Never had much luck getting multiple answers to questions on here but here goes.
I need to walk- a- bout light at times with a FF 5d2, using the 17-40 nearly always fits the bill but I`m always looking for the best IQ and weight . What do you guys and girls think is probably the best compromise for a single prime lens? or what do you choose?
I own primes from 21-85 = 21, 25, 28, 35, 40 (thin voigtlander f2) 50 and 85.
Based only on FL, my choice for full frame is 35mm (maybe 40mm, at most). I find 50mm too long for most things and not really long enough for my tele needs. OTOH, 28mm or 24mm may be adequate for certain types of photography but I don't find them versatile enough.
Considering a two lenses kit, maybe 24/28 and 85 make a good combo, but for a single lens, I find a 35mm prime the best compromise. Of course, YMMV.
For the record, my current walk-about kit of primes on a EOS 5D is 21-35-100 (CZ 21 ZE, Samyang 35, 100L Macro). I'm pretty satisfied with it except for long distance tele shots. The Macro is very good at short to medium distances, but lacks on longer focusing distances. So, when I don't really need a macro lens, I take the 100L out of the bag and put a 70-200/4L in its place.
I use the EF 24-105L for a general purpose lens on EOS bodies, and the X100 for many light weight, walkabout opportunities. I'm separating my kit into two areas; (i) Canon 1DsIII and 1DIV with fast primes and a few zooms, and (ii) Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and X100. My 5D and compact Alt lenses will get much less use. I may find a use for many of the Alts on the X-Pro 1 (remains to be seen), or I'll sell them. Previously, the CV Ultron 40/2 with 5D was a favourite travel kit. It's been replaced by the X100 for most occasions.
As a single prime, I'd likely opt for the 25 or 28. Given the resolving capability in a great prime and the 5D II, you've got plenty to work with for cropping. Kinda hard to go the other way and make a 50 get wider.
Kinda depends too on where your walkabout is ... and how close you can get your feet to your subject matter. But given your liking @ the 17-40 ... 25. Oly 24/2.8 or Oly 28/3.5 are worth looking at if size/weight are a concern and yet retain excellent IQ. If size and weight aren't a concern ... 24L TS-E II is what I mount.
I tend to shoot mostly in the 24-40mm range - 24 and 28 are just a little too wide for general purpose - thus a 35 is my choice for a prime one-lens-walkaround.
Walk-about means different things to different people, and "needs" or preferences run the gamut, so it is very unlikely that one answer to this question fits all. In fact, one answer doesn't even fit me! To me, walk-about implies light weight, small size, and a minimum amount of compromise in IQ. Currently when I am in "tourist mode" I leave the 1Ds2 and L lenses at home and take a M43 kit of Panasonic G3, Olympus 12mm, Pan/Leica 25mm, and Pan/Leica 45mm macro (24mm, 50mm and 90mm equivalent.) For an even lighter,smaller single-lens kit I take the Panasonic GF2 or G3 with Panasonic 20mm (40mm equivalent.) And if a pocket is the only space available, I take a 6-ounce, weather-and-shock-resistant Lumix TS3 and get some surprisingly decent snapshots.
I tend to shoot in the 14 to 500mm (28 - 1000mm equiv) range.
So for me it totally depends on my mood and where I might be walking about.
Isn't it really that way for everyone? I mean, I don't usually bring lenses in the 7 to 200mm range if I'm going to the park where I hope or expect to see some colorful finch - I usually take something in the 300 - 500mm range (600 - 1000 equiv). If I'm going downtown with high buildings and tight crowds I stay well below 100mm - and usually more in the 20 to 50 range. If I'll be in wide open landscapish spaces I'm usually between 50 and 90. And so on and so fourth. Isn't everyone like that? And if I dunno where I'm going or where I might end up I just bring whichever lens I might be interested in that day.
I don't get it. Do you all go places very often where you dunno where you'll end up?
Just started walking about again recently. Don't think I could ever stick to one prime, but I am quite comfortable with 5D + 3. Which 3 depends on many factors. 17, 24, 28... 24, 58, 85... 17, 58, 300...
I do seem to have that 58/1.2 far more often than not, though.
For short walkarounds, I don't personally have a "right" lens or focal length. Instead, I grab something off my lens heap that I feel I haven't used recently enough (or just have the urge to try), 16 to 560mm focal length range full frame. I don't fret about missing all the shots that I could have taken with a different lens, because I always end up finding plenty of things to do with what I have. I like the feeling when my brain warms up and I start seeing the world in a different way specific to the lens I'm using. This process also helps me out a lot for when I'm going on a longer or more specific trip and want to assemble a multi-lens kit, because I know better what to expect from each lens.
I tend to shoot in the 14 to 500mm (28 - 1000mm equiv) range.
