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Archive 2015 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?

  
 
ozmoses
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


I've been shooting weddings with a Canon 24-70mm 2.8 and 70-200mm 4.0 IS and am looking to switch in part or entirely to primes.

Which primes for Canon do you like and why? Please mention the brand as well. Doesn't have to be Canon branded glass.

Edited on Jun 08, 2015 at 10:33 PM · View previous versions



Jun 08, 2015 at 08:19 PM
tgillespie
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


Personal favs are the 35 f1.4, 85 f1.2 and 135 f2.

The 35 is great because its wide enough for editorial style photography, but has little distortion. The 24 is also a great focal length, but the corner/edges are a bit too warped for me.

The 85 1.2 or even 1.8 is a money lens. Perfect for portraits. The 1.2 is magical which used correctly, but the 1.8 is much faster at focusing and doesn't weigh a ton.

The 135 has no other alternative. For the price, its one of the best lenses Canon has in its lineup.

With these three lenses, I have no problem shooting bridal prep, ceremony, portraits, reception photos. Very seldom do I need anything wider or longer.



Jun 08, 2015 at 08:26 PM
scottam10
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


35 / 85 is a great combo

I love 85mm - it's a perfect length for portraits on full frame
I have the Sigma 85mm 1.4; it's way cheaper than the Canon 85mm 1.2L and focuses faster. If money were no object of course you'd have the 1.2, but the Sigma does a great job for 1/3 of the price. The Canon 85mm 1.8 is also very good for what it is - small, light, cheap and fast focusing.

35mm is handy when you need something a bit wider; it's a great storytelling lens. You've got a choice of the Canon f/2 IS, the Sigma 35mm Art or the Canon 1.4L

I have the 135mm f2L and it's a stunning lens - I love the results when I get a chance to use it but I find it to be a bit too long for indoors so I get a lot more use out of the 85mm.



Jun 08, 2015 at 08:32 PM
ozmoses
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


My main concern is having a long enough lens for wedding ceremonies as I like to be unobtrusive. Is the 135mm f/2 really sufficiently long? I'm not overly pleased with the 70-200mm 4.0 IS for ceremonies. Just not fast enough. Thoughts on the 200mm 2.8?


Jun 08, 2015 at 08:39 PM
joelconner
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


Sigma art 35 & 50...especially the 35 (which is my favorite lens I have ever owned).


Jun 08, 2015 at 08:54 PM
tgillespie
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


ozmoses wrote:
Thoughts on the 200mm 2.8?


I find the 135 to be great for most ceremonies. If you shoot a lot of church weddings, I might opt for a 70-200 2.8 with IS, but most of our cermonies either allow for movement or are reachable with a 135.

The 200 2.8 is a great lens, but its really only an outdoor lens IMO. Without IS, you need to be at 1/200th or faster... and that might be a stretch indoors at 2.8. It all depends on the lighting, but we're pushing 1/100th f2 at 3200 a lot of the time...




Jun 08, 2015 at 08:55 PM
BSPhotog
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


tgillespie wrote:
I find the 135 to be great for most ceremonies. If you shoot a lot of church weddings, I might opt for a 70-200 2.8 with IS, but most of our cermonies either allow for movement or are reachable with a 135.

The 200 2.8 is a great lens, but its really only an outdoor lens IMO. Without IS, you need to be at 1/200th or faster... and that might be a stretch indoors at 2.8. It all depends on the lighting, but we're pushing 1/100th f2 at 3200 a lot of the time...



With a monopod it is definitely doable. When I still had the Nikon 80-200 f/2.8D, I could do 1/60 pretty consistently on a monopod. Then again, that is really not as convenient to move around with by any means. On one occasion, I kept my 80-200 on a tripod with my backup body while I walked around for more interesting points of view. I got stable shots of key moments up close like rings and a kiss. It is doable, but it is a pain and being tied to a mono/tri-pod gets in the way of creativity.




Jun 08, 2015 at 10:23 PM
Depth of Feel
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


If I was only allowed one lens 35. Two lenses 24 & 50. Three lenses, 24, 50, 85. Four lenses, 35, 50, 85, 135. Five lenses 24, 35, 50, 85, 135.


Jun 08, 2015 at 10:46 PM
SloPhoto
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


The Sig50 ART is absolutely incredible.

the Sig35 ART is also top notch.

Nikon 200 f2 and Sigma 150 macro are also quite nice.



Jun 08, 2015 at 11:26 PM
popinvasion
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


200 F2 is insanity on a wedding day.

I too would be happy with a combination of 20mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 85mm 100mm 135mm.

Right now I'm happiest with a 20mm, 35mm, 85mm, 100mm macro.



Jun 08, 2015 at 11:35 PM
stevez32
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


I used to swear by the 35/85 combo, but lately I've been feeling good with the 28/58 combo.


Jun 09, 2015 at 12:42 AM
heikoM
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


popinvasion wrote:


I too would be happy with a combination of 20mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 85mm 100mm 135mm.





You are funny. "I would be happy with all the focal lens there is..." (0:


heiko



Jun 09, 2015 at 01:16 AM
heikoM
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


Not for your Canon, but as you asked about our faves:

Sony/Zeiss FE 55/1.8

It is the most amazing lens I ever had, it holds contrast and produces the nicest flare when you shoot into the sun.

Second place: Canon 50/0.95 - so sad I sold it.

When it comes to range, I think I am quite a newly fan of 28 and 50.


heiko



Jun 09, 2015 at 01:21 AM
thebeginning
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


Echoing above to show just how good the setup is:

Top by far:

35mm 1.4
85mm 1.2

Honorable mention:

135mm 2
50mm 1.4
100mm macro



Jun 09, 2015 at 01:57 AM
tonyhart
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


It's not the best focal length for my work, but I use it nonetheless still and for just pure 'zing' I can't beat the 135L. The look that lens produces is really something very special IMHO.


Jun 09, 2015 at 06:30 AM
ricardovaste
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


Some ones that I've really liked over the years:

40/1.7 on the hi-matic 7s2.
58/1.2 Rokkor on A900
85/1.4 Minolta on anything (much nicer colours than the ZA)
35/1.4 Minolta/Sony on anything
135/1.8 ZA on anything
35/1.4 CV SC (still relatively early days but it's tiny and is similarly rough around the edges like the Minolta)

Mostly just use the 35/1.4 these days. A lot/most people don't like it at all. It's developed in the '80's and so isn't too great on digital in some respects, but it has a lot of character. One thing I hate about most modern designed lenses is the clinical nature of them. Whilst I have a whole bunch of memorable prints from the 35/2 in the RX1, I'd take either of the other 35s above that any day.

I used to use a selection of zooms but developed my own preferences over time, as we all do.

What's important to realise is: it doesn't make a damn difference what you use. It's hard to take, I know, but it's that thing between your ears that does the work. Learn to master it, and keep going.



Jun 09, 2015 at 07:01 AM
jmraso
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


None but a wide, a standard and a mid tele or tele.

I adapted to new focal lengths when I went to Fuji, no problem.

27 instead of 24.
50 instead of 65 (a 50 in a 1D III)
127.5 instead of 135

This range is my set up and will always be, or around it.

Who cares ?





Jun 09, 2015 at 07:26 AM
samwillow
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


wew... i learn so much here!! thank you


Jun 09, 2015 at 07:47 AM
ogerisg321
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


I like the 35L/85L/135L combo.

I am running a 35/70-200 F/2.8 IS combo right now because I'm only using one body, but I want to get ride of my 70-200L to get a second body to properly run the 35/85/135 combo on wedding day.

I try to avoid using my 200/F2 until the day after with the bride and groom.



Jun 09, 2015 at 08:34 AM
benee
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · PRIMES: Which ones are your faves and why?


If you are on a budget,

35 F2 IS, 85 1.8

135L if you have ANY cash to spare. it is that good. You may not use it terribly often, but when you do, you will understand why. It is a moneymaker lens.



Jun 09, 2015 at 09:26 AM
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