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Archive 2014 · Prime Lenses

  
 
gedmerson
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Prime Lenses


I recently updated to a full frame camera. I love this 85mm and was looking at this 135mm 2.8L. Are there any other prime lenses that I should consider?


May 17, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Prime Lenses


just to clarify, the 135 L is f2.0 . the 135 2.8 is a the Soft Focus (SF)




May 17, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Prime Lenses


the general accepted 'Holy Trinity' of canon primes is/was the 35L 85L & 135L
but its got to depend on what your shooting and what you want the primes for .

they are all pretty dam good bits of glass . if you looking for long and good value the 200/2.8 is a dam good lens also .
if your looking for shorter then the 35L is still a great lens but the new sigma Art 35 has pushed the envelope as far as 3rd party v L lenses goes .



May 17, 2014 at 11:30 AM
gedmerson
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Prime Lenses


Thanks guys. I meant the 2.0L 135mm


May 17, 2014 at 12:42 PM
Dudewithoutape
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Prime Lenses


The 135L is a strange beast. The overall consensus is, "It's well loved, but rarely used." The focal length is strange for most people. I've found it very useful for candid street photography personally. Not sure which 85 you have, but some people prefer that focal length to the 135.


May 17, 2014 at 01:00 PM
erikburd
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Prime Lenses


For my holy trinity, the lens usage is generally the 35L mostly, then the 135L followed by the 85 f/1.8. It generally depends on what I'm shooting.

The 135L is an odd focal length and given the performance of the 70-200L II, it's IQ and zoom flexibility is making the 135L considerably less desirable.



May 17, 2014 at 02:12 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Prime Lenses


erikburd wrote:
For my holy trinity...


... I'm typically using three L zooms, an ultra-wide (in my case 17-40), a middle range zoom (either 24-105 or 24-70), and a tele zoom (one or the other of the 70-200mm zooms).

I own more primes than zooms, but I find myself using zooms a lot more than primes.

Dan

Edited on May 17, 2014 at 05:20 PM · View previous versions



May 17, 2014 at 03:39 PM
StillFingerz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Prime Lenses


Much like Dan I'm leaning more and more on a pair of zooms, soon to add a third, they include the 17-40L, 70-200 F4L IS and in the near future either the 24-70 f4L IS or 24-105 f4L IS.

Primes tend to be for specialized use, 100L IS, 300 f4L IS and three fast lenses; 28/50/85 for low light events/subjects.

I carry a point-n-shoot as well, a G12 at the moment, usually two bodies are in my kit; a primary and backup. It seems after four decades plus I've finally figured things out, well for the moment at least

Cheers,
Jerry



May 17, 2014 at 03:54 PM
gedmerson
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Prime Lenses


Thanks. I have those zooms but I want to get more into portraits. Even though I love the zooms I like the blurred artistic backgrounds I can do at 2.0 or lower


May 17, 2014 at 03:59 PM
StillFingerz
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Prime Lenses


I use to use the 85 f1.8 a ton but after getting the 100L IS it's my go-to portrait lens. The 135L has a bit smoother, more buttery bokeh, but it's not enough for my tastes to give up IS.

I've always liked the 135 FL, bought my 1st back in the late 70's; a soligor 135 f2.5 and loved it. Lately IS has become a huge help with hand-holding and while the 100L was a compromise I've no regrets

Do get the 135L, no doubt you'll love it



May 17, 2014 at 04:07 PM
Jefferson
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Prime Lenses


… Canon 50 f/1.4 (waiting to see what new 50s of at least f/1.4 show soon).
… Canon 200 f/2.8L
… Canon 300 f/4L IS with and without a Canon 1.4x II

… (420mm, 300mm, 200mm, 50mm primes) …
All used on full frame – gave my 17-40L, my 70-200 f/4L IS and the 30D away last year.
Haven’t missed them …




May 17, 2014 at 04:49 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Prime Lenses


gedmerson wrote:
Thanks. I have those zooms but I want to get more into portraits. Even though I love the zooms I like the blurred artistic backgrounds I can do at 2.0 or lower


That's more or less why I originally got the primes... but I find that I rarely use them. If you have the f/4 70-200, then you might have a bit more reason to also have the large aperture primes. If you have the f/2.8 70-200, the aperture advantage of, say, the 135mm f/2 is minimal and counteracted by the focal length flexibility of the zoom.

Dan



May 17, 2014 at 05:21 PM
jasonpatrick
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Prime Lenses


I've used a sigma 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2.8 IS, 135mm f/2 all extensively.

I currently have the 50mm f/1.4 and the 135mm f/2. Personally, I love the 135. For me, the extra stop and added focal length is a bonus. I use it both on a crop and full frame camera. The 135 is also compatible with both the 1.4III (outstanding), and 2xIII (very good) teleconverters.



May 17, 2014 at 07:42 PM
timbop
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Prime Lenses


I love the 135/2, and the 35/2IS is a very good lens too. Like others, I use my f/4 zooms most but there are times when the fast primes are needed or preferred.


May 17, 2014 at 08:03 PM
ggreene
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Prime Lenses


gedmerson wrote:
Thanks. I have those zooms but I want to get more into portraits. Even though I love the zooms I like the blurred artistic backgrounds I can do at 2.0 or lower


For smooth blurry goodness I would say 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/2, 200/2.



May 17, 2014 at 08:17 PM
mttran
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Prime Lenses


ggreene wrote:
For smooth blurry goodness I would say 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/2, 200/2.


awesome set and for another 90% performer of your set and much cheaper is: 35f2.0, 50f1.4, 85f1.8, 100f2.0, 200L2.8, etc...



May 17, 2014 at 08:49 PM
Paul Mo
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Prime Lenses


My most used lenses are the Sigma 35 f1.4, 100 f2.8L and 135 f2.0L (which could benefit from a reduction in MFD). I also own an 85 f1.8 - it is compact, fast and sharp, and it could also benefit from reengineering to a closer MFD.

The macro is an incredibly useful lens - from 1:1 to full length portraits to cityscapes. I only wish it were more compact and came with a smaller hood.

Another prime not to be sneezed at is the 100 f2 - it is almost identical in size to the 85mm, but the macro is far more flexible.

A primes vs zooms debate is only answerable by you - you have to use both to decide which you prefer. It's not a case of either/or.



May 17, 2014 at 09:31 PM
kezeka
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Prime Lenses


ggreene wrote:
For smooth blurry goodness I would say 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/2, 200/2.


Different strokes for different folks, 35L 85L 135L for me. Found the 50L to be highly lackluster compared to the 85L.

Can't go wrong with any of them though.



May 17, 2014 at 10:28 PM
skasol
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Prime Lenses


I use the 35 sigma, 50L, 85L, 135L as my primes and I completely love them. I also have my pair of zooms but my primes are my main tool


May 17, 2014 at 11:18 PM
hongvu122
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Prime Lenses


I currently have the new Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART and the Canon 135mm f2. I rarely use the primes and usually rely on the 24-70mm II or the 70-200mm II for most of my photography. The 135mm is the least used lens in my bag and I've contemplated selling it many times. But whenever I do pull it out of the bag, I absolutely love the images it produces for that particular range. I do hope to pick up the Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART and an 85mm ART if Sigma ends up releasing one. Here is a photo I snapped yesterday with the 135mm:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2901/14194011544_84a629df41_k.jpg



May 17, 2014 at 11:55 PM
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