I currently have a 35mm 1.4, and reently purchased a very sharp 17-40mm 1.4. Up from 40, though, I only own a 28-whatever kit lens, kinda sharp. I'm thinking about selling the 35mm 1.4 and 24-whatever and using the proceeds to purchase a 24-70mm 2.8L lens and perhaps a 50mm 1.4.
I occasionally need to shoot low light, but haven't seen a lot of need for the 35mm with the 17-40. Can you think of a particular reason to keep the prime?
I own both, the 35/1.4 and the 24-70. My recommendation is to keep the 35 and better get a 70-200 or in case you don't need this reach, a 50/1.4 and/or the 85/1.8. The 24-70 is a very good all rounder lens, but sometimes the faster speed of the prime lenses is useful. The 17-40 is my walk around lens, it is one of my most used lenses.
i like the 35 1.4. It feels like a very natural focal length for me that gets much use. If it's not that natural to you, the 24-70 would probably serve you better.
Other option is to sell the 17-40 and 35mm and instead get a 16-35mm Version 1 plus both a 50 and 85mm prime.
...if you had 24-70mm 2.8L(i used to) to begin with, then you could appreciate benefits of the 35 1.4l, for me it's perfect FL for all around especially indoors and once again it's 1.4, pretty much i'm going to skip anything shorter then 70-200 f4 or 100-400(but i do have contax 50 1.7, and leica elmarit 90 2.8 for that anyway)
retrofocus wrote:
My recommendation is to keep the 35 and better get a 70-200 or in case you don't need this reach, a 50/1.4 and/or the 85/1.8
That would be mine as well, sub the 50/1.4. Basically add a 70-200/2.8 or an 85/1.8. Then again that's what I'd do...actually I wouldn't own the 17-40 in the first place
tommose wrote:
Can you think of a particular reason to keep the prime?
Obviously YOU can't... so, why not sell it?
To me the 35L is great for environmental full body portraits where I want to separate my subject from it's surroundings and for shooting events in dark caves.
There is no right or wrong answer. its nice to own both. if you are not using the 35 1.4, and would rather have the convinience and focal length of zoom, then sell the 35 1.4. for others, the 35 is a better lens. no right or wrong.
