Low light walk around

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Archive 2012 · Low light walk around

bbvaj
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p.1 #1 · Low light walk around

Hello All,

I have a 7D and I am considering getting fast prime for low light/night time use. I want to use it mainly when we go out walking on street in the evenings/night or at a dimly lit restaurant. Mainly for people single or a few and may be some buildings or streets. I do not have to get very wide since i can use my Tokina 11-16. To summarize mostly portraits may be some group shots of 3-4 people. Will try to avoid flash as much as possible.

I am considering 50 1.4 or 35 1.4L as my options. Is the 35L worth 3x the money? I have heard of zeiss 35 1.4 but think 7D is not good with manual focus because of fixed focus screen. I can afford but am not a pro who sells their work and would like to invest wisely.

I am open for other options too. Bokeh, Sharpness and Contrast are important probably in that order.

Jan 06, 2012 at 12:14 AM

Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #2 · Low light walk around

Don't forget the sigma 30/1.4 . Very good lens indeed.
In fact for the price of a 35L you could get a great little prime set. 30/1.4 - 50/1.4 and 85/1.8

A while back I had the sigma 30 and canon 50/1.4 and they made a great pair .

Jan 06, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #3 · Low light walk around

The EF 35 2.0 is worth a look: sharp, petite, reasonably priced but with buzzy AF (not loud, just buzzy).

Jan 06, 2012 at 01:15 AM

beauport
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p.1 #4 · Low light walk around

Consider renting the 35L and shoot with it for a few days. It's a wonderful lens but only you can say if it will work for your needs.

Jan 06, 2012 at 02:46 AM

svassh
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p.1 #5 · Low light walk around

My walk around on my T2i was a 28mm 1.8 there seems to be a love it or hate it feeling with that lens. I personally loved mine and regret selling it. I am tempted every time I see one on the B&S board. Fast usm and nearly perfectly wide in most rooms to pick up a group shot,

Jan 06, 2012 at 03:49 AM

BrianO
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p.1 #6 · Low light walk around

bbvaj wrote: ...I am considering 50 1.4 or 35 1.4L as my options. Is the 35L worth 3x the money?

I had the 35L for about a month, but sold it because that focal length was covered by my 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

I think it was a mistake to sell it; it was a great focal length on an APS-C camera for street photography and general people pictures, and the image quality was outstanding.

I have the 50 f/1.4 now for low light, but on a 7D it's a bit long for a "street" lens; it's more of a classical "portrait" length or "short telephoto," whereas the 35 works out after the 1.6 crop factor to be just about "long normal" length.

I'd never get rid of the 50 -- it's an amazing lens for the price -- but I'll probably get another 35 someday, in addition.

Jan 06, 2012 at 06:35 AM

akfreelance
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p.1 #7 · Low light walk around

The 35L is a fantastic lens but IMO it would not be worth the price on a crop body. I would look into a sigma 30 1.4 + sigma 85 1.4 or canon 85 1.8. That would make a fantastic street/candid setup!

Jan 06, 2012 at 06:46 AM

mfreardon
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p.1 #8 · Low light walk around

I like my 50mm f/1.4 for the uses that you mentioned. I have not tried the 35L, so I can't compare them for you. The 85mm f/1.8 is also a great lens for the money.

Jan 06, 2012 at 02:46 PM

Trevor Sowers
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p.1 #9 · Low light walk around

I find on a crop body that the canon 28 f/1.8 is a perfect walk around lens! It's my most used lens on my 40D and it works nice on the 5D MKII as well.

Jan 06, 2012 at 03:20 PM

jj_glos
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p.1 #10 · Low light walk around

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 was by far my favourite lens on the 7D. It's such a shame it is a crop only lens, although I do still occasionally use it with the 1Ds2 with monster vignetting! I rented a 35L over the Christmas period, and I would say it is better than the Sigma but not 3x better. The 35L is a good investment for the future if you intend to go full frame.

Jan 06, 2012 at 03:36 PM

bbvaj
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p.1 #11 · Low light walk around

Thanks guys for all the inputs. I have come to know of two great lenses 28 1.8 and 30 1.4 to make my life more difficult. Will take a closer look at them too. I will look to try a couple of them out and then decide.

Jan 06, 2012 at 05:51 PM

user222
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p.1 #12 · Low light walk around

My favorite for this scenario is 7D w/24L II (effective focal length of 38mm).

Jan 06, 2012 at 07:22 PM

perchr
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p.1 #13 · Low light walk around

I never considered 35L or 35/2 on my 30D (now 7D) for low light because I thougt it would be to narrow. Never considered third party lenses. So for a couple of years I used Canon 28/1.8. It was my most used lens although I also owned the EF-S 17-55 IS. I liked it very much,very lightweight and versatile, highly underrated lens on the Internet and forums IMO. Usually used it between f2.0 and 2.8. Then I upgraded to a used 24/1.4 L (mkI) and sold the 28mm. I'm very satisfied with the upgrade due to sharpness, bokeh, color, but still miss 28/1.8 for the light weight (310g vs 550g). The 24/1.4 is now my most used lens together with 50/1.4, - it's a great combo.

I find the EF-S 17-55 gives excellent images and the IS is really helpful in many situations, but the weight (645g) and size (with hood) makes my prefer my primes. I also have 85/1.8 and 200/2.8, but rarely use them because of the focal length.

All in all, for 7D I would recommend either 28/1.8 or 24/1.4 if you can afford. (If you need 35 mm FL, just crop in Lightroom/photoshop/other software).

Jan 07, 2012 at 08:18 AM

eric_m
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p.1 #14 · Low light walk around

Yes, the 35/1.4 is worth 3x the money of the 50/1.4. The latter is the only lens I wouldn't buy again.

On a 7D, I'd recommend a 24/1.4, though. I really liked 35/1.4 on full frame, and I bought a 24/1.4 when I moved to 1.3x crop. Both are great in low light.

My general walkabout lens is the 24-105/4. When I need low light, I go with the 24/1.4, instead.

Jan 07, 2012 at 08:35 PM

saneproduction
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p.1 #15 · Low light walk around

This is such a cut and dry case for the sigma 30 1.4 . Just make sure the one you get focuses accurately on your body.

You are paying for the full frame image circle with the 35L and you don't need it. If you want to spend lots of money and get an L lens for crop, get the 24 F1.4L II. There is no cheaper equivalent for that lens.

Jan 07, 2012 at 08:47 PM

erikburd
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p.1 #16 · Low light walk around

I use a 35L on my 450D/Rebel XSi. It works very well for low light, small enough as a walk-around lens, and it takes incredible pictures.

The 35 f/2 is a cheap and very good alternative to the 35L.

Jan 07, 2012 at 10:37 PM

shroud72
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p.1 #17 · Low light walk around

I´m happy with my Sigma 30mm f/1.4, its really an amazing lens and I´ve had no problems with focusing and its actually very usable wide open at f/1.4.

Jan 07, 2012 at 10:39 PM

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