Well, I intentionally chose the zoom route for my lenses... because of total cost. I can say I am not disappointed at all. Canon's EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II is just so sharp. If I ever get the money, then I might add the primes. I now own only one prime... Canon's EF 135mm F/2L and it is wonderful, but too long for confined areas where I wouldn't use it anyway.
I do understand wanting short primes in restricted environments, but I cannot find any reason to choose such a short prime for outdoors during the day at that wide aperture. I know nobody is shooting at F/1.4 in the midday sun (Or, I wouldn't think so.) so I don't see the point as far as shooting outdoors. The again, I still have much to learn.
One would probably have to stop down, distance to background is probably huge... I just cannot see the advantage of the 35 over the 24-70 outdoors during the day. I may be wrong, but I don't see it. I would happily accept suggestions as to why the 35 would be an advantage outdoors during the day. If somebody could tell me the advantage I would be happy to learn. There are many pros here, so I'm willing to listen to any instruction at all.
I would think the 35mm is more an indoor lens when used at wide apertures below f/2.8. If outdoors at night... maybe I can see the advantage, but if flash is used at all I cannot.
I'm just a dumb rookie though.
Please, nobody take this as a hit on your own opinions. This is just what I have determined for myself. I do not do a lot of indoor photography at all. If I did, I would use flash. I have a lot of flash.
Canon EF 24-70mm II below. I'm just a hobbyist so don't be too harsh. I will never sell the 24-70. It is a fantastic lens. The photo may look a little "cooked" because of my post work, but I am extremely happy with the sharpness. I can't imagine it being sharper. I couldn't be happier and the depth of field is fine with me. This was at f/7.1 @ 1/200th sec so I could have really opened up the aperture and run HSS. The background is far enough away that there is plenty of separation so no need to open so wide.
This is focusing in near darkness (The subject is silhouetted by the impending sunrise) with no focus assist, but with AF, not manual focus. Flashpoint Streaklight 360ws with Cells II trigger, so HSS was possible.(Shoulda got three of these instead of so many 600EXs).
It doesn't show well unless you click on it. Not on my end anyway.