I have decided to go for a minimalist approach. Here's a bit of what has led up to this decision:
First I had a 5D Classic + 24-105L + 50/1.8
Then, I went to what I have now: 5D Classic, NEX C3, 24/2 Nikon AI-s, 50/1,4 Contax Planar, 105/2,5 Nikon AI-s, 133/2,8 TAIR-11a, 200/4 Olympus OM, 57/1,4 Konica Hexanon, 55/1,4 Mamiya Sekor, 50/1,8 Oly OM, and 5 film cameras.
I only want: Sony NEX C3 + 14mm Rokinon, Canon 5D II, a 35mm lens, and 85mm lens.
That is it. $1600 for three lenses. I'll subtract $350 for the 14mm, so I have $1250 for a 35mm and an 85mm.
What should I get?
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Criteria: 35mm has to be fast, because I shoot the Milky Way a lot. I'd rather have no CA before sharpness. I hate dealing with CA. The 85mm should just have pleasant bokeh.
Can you level set expectations there on the 35? Would you say any of your fast 50s have the performance you want in a fast 35?
For the 85, I like the bokeh from the Nikon AIS 85/1.4. The most distinctive bokeh I've seen from the range comes from the Leica Summilux-R 80/1.4- pure watercolor. And the lux is a good portrait lens wide open. For everything else, you'll want to stop it down to f/2.8 or lower. The Nikon's bokeh is slightly more neutral, but it's center-sharper and, IIRC, focuses significantly closer.
Choices are pretty limited with that budget if you want only primes. I'd get:
35. Canon EF 35mm f/2 - $250. I'd pick this for AF and small size. I have it and like it for the price. It gets soft in the corners until stopped down to like 5.6 or so but it hasn't been too much of a problem for me.
Alternate choice: Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 - $400. I'd pick this for larger aperture if that's more important than AF.
Both are a little softer wide open but aren't too bad on CA
85. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8- $300. Great lens for the price.
Alternate choice: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 - $800 used. I'd only get this if the larger aperture is really important for you.
Hm, do you want the 35 and the 85 to be used on the NEX also, or only on the 5D ? I would recommend the two C/Y Zeiss lenses for this but not sure if you manage to get them both for the money you want to spend . prices are pretty high these days compared to what they were some years ago...
alwang wrote:
Just curious: why would you want to pair the NEX with the Rokinon 14? Seems like a better match with the 5D from a size and frame coverage standpoint.
If using primarily on the NEX, C/Y 35/2.8, 85/2.8 and around $650 to spare. Compact and excellent, but not fast.
Alternately a Nikkor 35/1.4 and 85/1.4 in your budget.
The Samyang 35/1.4 and 85/1.4 can also be had new for your budget, in fact with a fair bit to spare.
Not sure @ CA ... but I recall the Samyang that mawz mentions was a fast 35 that stirred up a lot of debate/interest around here ... 85 also had some strong interest when it came on the scene.
Although, at the longer 85 FL, I might opt for something with AF capabilities like the Sigma (or Canon) rather than the Samyang ... if I'm truly @ only 3 lenses. I rarely miss AF at the wider end of things, but it does come in handy for some longer stuff on occasion (AF on 5D only obviously).
Also, if you don't "need the speed" for the 85, you might consider going with Tamron 90 macro lineup ... either the older adaptall versions or the newer AF varieties. At only 3 lenses ... having a macro could expand your versatility.
the samyang 35/1.4 is the sharpest 35/1.4 wide open that fits in your price range and the samyang 85/1.4 has the smoothest bokeh (kinda boringly so). another option would be to get a ZE 35/2 or c/y 35/1.4 (with a bit of wear) for $1000 and the samyang 85/1.4.
if it were me i'd save a bit and get the c/y 35/1.4 and either the leica R 90/2 (pre AA) or pentax 77/1.8, but i don't do any astro photography and i bet the the samyang 35/1.4 or ZE 35/2 would be better for that.
