Prime Lens Usage Suggestions Needed
Nov 12, 2014 07:58:57 #
To start with, my one DSLR body is a 6D. On the shorter focal end I have 3 zooms: EF16-35mm f/4 L, EF24-70mm f/4 L, and the lens that came with my 6D, the EF24-105mm f/4 L. I've gotten in the habit of using the zooms and leaving my one prime lens sitting on the shelf, an EF35mm f/1.4 L. I feel like I'm letting it go to waste, since I consider it a good lens. I know there are plenty of advocates of primes here on the Hog and was looking for suggestions as to where I could put that lens to its best use. I shoot mostly landscape, street, buildings and the occasional portrait. I know the 35 can be used for any of those subjects, but since the zooms are so handy and the IQ of the newer ones is so good, and the 6D is so good at high ISO, I guess I'm just trying to decide if I should sell it or put more effort into using it. Thanks.
Nov 12, 2014 08:00:26 #
good question.. . lets hear some answers. I have the same lens, and was thinking the exact same thing....keep or sell.
Nov 12, 2014 08:05:29 #
donrent
Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl
I think you are missing a lot by not using it as a walk-around lens when a "zoomie" is not needed.. My "prime"is a Nifity-1.8-fifty and I really like it a lot for that use...
Nov 12, 2014 08:22:08 #
LFingar wrote:
To start with, my one DSLR body is a 6D. On the sh... (show quote)
Why do you have a 24-70 AND a 24-105? Leave the 24-70 at home & carry the 35 around with you. It should be really useful in lower light levels.
IMHO, of course,
Nov 12, 2014 08:28:53 #
LFingar wrote:
To start with, my one DSLR body is a 6D. On the sh... (show quote)
You've answered your own question - the good quality zooms really are very good. The 35 is also a great lens, so when you want to shoot with a simple small lens, or in low light and want to keep the ISO, or want to do short dof for subject isolation, the 35 can't be beat. But at nominal Fstops (F5.6 to F11), the 35 holds a slight edge over the others, all of which provide excellent MTF results.
The F1.4 aperture, and even through F2.8, is a mixed blessing, since while the center is off the charts sharp, the edges and corners are clearly not, and at 1.4 are really pretty awful. My guess is that there is a lot of field curvature, not uncommon with fast lenses.
Here are some links that compare all four lenses:
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/516-canon35f14ff
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/877-canon_1635_4is
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/798-canon2470f4
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/420-canon_24105_4_5d?start=1
Nov 12, 2014 08:32:13 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
twowindsbear wrote:
Why do you have a 24-70 AND a 24-105? Leave the 24-70 at home & carry the 35 around with you. It should be really useful in lower light levels.
IMHO, of course,
IMHO, of course,
Zoom lenses being so much more versatile, and IQ no real issue with L lenses, probably the best use for this lens is in low-light situations. If it were mine, I would keep it.
Nov 12, 2014 08:44:28 #
The 35mm has an advantage at 35mm. Once you need to move to other lengths and cannot zoom with your feet, that advantage starts to disappear. Assuming the same framing of a shot, the low light efficiency of the 35 deteriorates when cropped compared to a zoom to 50mm. This happens because the zoom at 50mm is using the whole sensor while the cropped 35mm image is using only a portion of the sensor. The further away from 35 you get the worse the relative efficiency.
Nov 12, 2014 09:18:00 #
donrent wrote:
I think you are missing a lot by not using it as a walk-around lens when a "zoomie" is not needed.. My "prime"is a Nifity-1.8-fifty and I really like it a lot for that use...
Thanks. I originally bought the 35 because on the crop sensor 70D that I had at the time it was about the same as a 50 would be on a ff. A handy length, IMO.
Nov 12, 2014 09:23:29 #
The big advantage is in low light. You can shoot about anything indoors withot a flash. - Dave
Nov 12, 2014 09:24:50 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Why do you have a 24-70 AND a 24-105? Leave the 24-70 at home & carry the 35 around with you. It should be really useful in lower light levels.
IMHO, of course,
IMHO, of course,
Bought the 35 and 24-70 when I had a 70D. The 35 helped make up for the 70D's limited high ISO ability. Not so much with the 6D. The 24-105 added about $200 to the cost of the 6D when I bought it, so I couldn't turn it down. Figured I could always sell it or the 24-70, but the 24-70 seems to have a bit better IQ and the 24-105 has more reach, so I ended up keeping both.
Nov 12, 2014 09:25:55 #
Gene51 wrote:
You've answered your own question - the good quali... (show quote)
Thank You for the links. Quite informative.
Nov 12, 2014 09:38:33 #
Leitz wrote:
Zoom lenses being so much more versatile, and IQ no real issue with L lenses, probably the best use for this lens is in low-light situations. If it were mine, I would keep it.
True, it is good for low light, but unless DOF is an issue the 6D, with it's high ISO capability and the 16-35 f/4 with IS kinda negate much of the need. Still, I haven't been able to convince myself to sell it. Of course, I could always put the money towards more toys! :-D
Nov 12, 2014 09:39:51 #
dsmeltz wrote:
The 35mm has an advantage at 35mm. Once you need to move to other lengths and cannot zoom with your feet, that advantage starts to disappear. Assuming the same framing of a shot, the low light efficiency of the 35 deteriorates when cropped compared to a zoom to 50mm. This happens because the zoom at 50mm is using the whole sensor while the cropped 35mm image is using only a portion of the sensor. The further away from 35 you get the worse the relative efficiency.
Interesting. Thank You.
Nov 12, 2014 09:44:24 #
wilsondl2 wrote:
The big advantage is in low light. You can shoot about anything indoors withot a flash. - Dave
I like shooting inside museum ships and submarines and it definitely has some advantages there, but it is actually a bit wide for many shots. I have found the 16-35, either with or without flash, to often be more useful.
Nov 12, 2014 10:57:00 #
After reading the provided links and comments, I think my problem is that the 35mm prime is of limited usefulness to me but I haven't quite yet convinced myself to sell it! Decisions, decisions! Think I'll go have another cup of coffee!:)
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.