I use a 35mm f2 a lot on another system and when heard about this new lens I was kinda excited, but truth be told It's something I'd never really use unless I also picked up a 24mm or 20mm lens.
I "test drove" the Canon 35L, 35 2.0 IS USM, Sigma 35 1.4, even Canon's 16-35 yesterday at a retail outlet yesterday on my 5DII. I read reviews - see Bryan Carnathan's excellent review which includes comparative notes and lens chart results for these lenses at:
(It should be noted that Bryan reported achieving amazingly sharp images at shutter speeds up to 1.3 seconds. His success ratio at that extended exposure was low - but there are times when low is far better than nothing.)
Even after that, I'm asking the same question you are - in what real life shooting scenarios would a fast 35mm IS lens be a better choice than a faster non-IS 35mm?
Here's one - I'm 60 years old. IS is a wonderful geezer feature. Eyes are fading a bit, and, reluctantly I must admit I'm not as strong or steady as I used to be. I have hugely appreciated the IS on my 17-55 (my backup body is a 60D), 24-105, 70-200 f.2.8, and 100 mm Macro lenses.
Beyond that, I shoot no-flash live entertainment, including theater and music venues, and museums, where tripods are not welcomed or practical. IS provides longer shutter speeds. How many of those shots would be possible with a 1.4 versus the 2.0 w/ 4 stop IS? Which security blanket is better - more light (at extremely shallow DOF), or steadier focus? IS works at all apertures.
The only conclusion I have come to so far is IS has no practical value for me on a tripod - I shoot far more hand held. I have to make a practical choice for my shooting reality. 90% of my wedding/engagement shots are hand held. If I have time to use a tripod I almost always have time to add lighting.
Unless, of course, I need to capture action in low light. There's the rub for me. I may have to resort to renting a 1.4 for those occasions.
WNStudio wrote:
Pricing policy that Canon introduces lately just amazes me- make worse lens (24-70 4.0 for ex.) and charge big $$$ for it. Unfortunately that means that really good lenses when being introduced in future will be VERY expensive (24-70 2,8 II is a good example).
35 2.0 is- sounds great but price should be rather 600-800$ range.
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