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Archive 2020 · What Trinity of Primes?

mborozny
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · What Trinity of Primes?

Ugh. I can’t narrow down to three. I’d been shooting mainly with zooms except for my 100mm f/2.8 non-L Macro (my favorite lens) and my 85mm f/1.8. Recently I added to 50mm f/1.8 STM and the RF 35mm to my kit. I’ll have to report back. I think I want a 24mm prime as well...

Jan 23, 2020 at 09:59 PM

Daniel Smith
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · What Trinity of Primes?

24, 50 and 100 macro. Gives you the option of close focus with the longer lens.
Basically small and lightweight outfit with the Macro lens the heaviest - but its versatility makes up for that.

Jan 23, 2020 at 11:32 PM

mdvaden
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · What Trinity of Primes?

Mar73 wrote:
One more thing. I liked the 85 on a crop body more than I did on full frame. If I ever decide to go back with a trinity of primes it will be 35/50/135.

That's the main group I'm planning to use.

Recently, the thought came to mind, what happens if my safe malfunctions the day of a shoot. I called a locksmith and he said they can drill to open if the push button combination mechanism goes bonkers, but that it may take a couple days.

So I'm going to split one camera and two zooms into my second safe with a electronic combination lock. That way if the main safe malfunctions, I'll take one two-card body and two zooms and make due.

Safe #1

2 full frame Canon camera
35mm / 50mm / 85mm / 135mm / wide zooms & random lenses

Safe #2

1 full frame Canon camera
24-70mm 2.8 / 70-200mm 2.8

...........

Jan 24, 2020 at 12:50 AM

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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · What Trinity of Primes?

Speaking of compactness...
https://sun9-50.userapi.com/c856020/v856020949/11dfab/2jgOEiwjaY4.jpg
The Tamron 85 is slightly longer than the 45 but has the same diameter and the same 67mm filter thread.

The Sigma 24/1.4 is basically the same size as the similar Canon. The old 24/1.8 is a bit shorter but as "fat", and it extends. Not a lens I'd recommend in this day and age, especially with the affordable and vastly better 1.4 out there.

Note: I was using the TDP lens comparison tool for comparing the dimensions of lenses I do not have.
https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Specifications.aspx?LensComp=1004&Lens=1047

The little old 24-85 zoom is there for reference.

Jan 24, 2020 at 02:25 AM

snowblind-2
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · What Trinity of Primes?

If you're going to shoot EF primes you may as well shoot the sharpest ones you can.

My recommendations:

Sigma 24mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 77mm filters. used @$500+/-
or
Sigma 35mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 67mm filters. used @$500+/-
or
Sigma 20mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. NO filters. used @$500+/-

Sigma 50mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 77mm filters. used @$500+/-
Canon 12mm EF Extension tube - turns the 50mm into a viable environmental macro. used @$50+/-

Sigma 135mm/1.8 Art - Big n heavy but smaller than the Sigma 85mm more useful in my opinion and smoother bokeh. 82mm filters. used @$800+/=

If you have to have an 85mm the Sigma 85mm/1.4 art definitely performs but it is really, really, big and heavy. used @$800+/=

Matt

Jan 24, 2020 at 03:00 AM

erjennin
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · What Trinity of Primes?

snowblind-2 wrote:
If you're going to shoot EF primes you may as well shoot the sharpest ones you can.

My recommendations:

Sigma 24mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 77mm filters. used @$500+/-
or
Sigma 35mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 67mm filters. used @$500+/-
or
Sigma 20mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. NO filters. used @$500+/-

Sigma 50mm/1.4 Art - Reasonable size and really good optically. 77mm filters. used @$500+/-
Canon 12mm EF Extension tube - turns the 50mm into a viable environmental macro. used @$50+/-

Sigma 135mm/1.8 Art - Big n heavy but smaller than the Sigma 85mm...Show more →

The Sigma line is interesting ... thanks

Jan 25, 2020 at 02:58 AM

ashton lamont
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · What Trinity of Primes?

erjennin wrote:
The Sigma line is interesting ... thanks

I have the Sigma 20mm f1.4 Art and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 Art. They are both beasts being heavy and physically large. For those reasons the OP's original criteria don't really match especially if he has to carry more than one of the primes with him. In that scenario a 24-70 f2.8 zoom such as the very affordable Tamron G2 (with its 5 stops of stabilisation) might be a better practical fit. BTW the 20 and 85 don't "dominate" my 6D-II even though that cam s a bit smaller than my 5D-IV and 5DS-R.

Pete

Jan 25, 2020 at 04:00 AM

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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · What Trinity of Primes?

The options below 35mm are kinda limited.

At 20mm, it's only the Sigma 1.4 or the iffy old Canon 2.8.
At 24mm, the Sigma 1.4 will cover a lot of ground unless you want the smaller Canon 2.8 with IS.
At 28mm, again, it's the huge, new and flawless Sigma 1.4, the lousy little Canon 1.8 (which, truth to be told, should be fine by f/4) or the Canon 2.8 with IS.

Or use the zooms throughout, of course. I know I'm using the 16-35 before I turn to the 24/1.4, which is usually in the dark places.

Jan 25, 2020 at 04:12 AM

erjennin
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · What Trinity of Primes?

Snopchenko wrote:
The options below 35mm are kinda limited.

At 20mm, it's only the Sigma 1.4 or the iffy old Canon 2.8.
At 24mm, the Sigma 1.4 will cover a lot of ground unless you want the smaller Canon 2.8 with IS.
At 28mm, again, it's the huge, new and flawless Sigma 1.4, the lousy little Canon 1.8 (which, truth to be told, should be fine by f/4) or the Canon 2.8 with IS.

Or use the zooms throughout, of course. I know I'm using the 16-35 before I turn to the 24/1.4, which is usually in the dark places.

Thanks all for the suggestions. It’s kinda tough to decide... the fast primes are still fairly large, but optically sharp (Sigma and L glass).... maybe one good zoom would be a good option?

Jan 27, 2020 at 08:56 AM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · What Trinity of Primes?

erjennin wrote:
About to pick up a 6D Mark II. I like to shoot primes to keep the kit small. I typically shoot 24/50/85 with the 24mm being used for vlogging. What EF lenses do you recommend keeping price in mind.... for example, I know the 85L lens is amazing but that’s too expensive for me. Fast aperture, sharpness, and contrast considered.

I'm late to the show here, but if your goal is to keep the kit small...

... you'll need to add up the weight and bulk of the three primes and compare that to whatever 24-105mm (or 24-70mm?) zoom you could use.

If you are looking at L primes, three of them pretty quickly add up to a larger, heavier (and more expensive!) package than a zoom.

Jan 27, 2020 at 10:25 AM

erjennin
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · What Trinity of Primes?

Exactly what I was thinking as I was contemplating the best options being suggested. Unless I'm using the Nifty Fifty or Pancake 40mm, the 1.4 primes quickly add up to more than the weight of a 24-70 f/2.8

Jan 27, 2020 at 01:27 PM

tcphoto
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · What Trinity of Primes?

You will need to decide your own budget but speed and price usually go hand in hand. I would suggest buying clean used gear instead of new. If you're set on a 24mm lens, then a 24, 50 and 85 would be a good start. Since I do very little wide angle work images I went with the 16-35/4LIS to go with a 50L, 85LIS and 100LIS which is used on most of my shoots. A used 135L can be had for under $700 and is a beautiful lens.

Jan 27, 2020 at 04:47 PM

CelesteForza
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · What Trinity of Primes?

For me it would be an ultra wide in the 18-21mm range, 35 (a must!) and 50mm.

Jan 27, 2020 at 05:55 PM

bay-to-the-apple
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · What Trinity of Primes?

For some reason I find that a trinity just makes me waste time overthinking what to bring. After selling my other primes I've settled (for now) on the Tamron 35mm 1.4 and Tamron 85mm 1.8. Instead of worrying around 3 lenses to carry around I just have two: wide and telephoto.

I'm sure I could have lived with 35mm f2 IS (amazing lens) and 85mm 1.8 as a lighter kit but gear lust got the best of me.

I do have the nifty 50 lying around but find it's usage pretty minimal since I just take a few steps back with the 85mm.

I am considering the Tamron 45mm as a one lens solution if I don't want to carry around two lenses.

For vlogging the 24mm 2.8 would be great. I don't think a 24mm 1.8 exists. Although the Tamron 17-35mm might be a better bang for buck.

Jan 28, 2020 at 07:48 AM

GeneO
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · What Trinity of Primes?

35L 1,4/135L 2.0/400L 5.6. I fill the rest in with 28-70L 2.8 and 70-200 2.8L

I keep thinking I should get rid of the 35 or 135 ... until I take some images with them

Jan 30, 2020 at 12:15 AM

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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · What Trinity of Primes?

bay-to-the-apple wrote:
I don't think a 24mm 1.8 exists. Although the Tamron 17-35mm might be a better bang for buck.

In Canon mount there's the Sigma 24/1.8 but it's old and not so good.
I, too, think that a lens like the 16-35/4 or 24-70/4 might make perfect sense, unless a fast option is necessary. Heck, if the 24~85 range needs to be covered, there's the old Canon 24-85 lens, too.

I own one but I know it's not a popular choice, as it's old, discontinued, brittle and god only knows how well it works on FF.

Jan 30, 2020 at 05:34 AM

mawz
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · What Trinity of Primes?

If you can live with MF, there's also the Rokinon 20/1.8 and the Zeiss 21mm Distagon. The latter is brilliant, the former cheap and not too bad.

Jan 30, 2020 at 04:12 PM

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