[PhotoDave1]

I am sure this subject has been debated to death here but I want to revisit the subject of primes vs zooms. I have two highly rated zooms I use in my Fashion/Glamour/Commerical work and on the whole I am happy with them but I could be happier.

One thing that is a source of concern is the fact that zooms change aperature when they are zoomed. I try as much as possible to shoot on manual and use my light meter to nail the exposure and veryify it with the in camera histogram.

If I frame a headshoot of a model at 75mm (approx. 100mm with a DSLR) and then I want to get a half or three-quarter shot my normal tendency is to simply zoom out but that changes the aperature value I have set and affects the exposure. I know I could (and probably should simply back up or step forward but old habits die hard) and the less I have to remember the better off I am.

I am looking at the Canon 85mm F1.8 prime (non-L) and I have heard some good things about this lens and it is in my price range. I am simply not thrilled about a 50mm lens and I never have been thrilled about those lenses because on a film camera (which I still use) I do not like the perspective. I know on a 1.5 ratio DSLR the 50mm lens is more like a 75/80mm lens but I want to buy only 1 lens.

So the question is, and I am throwing this out for the group, are the primes really that much better than the zooms? All opinions both pro and con are appreciated. Thanks.