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Canon 35mm f2 IS or Canon 40mm f2.8 for night street photography?
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Jan 16, 2019 08:38:43   #
EdJames81
 
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA

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Jan 16, 2019 08:49:25   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
You have to look at your own technique, how well do you do without IS assistance? Do you shoot a lot with the camera held at all angles, not necessarily with eye to viewfinder? The pancake 40 really is like a camera body with no lens. If you can consistently hold that steady for 1/30 or faster, you don't IS. The 35 with IS puts you down around 1/20, but will your subjects hold still for such a slow shutter? Alternatively, the IS would let you shoot more confidently with the camera held down at the hip, etc.

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Jan 16, 2019 09:01:40   #
leftj Loc: Texas
 
EdJames81 wrote:
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA
I need a bit of advice/some opinions........... br... (show quote)


Why don't you try both and make a determination from your own experience?

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Jan 16, 2019 09:08:08   #
Fotojunkie66 Loc: eau claire WI.
 
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3191046
see if any of this info. helps.
or this may help:
https://www.smashingcamera.com/2016/09/best-canon-lenses-for-street-photography/
Cheers and good shooting.

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Jan 16, 2019 09:42:04   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
If you believe DXOMark’s testing, in addition to being a stop faster and having IS, the 35 f2 is not only sharper, but has lower CA. I’d choose the 35 f2 without question.

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Jan 16, 2019 10:36:27   #
BB4A
 
EdJames81 wrote:
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA
I need a bit of advice/some opinions........... br... (show quote)


My opinion, with my usual disclaimer (I’m often wrong, it’s just my perspective); you have to start with what concepts in street photography you will concentrate on. This is one of the widest genres of photographic art; you have helped limit it a little by stating your preference for night photography.

I suggest you research (the Initiate Process step) on those photographs & photographers whose work most appeals to you, and decide upon 1-3 plans for how you will differentiate your work from theirs. You may find at that point, that one of your lenses will more closely match the plans and executions of those peers. Then it’s down to practice, practice, practice (as others have stated), in identical Light conditions, to determine if your concept can be planned and executed with the equipment you have.

One very last thought. Both the lenses you own are relatively slow, especially when combined with that 6D body. I have friends who shoot with that combination, and they tell me they would struggle with the sensors, firmware, and settings of that body, to accommodate either lens to capture the work that I produce. With f/2.0-2.8 lenses, you need a body that very intelligently handles high ISO, faster shutter speed combinations, unless everything in your chosen genre is still life in well-lit areas.

I’m no SME at night street photography, but I enjoy the challenge, and I would suggest the option of renting & doing a little practice with a more modern auto-focus & auto-exposure solution, lower light supported sensor body, and a faster lens. My preference for all night street work is the 5D MkIV and EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM (I prefer to keep a distance from my subjects). 6D owning friends who have used my body & lens combinations generally love the body and have trouble with the lens... while undeniably a hard beast to learn in the dark, that lens allows me to shoot sharp, crisp portraits of black cats at midnight in coal cellars during a lunar eclipse... if I wanted to, of course. 🤔

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Jan 16, 2019 10:43:35   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
EdJames81 wrote:
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA
I need a bit of advice/some opinions........... br... (show quote)


I would most definitely use the 35mm lens for it's stop larger aperture and it's IS.

I also prefer the slightly wider angle of view for street photography. I often just use two lenses: a 35mm or equivalent and a short tele like an 85mm or equivalent.

The only advantage the 40mm has is it's ultra compact "pancake" size. But it also doesn't have a distance scale to be able to preset focus... and it's focusing ring is pretty skimpy for manual adjustment. When it comes to autofocus, the 35mm's USM is probably faster than the 40mm's STM focus drive, too. So IMO the 35mm is better in all these respects too.... and it's not like it's a really large lens.

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Jan 16, 2019 11:12:01   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
TriX wrote:
If you believe DXOMark’s testing, in addition to being a stop faster and having IS, the 35 f2 is not only sharper, but has lower CA. I’d choose the 35 f2 without question.


Without question? But it's also about which lens would be more practical for the project.
Perhaps you should question more rather than always choosing what's supposedly sharpest, with no regard to the situation. And for effective night street photography, sharpness and CA really aren't that important. At least not top priority.

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Jan 16, 2019 13:39:27   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
rook2c4 wrote:
Without question? But it's also about which lens would be more practical for the project.
Perhaps you should question more rather than always choosing what's supposedly sharpest, with no regard to the situation. And for effective night street photography, sharpness and CA really aren't that important. At least not top priority.


OK, I’ll bite, putting sharpness and CA aside, let’s just focus on the 1 stop faster lens and IS. What advantage do you believe that the 40mm f2.8 brings to this particular shooting environment - perhaps I’ve overlooked something.

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Jan 16, 2019 13:42:55   #
Haydon
 
TriX wrote:
OK, I’ll bite, putting sharpness and CA aside, let’s just focus on the 1 stop faster lens and IS. What advantage do you believe that the 40mm f2.8 brings to this particular shooting environment - perhaps I’ve overlooked something.



I'm with you on that. One stop and IS are a good selling point. I realize that we're talking just 5mm, but I see a good number of environmental portrait work done at the 35mm focal length using a FF. I'd love to have Canon's 35mm 1.4L.

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Jan 16, 2019 17:02:47   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
TriX wrote:
OK, I’ll bite, putting sharpness and CA aside, let’s just focus on the 1 stop faster lens and IS. What advantage do you believe that the 40mm f2.8 brings to this particular shooting environment - perhaps I’ve overlooked something.


Size and discreetness, as the OP stated. With street photography, this is an important factor which needs to be taken into consideration. One needs to feel comfortable and at ease when operating the camera in a busy public area. It can make the difference between getting the shot and forgoing the shot.

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Jan 16, 2019 17:53:17   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
rook2c4 wrote:
Size and discreetness, as the OP stated. With street photography, this is an important factor which needs to be taken into consideration. One needs to feel comfortable and at ease when operating the camera in a busy public area. It can make the difference between getting the shot and forgoing the shot.


I get that, but it’s not like the 35 f2 is a big lens (2.46” lg vs .90” for the 40) - both are small in relation to the body size (and this is at night). In my opinion, it’s that extra stop that may be the difference between getting a good shot at night. If I really wanted to be unobtrusive, i’d pick a Fuji x series with a 23 f1.4

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Jan 17, 2019 06:26:04   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
EdJames81 wrote:
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA
I need a bit of advice/some opinions........... br... (show quote)

Not really that much difference. Today's higher ISO camera's make a one stop difference almost insignificant.

Reply
Jan 17, 2019 06:37:42   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
EdJames81 wrote:
I need a bit of advice/some opinions...........

I am having a go at night street photography for the first time in a few days time and I am torn between what lens to use. I have a Canon 35mm f2 IS lens and a 40mm f2.8 at my disposal and I will be shooting a FF 6D.

I like the size and "disctreetness" of the 40mm and the (slightly) superior image quality. Saying that the IS of the 35mm would make things a little easier, as would the wider FOV.

Which would you use, and why?

TIA
I need a bit of advice/some opinions........... br... (show quote)


I'm liking the 35mm, I am not sure why you think that the 40mm may have a bit superior IQ because the 35mm is rated extremely high. I just like that focal length, that and it is faster with IS. The down side is that it is a bit more expensive.

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Jan 17, 2019 07:31:27   #
sergiohm
 
I’m not very fond of the 35mm look, I would take the Canon 40mm f2.8

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