So I'm looking for a fast, wide prime for my 5D2. This lens does not have a "specific" purpose. When I've wondered around with primes in the past it's always been 50mm or longer. I want to expand my horizons a little bit. I have the (excellent) 16-35L II and enjoy it quite a bit, but it's not always fast enough for indoor snapshots. That and I really love some of the indoor/street shots I've seen taken with these lenses at or near wide-open. I like to take candids inside restaurants and outdoors at night, this is where this lens will see a lot of use. I also have a 2-year old I chase around. I like the idea of those environmental shots and you can create really neat looks with that wide aperture.
I have tried shooting at the two focal lengths on my 16-35 but I am still undecided. I am leaning towards the 24 for a couple reasons. First, it's a newer design which isn't a big deal but worth mentioning. Second, and my question is this - Why not just crop the 24L photos when needed? With all the pixels on the 5d2 I don't know that you would lose much (and might even clean up the corners). Plus you still have the wide option when needed. Anyone shooting with high MP camera care to weigh in?
For me the 24 goes over the 35 any day. As you say, you can always crop. The 24 offers more challenges at times, while the 35 is easier / safer to use. But I had the 24L / 24L2 for a combined 14 years, and it's been always my favorite lens (back in my 4 lens lineup as well as my current 17 lens lineup). All those 14 years except two (May 01-Dec 02) were of full frame.
I prefer the iq of the 35 by this much (put your thumb and forefinger together, touching), however, I also agree with stanj about the 24. One of my favs and also you can always crop. Both terrific lenses, why not go wider.
stanj wrote:
For me the 24 goes over the 35 any day. As you say, you can always crop. The 24 offers more challenges at times, while the 35 is easier / safer to use. But I had the 24L / 24L2 for a combined 14 years, and it's been always my favorite lens (back in my 4 lens lineup as well as my current 17 lens lineup). All those 14 years except two (May 01-Dec 02) were of full frame.
I do not own either lens currently. I have been thinking about the same decision, and it's users like Stan and a few other forum members who have me almost convinced to get the 24.
To the OP, I'm not sure if you're using FF or crop permanently, or have your mind set on something, but for me the choice was, I do not own a FF camera any longer. all of my bodies are 1.3 or 1.6. That was the decision for 24 over 35 when I do buy one.
The 35 is an odd focal length, in my opinion. You can't really shoot formal portraits with it due to the stretching of peoples' heads on the outer thirds of the frame but it's not "wide", either. The 35 does have stand-out sharpness, color, and contrast.
And I already had a 50 which is similar to the normalish 35. I wanted something different from "normal"; I already had that covered.
I have both 24LII & 35L but 24LII is more used on 5d2 since i always pack 24LII, 50L and 85L as a set in a small bag w/ 5d2. I like 35L on crop better.
I have both also, indoors I grab the 24LmkII, most of the time, but outdoors it is almost always the 35L, YMMV. By a wide margin, the 35L is my most used lens, on the 5DmkII.
I am an en enthusiast and not a pro. My most used walk-around combo is 5D2 + 35L, whether for outdoor or indoor. I like carrying one lens only as I like my equipment be small and light. Another walk-around combo I like is 5D2 + 50/1.4.
IMHO I just don't think it is as simple as cropping (time consuming in any event). I am lucky enough to have both the 24 & 35mm, using them on a cropper 18MP. If photographing landscapes you are likely to want all the MP you can get. Conversely, for portraits and close up photography (practically the same magnification for each lens) the perspective is really quite unique for each. You are lucky enough to have a zoom, try photographing at each FL for a day a piece to discover a preference. From an artisan view point, they really are two different paint brushes; one designed over a decade before (but this doesn't make it necessarily better or worse). I guess I am suggesting go for the FL which would be more useful for your preferred photography. You can always get the other one later.
