robert_thommes1 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Here's your challenge. Suggest one single prime lens to use as a walkaround lens. Define "walkaround lens" as a lens capable of tackling these situations: unknown(in advance ) circumstances, cityscapes, interiors, people, tours, landscapes(near and far), walks in the woods, etc, etc. But most importantly, I'm interested in why you suggested what you did. I realize that what ever you decide will be full of comprimises. For use on a 1.6 crop camera. Thanks for playing along. I do appreicate your responses.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umesh_bhayaraju Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>50 mm lens has been a standard for a while. 85 mm is too is a good option. FX lens i mean. you get what you see with these lenses. ideal in my opinion. need zoom walk few steps forward.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_bryant1 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>I tend to like wide/normal views of things, and I like the view of a 35mm lens on full frame. On crop frame that would translate back to about 22mm, and in fact I've used a 24mm f/1.4 on crop frame and found it to be very nice. That would be my choice if I could pick anything. It's an expensive choice though.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppyDigs Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Depends on how your inner eye sees. For me, a 35mm on FF is about as natural as it gets. See the picture and raise camera to eye and click. I like 50mm too but it's a too tight much of the time. The EF 20 2.8, 24 2.8 and 24 1.4L are about as close as it gets to the same angle of view on APS-C.</p> Sometimes the light’s all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. - Robert Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leslie_cheung Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>20mm on a dx cam.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevor_martin Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>I'm partial to something close to 35mm, which is my favorite focal length to use on my rangefinders. For my 40d I use my Sigma 24mm 1.8 macro lens (which is equivalent to about 38mm full-frame) when I want a do it all prime. It's wider than the traditional 50mm, but not too wide to be used for other subjects which makes it a good all-around lens for me. At one point it was my least-used lens but feeling a bit of boredom one day I decided to challenge myself by spending a day using it alone and discovered that how versatile it was for my shooting style. </p> <p>Of your list of criteria I think it would have the most trouble with interiors and people depending on the specifics of the shot. It's fine for groups of people but would probably be to wide for single portraits. Depending on the building it might not be wide enough if you want to capture the entire room, although the wide aperture would help with lighting. It might not have enough reach for long distance shots. Otherwise I think it can handle most situations quite fine, and since the sigma can focus on something as close as a few inches, I find that it has great overall utility and can handle some shots that I cannot get with my zooms, or situations that a longer macro prime would have trouble with. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjoseph7 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Oops I didn't see the word "prime", I favor a 50mm f1.4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek_hofmann Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>A wide angle lens, as wide as possible. It will allow you to get the wide angle shots which other lenses can't get, and then to zoom in, just crop. How much more versatile can you get than that?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g dan mitchell Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>A single prime lens is not really the best tool for the tasks you describe.</p> <p>Dan</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvy Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Are you about to make a purchase? I would advise that you walk around with your kit zoom lens for a day and try out the various lengths. Then settle for what seems most natural to you.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Agree with G Dan. Although I shoot on the street with a 35mm and FF cam, for the wide range of activities you mentioned a zoom is more appropriate. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Trick question, right? There isn't one.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swilson Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>I often just use my 28mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor camera, which is about the same as a 45mm lens on a FF camera. Often it is not was wide as I would like, in which case I simply take a few shots and stitch them together. Mostly I use the 28mm if I think I am going to be in low light, if I have a lot of light I use a 18-55mm zoom.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Michael Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Confining my answer to Canon lenses, EF24F/1.4L USM. This is the most used "walkabout" Prime on my APS-C bodies.</p> <p>WW</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anders_carlsson Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <blockquote> <p>A single prime lens is not really the best tool for the tasks you describe.</p> </blockquote> <p>To say the least. You describe the reasons why people buy superzooms.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecahn Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>24 f1.4L</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdigi Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>If you find the prime or even the zoom that does all this well let me know I'll take it. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpurvis Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>28 1.8. Do it myself all the time.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpurvis Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>Why? To capture what I see. I am not trying to get THE shot, just what I see. It is how I interpret the world before me and not what I can do with ant certain set of optics. One of the challenges in using a single, prime lens is the limitation. Would this be my choice for a wedding or an event? Of course not. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjferron Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>The 35 or 35 equivalent is my normal favorite. 50 is just a touch tight for me but then again sometimes the extra reach is welcome. If I was photographing people on the street I'd probably prefer something in the 90 range. One guy whose work I see a lot uses a 135 on full frame shooting street candids and comes away with some superb keepers. In the end you pick a lens and make the best possible shots utilizing it's pluses and working within it's limitations.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ty_mickan Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>'walkaround lens' could be the most ridiculous term in all of photography.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_morris4 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 <p>35mm Zeiss ZE on full frame.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_morris4 Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 <p>Oops. Sorry I forgot about the 1.6x factor. Is there a nice, small, fast 24mm? Or 21?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g dan mitchell Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 <blockquote> <p><em>One of the challenges in using a single, prime lens is the limitation. </em></p> </blockquote> <p>What is the value of limiting yourself this way? Isn't there at least equal value in choosing the right tool for the job at hand?</p> <p>Dan</p> <p>BTW, I shoot primes and zooms and choose from among them based on what I'm shooting for the most part. I can make good photographs with either, and in various situations either might be the better choice.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_klimowicz Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 <p>The 24mm 1.4L is unbeatable IMHO, both on an APS-C or full-frame.</p> <p>On a FF body you get the unique combination of a wide angle and a very shallow DOF, and on an APS-C body you get a lens that is roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens (still a fairly wide "normal" lens); one of the few options for this on APS-C.</p> <p>In both cases, you get an incredible lens that is fast, sharp, not too very big (relatively), and can hold up in all sorts of weather.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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