Lens question

[WWS]

I was wondering if would be better to get a telephoto lens or a telephoto zoom lens?

Which would be better for nature shots (birds, animals, etc.)?

Thanks.

[Jon]

What else do you have? That will make a difference.

[steved110]

On the whole zooms are more versatile, but they do tend to be slower lenses than primes, and have somewhat reduced image quality, though this is much less of an issue than it used to be. Unless you print very large, you are unlikley to notice the difference.
Remember telephoto lenses really need a tripod to perform their best.
Remember also that you pay for quality, but there are some reasonably priced tele zooms available that are decent quality too, without being L money.

[Tee Why]

a zoom is more versatile than a prime telephoto,
a prime telephoto tends to be a bit sharper and have wider apearatures.
But what you need should be based more on your needs and intended uses, considering costs of the lenses as well.