prime lens and you have to use the ninja attack (as I refer to it as) to capture the same shot, it is quite possible the shot has passed.

I personally love my prime lens though because I feel my photos are sharper, I can focus quicker, cheaper in cost and usually offer me a lower aperture ability than my zoom. 

Having said all that, my next big purchase will either be the 24-70 or the 100mm.  Go figure, I am having my own Zoom vs. Prime war with myself.  :)

So what is your personal preference?  Zoom or Prime?

Happy Shooting!!