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Archive 2022 · RF lens dilemma

IA40D
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · RF lens dilemma

I have an opportunity to pick up a 15-35 2.8, and 24-70 2.8 for 3400, which i think is fair prices as both are in excellent condition. But i have been thinking the 14-35 & 50 1.2 may be the better route. I shoot a mix of landscapes, street and portraits. Have ef 70-200is2 and 135f2 that i will still use converted. Whats everyones experience with the 15-35 vs the 14-35, and do you think the 24-70 is better to have then a 50 1.2, obviously the 1.2 opens a few options for you in low light. Thanks for any input.

Sep 18, 2022 at 09:32 PM

comotionfilms
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · RF lens dilemma

The 50 1.2 is special, if you can live with the focal length. While more versatile, I’ve never felt a 2.8 zoom was special, but maybe that’s just me.

Sep 18, 2022 at 09:57 PM

garyvot
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · RF lens dilemma

Certainly, it is reasonable to pair an ultrawide and tele zoom with a 50mm prime and skip the "standard" zoom altogether, unless there are cases where you just want to carry a single lens and need more flexibility than the 50.

I don't find f/2.8 to be all that valuable in the ultrawide range, so my preference is for the f/4 there. But I also shoot with a 24-70 f/2.8, so it's really only wider than 24mm where I give up the aperture.

Bryan at TheDigitalPicture.com has tested both the 14-35L and the 15-35L, and the slower lens actually seems to have slightly better peripheral sharpness at some focal lengths. It is, however, much weaker at 35mm (assuming the copy he tested is typical), so if that is a preferred focal length, the faster zoom might be a better option, especially if pairing with the 50mm.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1569&Camera=1508&Sample=0&FLI=5&API=0&LensComp=1414&CameraComp=1508&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0

Sep 18, 2022 at 10:03 PM

jtford9
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · RF lens dilemma

I have the 15-35 and the RF50 1.2 and yes the 50 is special. One of the best lenses I’ve ever owned.

However at my sons college graduation this year I really needed a versatile zoom to get everything. College landscapes, portraits and groups shots… I was looking at the RF24-70 but ended up grabbing the RF28-70 refurb on the Canon site with an extra 10% off on the Loyalty Program. That lens is in the same league of excellence as the RF50. For your needs? Decide if the low light performance of the 50 and the amazing bokeh is as important as the all around versatility of the 24-70.

FWIW the 15-35 is also a fantastic lens for its IQ, build and performance. The IS combined with the IBIS of the R5/R3 allowed me to hand hold at 2 seconds- at least for test shots.

Sep 18, 2022 at 10:18 PM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · RF lens dilemma

IA40D wrote:
I have an opportunity to pick up a 15-35 2.8, and 24-70 2.8 for 3400, which i think is fair prices as both are in excellent condition. But i have been thinking the 14-35 & 50 1.2 may be the better route. I shoot a mix of landscapes, street and portraits. Have ef 70-200is2 and 135f2 that i will still use converted. Whats everyones experience with the 15-35 vs the 14-35, and do you think the 24-70 is better to have then a 50 1.2, obviously the 1.2 opens a few options for you in low light. Thanks for any...Show more →

I haven't shot these but for portraits 135 and 70-200/2.8 are more along the lines of the FL I'd use. 50/1.2 might be nice if you are looking to blur bg.

Dustin Abbott has a nice 14-35 review I skimmed after it was mentioned on here the other day. You might look at it to help you decide. I could probably be happy using just 24-70 a lot of the time on landscapes. But it's not really a great portrait FL and aperture though I'm sure it can be used.

Sep 18, 2022 at 10:48 PM

dolina
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · RF lens dilemma

I'd get the 15-35 2.8, and 24-70 2.8 for $3400 as both new are $4700.

When you're unhappy with both sell it for a profit later when it does not fit your shooting style.

I see buying a "good deal" as a cheap way for long term direct personal test.

Edited on Sep 18, 2022 at 11:30 PM · View previous versions

Sep 18, 2022 at 11:10 PM

tsangc
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · RF lens dilemma

While I personally am a fan of the 24-70mm focal length, don't make your decision on something being a good deal. Go with your gut as to what you know will be the correct focal lengths for your style and projects.

Sep 18, 2022 at 11:16 PM

the-ninth
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · RF lens dilemma

From my side a vote for the RF 50/1.2 instead of the 24-70. It delivers fantastic quality already wide open, and the face/eye detection autofocus of the mirrorless cameras make the 1.2 more usable for portraits than it was with DSLRs. And like you wrote, the 1.2 really open up a lot of possibilities for background separation and low light.

Sep 19, 2022 at 12:14 AM

JimmyJames
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · RF lens dilemma

comotionfilms wrote:
The 50 1.2 is special if you can live with the focal length. While more versatile, I’ve never felt a 2.8 zoom was special, but maybe that’s just me.

I own the holy trinity of f2.8 zooms and wholly agree. They are the workhorse of an event photographer but even some of the budget STM primes can deliver excellent images in ways the zooms cannot.

Sep 19, 2022 at 06:13 AM

IA40D
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · RF lens dilemma

It has been a bit since i have owned a 50, i think the 14 or 15-35 will be a must just a overall fun lens to shoot with i still enjoy my ef 17-40, the real question is size is not a consideration they are 10oz between the two and that is not an issue, does a guy get a new 14 or used 15 both are bringing about the same money at the moment. The 24-70 is an extra for me, i think it may be handy in certain situations to just have it, but if i got the 15 there really is an over lap that the 50 would probably fill.

Sep 19, 2022 at 11:46 AM

Z250SA
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · RF lens dilemma

I like to bring one special lens along the usual bread and butter lenses. In my case that is mostly a ZE as it brings both a different look as well as manual focusing slowing the world down. But it can be the RF 16mm or in bygone days EF 50/1.2L, EF 85/1.2 Mk1 or 135/2L. Choose by inspiration.

Of your three subjects I´m only familiar with landscape where I use everything from Sigma 8mm 180° to 800/11+2x. But even in landscapes there can be f/1.2 subjects out there. And with eye focus now I would get any of the f/1.2 to try out. Can be sold if no pleasure found.

I would _definitely_ get a special looks lens!

Sep 19, 2022 at 12:53 PM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · RF lens dilemma

I haven't upgraded 50/1.8 v2 yet in part because it's good but also because it isn't a lens I use much. I'd use 24-70 quite often.

Sep 19, 2022 at 01:04 PM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · RF lens dilemma

Boring as it may seem the 24-70mm is a million times more useful for the average photographer including for portraits than an ultra expensive, ultra fast 50mm. F1.2 is a bit gimmicky too. You could get the 50 f1.8 which I am told is a good lens and so much cheaper, if suddenly you want a shallow depth of field or you don't want to carry such a big lens. It's only $160. If you get the 50mm f1.2, you'll still end up wishing you had a zoom if you do any kind of event shooting.

Sep 19, 2022 at 04:54 PM

comotionfilms
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · RF lens dilemma

Robin Smith wrote:
Boring as it may seem the 24-70mm is a million times more useful for the average photographer including for portraits than an ultra expensive, ultra fast 50mm. F1.2 is a bit gimmicky too. You could get the 50 f1.8 which I am told is a good lens and so much cheaper, if suddenly you want a shallow depth of field or you don't want to carry such a big lens. It's only $160. If you get the 50mm f1.2, you'll still end up wishing you had a zoom if you do any kind of event shooting.

No offense, but this is spoken like someone who has never used the rf 50 1.2. If you’ve used it, you know it’s far from a gimmick, even if it’s not the lens for you.

Zooms are definitely more useful, but recently I’ve decided to stop using boring, safe lenses. To each their own, and if you need useful over exciting (events being a good example), then zoom away. I have the 28-70, the 24-70 and the 24-105 and they are all my least used lenses, by far. I occasionally grab the 28-70 when it’s for work and I need to be safe, so I get the appeal, but I rarely see an image from it and think “wow.” I often get that feeling when using the 50 or one of my 35s. Again, shoot what you love, but I’d try the 1.2 before calling it a gimmick, because it’s a amazing lens.

Sep 19, 2022 at 08:06 PM

comotionfilms
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · RF lens dilemma

IA40D wrote:
I shoot a mix of landscapes, street and portraits.

It sounds like you’ve already got your portrait lenses, so you need a street lens and landscape lens. As much as I love the 50, is it too long for street? I feel like I want a 35 for that, but it’s not my specialty.

Sep 19, 2022 at 08:17 PM

IA40D
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · RF lens dilemma

Yeah think if i go 2.8 on 15-35 at up to 35 that covers some of the range of the 24-70 where maybe i could just use me feet and the 50 to cover the zoom this wont be use much for events. Decisions decisions

Sep 20, 2022 at 08:05 AM

Z250SA
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · RF lens dilemma

Yes it can be difficult to decide, but keep in mind that lenses keep their value well, RF probably better than EF at this point in time. It is pretty easy to swap a quality lens for an other, add a fistful of dollars for lubrication and you have a handful of new lens to explore.

Sep 20, 2022 at 09:19 AM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · RF lens dilemma

but I rarely see an image from it and think “wow.”

Of course, this is a natural riposte. How one deals with it will be partly what kind of photographer you are and how you allocate your funds. My riposte to the "rarely seen image" is that it is not the equipment that makes the image, but the photographer. There is absolutely nothing "boring" about a zoom in the range of 24-70 etc. These are workhorse lens focal lengths, and the 50mm focal length is included in the zoom. The f1.2 will add something different to the zoom shot at 50mm (lots of blur/bokeh), but the zoom adds all the extra focal lengths. Which is really more useful? If utility is not a criterion then of course you can have both zooms and primes and spend away. The RF 50mm is, however, a very expensive way of getting a 50mm prime lens.

Sep 20, 2022 at 10:03 AM

comotionfilms
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · RF lens dilemma

I’m giving him/her an answer based on my experience, since I own both. Like I said, when shooting both, I rarely saw “wow” when I see an image from my zooms, but I often do when I shoot with the 50 1.2. Is it a crutch for me? Maybe.

Have you shot with the 1.2? Are your experiences different? The zooms do their job, they are versatile and safe, but for me, they don’t add any excitement to the image. The 50 is just amazing in that regard.

Do people make amazing images with zooms? Of course they do. Do I? Not very often, or at least not my favorite images (the 70-200 being the exception). Coming from someone who owns way too many lenses, I’ve come to realize that I only want to buy and use lenses that are special, but that’s just me. I’ve got a million boring, safe images, so they just don’t interest me anymore. I want to love a lens and the image it produces.

Robin Smith wrote:
Of course, this is a natural riposte. How one deals with it will be partly what kind of photographer you are and how you allocate your funds. My riposte to the "rarely seen image" is that it is not the equipment that makes the image, but the photographer. There is absolutely nothing "boring" about a zoom in the range of 24-70 etc. These are workhorse lens focal lengths, and the 50mm focal length is included in the zoom. The f1.2 will add something different to the zoom shot at 50mm (lots of blur/bokeh), but the zoom adds all the...Show more →

Sep 20, 2022 at 11:36 AM

jabri2020
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · RF lens dilemma

Sep 20, 2022 at 05:21 PM

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