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 p.1 #7 · Dilemma: Fast Primes or the Canon 24-70 f2.8 ii ? | |
I have the 24-105. I also have the 24mm f/2.8 and four other excellent primes spanning the range from there to 135mm. A few thoughts...
The 24-105 is an excellent lens. I use it to shoot a wide range of subjects, including landscape work destined to be printed quite large. Working carefully with this lens, it can produce truly excellent results. The issues of barrel distortion at the 24mm end and a bit of vignetting at short focal lengths and large apertures are easily and effectively "fixed" in post... on those occasions when they matter. In handheld shooting situations, the IS feature is often very useful, and the lens is a great and flexible performer when using electronic flash. There is a myth that the lens is soft in the corners, but I don't find this to be true in real world photography. The flexibility of the lens is very useful, in that it covers a range from near-ultra-wide to short telephoto - in many cases it can be the only lens you need for certain kinds of photography.
The primes are useful in different sorts of situations. One is when I want to work very fast and light and eliminate one decision factor, namely focal length. For example, sometimes when shooting street photography I will work with a single prime (usually 50mm, but not always) and work very fast, responding to opportunities without taking time to think about FL. This can also give me a smaller and lighter kit, especially when I work with the smaller and lighter non-L primes. I've been doing some work recently that involves shooting at classical music concerts and backstage at rehearsals, and the large aperture primes work well for this, too.
For me, the answer to the "primes or zooms?" question is "primes and zooms." I certainly would be very cautious about selling the zoom in order to finance a bunch of L primes when you aren't yet certain that a) primes will really be your thing, b) the 24-105 will turn out to be unimportant to you, and c) there are some other options.
For example, you mention the 35mm f/1.4L and the 85mm f/1.2 L. Both are the objects of considerable "lens lust," often on the part of people who really would do fine with something different. (Do consider carefully just how much of your interest is practical and how much is lens lust for this very expensive and cool looking gear. Just sayin'.) If you want to find out - and you do want to before spending thousands and tossing a perfectly good lens - pick up the excellent 35mm f/2 and the 85mm f/1.8. For what you say you shoot, these are excellent lenses. They are great optical performers, and their smaller and lighter formats are advantages in street shooting in most cases.
I'm pretty attentive to the quality of my lenses and the quality of my photographs. For example, I own the 24mm f/1.4 and the 135mm f/2. But I have no interest in replacing my 85mm f/1.8 with the f/1.2L nor in replacing my 35mm f/2 with the f/1.4L. Specifically for street photography, the less expensive lenses are, in my view, better options for a whole bunch of reasons.
Dan
Echobeach wrote:
Dilemma at the moment.
I have the 24mm F 1.4 II and love it. Fantastic lens , sharp fast , allows me to take low light without a flash, but a little wide for street photography and portraiture .
I own the 24-105 which is adequate but it has its limitations and i prefer something faster.
Cannot decide whether to sell 24-105 in favour of buying a couple of primes. The 35mm 1.4 and a second hand 85 mm F1.2 I have my eye on or opt for the new 24-70mm f2.8 ii. The zoom has the convenience, the primes are much faster. Waiting for Brian Carnathan's (The Digital Picture) final review of the 24-70mm f/2.8 ii before my final decision.
Still leaning towards the primes but experience has also shown me that having to change primes outdoors can be a pain, especially in inclement weather and dusty conditions. The 24mm f1.4 is my Landscape Prime but is starting to love night time street photography.
Any opinions that can finally make up my mind as to which route ?...Show more →
Edited on Nov 01, 2012 at 01:15 PM · View previous versions
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