Nowadays, zoom lenses are all the rage. No photography forums lack any mention about lenses like the 24-70 f2.8 or the 70-200 f2.8 lenses. Then there's the 16-35mm or the 11-18mm.

There's nothing wrong with these lenses of course but I feel that zooms tend to make you shoot in a more hasty fashion. Zooms can sometimes be impatient and lacks 'personality'.

Primes on the other hand, tend to make you work for a picture. It does not allow you to 'take the easy way out', so to speak.

Zoom lenses tend to make the photographer more pre-disposed to taking an image as opposed to making an image. How do I explain this?

If you have always used and zoom lens and seldom used a prime, you will no doubt have this habit:

- You see a scene in front of you that you want to take some pictures of. You raise your camera to your eyes and then you zoom in and out trying to find a frame to shoot.

That's taking an image. Not making one.

If you had a prime, you know you cannot zoom. You see a scene in front of you and you begin to think. How can I get this image here inside the frame? Do you want to show everything? Or will part of it suffice? What angle will work the best? You begin to 'look' for a picture before you even raise the camera to your eye. When you have a rough outline of what kind of picture you want, you then move yourself into position to get that image.

That's making an image.

The difference? When you are out making an image, you have to have a picture of the final result in your head (at least roughly) before you press the shutter. When you are taking an image, you just zoom in and out until something looks good and you press the shutter. There's no pre-conceptualized image in your head.

Does it matter? That depends. If you're happy just to click away and have images that is sharp, clear and noise-free, then it matters little. If you want to tell a story or show something a little differently, then it makes a world of difference.

For that reason, I think that every photographer should learn to live with using just prime lenses before opting for zooms. Especially premium zooms with constant aperture. Once you have learned the basics of photography with the 18-55mm kit lens, ditch it for a 28mm or 30mm prime if you're on APS-C, a 50mm prime if you're on full frame and shoot with that for an extended period before deciding on your next lens purchase.

You can get a 28mm/30mm/50mm prime for less than RM800 and I believe it would be the best investment you can make.

Do you agree or disagree? State your reasons why and let's discuss.