I'd be golden if the 135 liked focusing at infinity, but in typical D lens fashion, it doesn't. Under 20ft it's razor blade sharp. Out past that and it's hit/miss.
Jason_Brook wrote:
I'm not sure how to word this, so I'll just throw this out there. How do you guys handle the rest of your lenses with the 58? I used to love the 35/85 combo, A LOT, but the 58 throws a wrench into both of them since they're so similar. The 58 just makes my lineup feel really weak because it's like the entire lineup IS the 58 and the 58 is the only thing I use.
I think that's exactly the problem I tend to have. I love my 28/58 combo but I end up using the 58mm 80% of the time when those two are paired. When I USE the 28mm, I want it to be WIDE.
With that being said, I think I will end up with a combo similar to Joseph: either a 20/58 or 24/58 with a 70-200VRII at times when I really want to compress the background. But of course, the 200/2 is my dream
Also, I have a feeling you will end up selling the 58mm veeeery soon
Iluxa007 wrote:
I think that's exactly the problem I tend to have. I love my 28/58 combo but I end up using the 58mm 80% of the time when those two are paired. When I USE the 28mm, I want it to be WIDE.
With that being said, I think I will end up with a combo similar to Joseph: either a 20/58 or 24/58 with a 70-200VRII at times when I really want to compress the background. But of course, the 200/2 is my dream
Also, I have a feeling you will end up selling the 58mm veeeery soon
Nah, one of you guys said something that made great sense. I have a great copy, I don't want to give it up.
The 58 is like a high maintenance hottie when you're 18 years old. All you want is one thing, you're blind to how the rest of your life has become hell, but it's too good to give up. The 35 and 85 are friends that got lost in the mix
I have a 24/1.4, 35/1.8, 58/1.4, 85/1.8, and a 150/2.8 (and the 50/1.8G SE but I don't count it). All of these lenses are different enough to warrant having around.
24/1.4 is my wide angle. If I'm going out and only want two lenses, this is the lens I pair with the 58. With a Df I can throw this whole kit in a really small ONA Bowery bag.
35/1.8 is my environmental portrait lens. Wide, but not too wide to cause much distortion. Plus the 35 is my favorite focal length ... if I ever went one camera/one lens, it would be the 35mm focal length.
85/1.8 is so amazingly sharp and clinical, it comes out when I need absolute sharpness. It's also better for tightly-cropped portraiture than the 58. Plus it's just cheap to own, no reason to get rid of it.
I really like the ~50mm focal length and the unique rendering of the 58/1.4. If it didn't have such unique rendering, I wouldn't own it. Despite the optical performance of the Sigma 50A, I have absolutely zero desire to own it ... the 50/1.8G is a fantastic lens for the money.
shujert wrote:
I have a 24/1.4, 35/1.8, 58/1.4, 85/1.8, and a 150/2.8 (and the 50/1.8G SE but I don't count it). All of these lenses are different enough to warrant having around.
24/1.4 is my wide angle. If I'm going out and only want two lenses, this is the lens I pair with the 58. With a Df I can throw this whole kit in a really small ONA Bowery bag.
35/1.8 is my environmental portrait lens. Wide, but not too wide to cause much distortion. Plus the 35 is my favorite focal length ... if I ever went one camera/one lens, it would be the 35mm focal length.
85/1.8 is so amazingly sharp and clinical, it comes out when I need absolute sharpness. It's also better for tightly-cropped portraiture than the 58. Plus it's just cheap to own, no reason to get rid of it.
I really like the ~50mm focal length and the unique rendering of the 58/1.4. If it didn't have such unique rendering, I wouldn't own it. Despite the optical performance of the Sigma 50A, I have absolutely zero desire to own it ... the 50/1.8G is a fantastic lens for the money. ...Show more →
I think that's just too much... Just look at these numbers... 24,35,50,58,85? I'm not even counting the 150mm.
For me, the more lenses I own, the more it slows me down. I always end up swapping lenses just 'coz I HAVE those lenses. I know this 'coz I had lots of primes at one time. Out of those 5, I would just stick with 24/58 and be more than happy.
Iluxa007 wrote:
I think that's just too much... Just look at these numbers... 24,35,50,58,85? I'm not even counting the 150mm.
For me, the more lenses I own, the more it slows me down. I always end up swapping lenses just 'coz I HAVE those lenses. I know this 'coz I had lots of primes at one time. Out of those 5, I would just stick with 24/58 and be more than happy.
Different strokes for different folks. To me, the usage of the lenses is different enough to have them around. I don't ever carry more than 3 lenses with me at a time, so the combination of lenses I carry depends on my needs for the day. It's always based around a normal, though. If I'm going out for no specific reason, I usually pack the 24 and 58. If it's a portrait session, I take the 35/58/85, with most usage going to the 35 and 58. For a wedding ceremony, it's the 35/85. Why use a 35 and 58 at the same time and not just foot zoom? Perspective.
I could simplify my lens collection with a general f/2.8 zoom, but I like shallow depth of field and don't like the distortion at the wide end or the size/weight.
just got the lens (refurb) and starting to take a few snaps to test it. Will get out and about this weekend and put it through its paces.
These are just first test snaps. Focus on the left eye of each subject, each wide open. First is Cooper, about to get whacked next Monday (6mo). Second is my youngest, with the homework look (HS soph).
Jason_Brook wrote:
Nah, one of you guys said something that made great sense. I have a great copy, I don't want to give it up.
The 58 is like a high maintenance hottie when you're 18 years old. All you want is one thing, you're blind to how the rest of your life has become hell, but it's too good to give up. The 35 and 85 are friends that got lost in the mix
Ya, my 35mm is lost somwhere on my shelf. I do have a use for it.... about once a month but I'm SOOOO close to selling it. I really only need one prime. 85mm I was never a fan of, so I can easily replace that focal length by just using the 58mm.
I usually run and gun with 3 lenses. Travel is my 14-24mm, 58mm and 70-200mm. Not exactly a light kit, but simple and effective especially with my 2xIII for the 70-200mm.
Photoshoots I usually add the 35mm just in case, but there are not many times I just can't make the 58mm work. I'll also bring my 300mm F2.8 just for those special shots or for times when the backgrounds all suck and I just want them to go away.
But as for other primes in the 24-85mm range..... my 58mm is covering most of my shooting. I have been looking recently at some specialty lenses, but I go back and forth on it. One of them is a russian made helios 85mm F1.5 with crazy wicked bokeh, but it is one more lens that really has only 1 trick and at the end of the day I'm more than happy with the results I'm getting from the 58mm.
It is an odd feeling when you purchase a lens like the 58mm and you realize it just killed any GAS for a lens in the nearby focal range!
Jason_Brook wrote:
Nah, one of you guys said something that made great sense. I have a great copy, I don't want to give it up.
yep, I said that! Thing is, after you sell it, you look at the money and go... "now what?" Ask yourself what you will replace it with and will you be happier? It seems you're natural with that focal length, so why change a good thing?
I ended up with 20, 58 and 200 because I only shoot 2 things: landscape and portraits. If I want to shoot some birds, I put a TC on the 200/2 and go. I have other lenses but these 3 are my main tools. For me, the more lens I own, the more they clutter my frame of mind because each prime seems to be competing to be used and that just gets to be "too much". 3 primes with a body on each is just 'perfect'
You can put a 70-200 in the 200 f/2's place, but I really love the 200/2's rendering that I will make sacrifices somewhere else just to shoot this lens.
DontShoot wrote:
yep, I said that! Thing is, after you sell it, you look at the money and go... "now what?" Ask yourself what you will replace it with and will you be happier? It seems you're natural with that focal length, so why change a good thing?
I ended up with 20, 58 and 200 because I only shoot 2 things: landscape and portraits. If I want to shoot some birds, I put a TC on the 200/2 and go. I have other lenses but these 3 are my main tools. For me, the more lens I own, the more they clutter my frame of mind because each prime seems to be competing to be used and that just gets to be "too much". 3 primes with a body on each is just 'perfect'
You can put a 70-200 in the 200 f/2's place, but I really love the 200/2's rendering that I will make sacrifices somewhere else just to shoot this lens. ...Show more →
Hardcore wrote:
Ya, my 35mm is lost somwhere on my shelf. I do have a use for it.... about once a month but I'm SOOOO close to selling it. I really only need one prime. 85mm I was never a fan of, so I can easily replace that focal length by just using the 58mm.
I usually run and gun with 3 lenses. Travel is my 14-24mm, 58mm and 70-200mm. Not exactly a light kit, but simple and effective especially with my 2xIII for the 70-200mm.
Photoshoots I usually add the 35mm just in case, but there are not many times I just can't make the 58mm work. I'll also bring my 300mm F2.8 just for those special shots or for times when the backgrounds all suck and I just want them to go away.
But as for other primes in the 24-85mm range..... my 58mm is covering most of my shooting. I have been looking recently at some specialty lenses, but I go back and forth on it. One of them is a russian made helios 85mm F1.5 with crazy wicked bokeh, but it is one more lens that really has only 1 trick and at the end of the day I'm more than happy with the results I'm getting from the 58mm.
It is an odd feeling when you purchase a lens like the 58mm and you realize it just killed any GAS for a lens in the nearby focal range!...Show more →
You and Joseph make really good points. The problem is, having that "one" lens set off my GAS into hyper drive because I only use one lens, so it feels like I only have one!
My problem is my brain never shuts down and I always need something to do. Ask my wife how a new ceiling light will turn into paint, crown molding, and all kinds of other trim. Why? It keeps me busy
I am finding myself going towards a similar light kit. I recently got in the mood to change my whole kit around and I am trying to settle on a kit. I really like shooting wide so my kit reflects this.
I had:
Nikon 10.5mm fisheye shaved
nikon 14-24mm 2.8
nikon 35-70mm 2.8D
nikon 50mm 1.4G
Nikon 85mm 1.8D
nikon 105mm 2.5 AI
Nikon 180mm 2.8D
Nikon 80-400mm G (recently bought)
I just bought the 20mm 1.8G, nikon 24-70 2.8, 58mm 1.4G and 28mm 2.8 AIS
Some reason I think I prefer the old 35-70mm 2.8D so I am going to sell the 24-70 I just bought.
I am thinking I am going to keep the following:
NIkon 10.5mm love shooting a fisheye
Nikon 14-24mm
Nikon 20mm 1.8G
Nikon 28mm 2.8 AIS just for kicks
Nikon 58mm 1.4G
Nikon 35-70mm 2.8D
Nikon 105mm 2.5 AI
Nikon 180mm 2.8D
I bought the 80-400 for wildlife since I live in colorado but I am just not into it. Plus its huge and annoying to travel with. I will sell the 80-400, 24-70, 50 1.4g, 85mm 1.8D
I think my travel light kit will be:
20mm 1.8G
58mm 1.4G
180mm 2.8D (definitely not as nice as the 200mm but I love this prime)
Sorry for the lists but this is the first time I have put all this madness in writing. Helps me think it through
Ya know, whenever I end up derailing this thread (sorry!!), it's interesting to see that almost all of us have similar thoughts/feelings towards gear and it seems like we're all chasing something special....but we don't know what the hell it is.
This thread is slowly morphing into the manual focus thread, except we're all nuts over one lens...so we're a bit...off
Well, it took me a LONG time to save up for it, but it ended all lens lust once and for all
Jason_Brook wrote:
The problem is, having that "one" lens set off my GAS into hyper drive because I only use one lens, so it feels like I only have one!
haha I'm the same way. This is how I cured it.... I bought 4 bodies! That way when my hands get tired of fondling with one, there's other 3 waiting. Kinda like quad boobs. lol
I'm not sure its about trying to chase something special. I think it has more to do with how the photography gear market is. You can buy used gear use it for years and sell it for almost no loss. There isn't too many markets like this so you end up talking yourself into trying different lenses. Its fun trying different lenses and seeing which ones stand out for you. Overall all these lenses are great and the differences and flaws are really minor. Some have strong points like the bokeh of the 58mm, and its fun to try them out.
Atleast this is why I find myself changing things a lot. Its nice to know that if I dropped out of photography tomorrow I can likely break even.
Jason_Brook wrote:
Ya know, whenever I end up derailing this thread (sorry!!), it's interesting to see that almost all of us have similar thoughts/feelings towards gear and it seems like we're all chasing something special....but we don't know what the hell it is.
This thread is slowly morphing into the manual focus thread, except we're all nuts over one lens...so we're a bit...off
I think my 58/1.4 stays on my D810 80-90% of the time now. I have 35/1.8 which I rarely used, occasional 70-200/2.8 and 14-24/2.8 if I know ahead of time that I will need those. I am tempted to get 135/2dc or Zeiss 135/2 but also want to wait and see if 135/1.8 is going to come out or not to complement 58/1.4. Otherwise, I take D810 with 58/1.4 most of the time and carry A7R with Leica 24/2.8, 90/2 apo or Voigtlander 12/5.6 or 35/1.2 to complement my 58/1.4 . In the evening though, my favourite setup would also be A7R with Noct 50/.95 and sometimes it is very difficult to pick the Sony or the Nikon setup so I ended taking both quite often.
