Excerpt from Scott Kelby's Digital Photography book, Chapter 3, The Truth About Lenses—Zoom Lens or Prime Lens?
Zoom Lens or Prime Lens?
There is something about lenses. Most people start talking technically when lenses come up, and on internet forums lenses repeatedly spark heated discussions in which people become quite adamant about which lenses they will or will not use. One current debate concerns prime lenses versus zoom lenses.
Some people continue to insist that prime lenses (lenses that do not zoom; they have one focal length, and that is it) are clearly sharper than zoom lenses.
I am sure that was once true. Zoom lenses were lower quality, and prime lenses produced sharper images. (They also usually let you focus closer. That is still true, by the way.)
But I do not think that applies to today's high-quality zoom lenses. (Not just any zoom lens, but a high-quality one, such as an f/2.8.) I think only a few photographers can tell with the naked eye whether a photo was made with a zoom lens or a prime lens. I think the difference is imagined and does not really exist.
That does not stop the endless debates, however. Those who believe there is a major difference will probably be furious when they read this. But I have spoken with manufacturers that make both types, and they told me unequivocally that with modern high-quality zoom lenses there is no visible difference in sharpness between zoom lenses and prime lenses. I own two prime lenses. Both are very sharp. So are my zoom lenses. But do not get hung up on it. It is only a lens, not a religion.
