romain_j. Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>Hi,<br> <br />I am looking for advice for 5D Mark II lenses. I have a 50mm F1.4 USM, that gives me good results. I would like to acquire a 35mm fixed focal length, I prefer to avoid zooms for obvious reasons, I heard that the 35mm F2 is really bad, especially in the corners of the image. So I'm leaning towards the 35mm F1.4, but still very expensive. Before being prohibited banking, I wanted to collect opinions of users satisfied with the couple 5D/35mm F1.4 ...<br> <br />Thank you,<br> Romain</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
link Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>I use the 35 f2.0 and...it's not bad at all. I'm quite happy with it.</p> <p>The 24mm f2.8? Not so much...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigd Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>The 35mm f/2 is very good optically; it actually has less CA than the 35mm f/1.4 L, according to reviews you can find online. Build quality is of course not as good as the L, and even a step below the 50mm f/1.4 USM, though better than the 50mm f/1.8 II. And because the 35mm f/2 doesn't have USM, it makes a small buzzing noise when autofocusing. But it's good value for money and produces nice images; definitely worth consideration if the cost of the 35mm f/1.4 L is prohibitive.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_pierlot Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>I'm with Craig on this one. All that I've read and heard about the EF 35/2 suggests that it's a very fine lens optically. In fact, if I hadn't picked up a used 35/1.4 L, I'd probably have one myself.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romain_j. Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thank you for your answers.<br /><br />Many sellers tell me that the difference between the 50mm F1.2 and 50mm F1.4 is really small, some even say that the 1.4 is better at F8 F11 (aside the quality of construction).<br /><br />But against the difference between the 35mm F2 and F1.4 is enormous. The difference in price is justified, it seems. That's why I ask your opinion.<br /><br />Craig you are using 1.4 on a 5D? <br /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigd Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>I don't own a 35mm f/1.4 L. I currently own a 35mm f/2, which I use on my 5D Mark II. The f/1.4 L is a fine lens, but for my purposes the substantial difference in cost is not justified, especially since published tests show that in some regards (CA in particular) the f/2 is actually somewhat better. Consider these quotes from slrgear.com's reviews of the two lenses:</p> <p>"At a price of about $250, the Canon 35mm f/2 lens is a winner. In a few words, here's why. In blur tests, it's a standoff with the Canon 35mm f/1.4 ($1150) and measurably better than the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX ($420). The Canon f/2 slightly outperforms the other two lenses in both chromatic aberration and geometric distortion comparisons. And it (Canon f/2) holds its own quite well in the light fall-off measurements against the other two lenses."</p> <p>"[The 35mm f/1.4 L] makes a good lens for a full-frame user if you really need that f/1.4 maximum aperture. If you can get by with f/2 to f/2.8 though, the Canon 35mm f/2 gives much better bang for the buck."</p> <p>It's true that the comparison between the 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.2 L is closer, mostly because the 50mm f/1.4 has USM with full-time manual focusing, which the 35mm f/2 does not. But the 35mm f/2 is still good enough and affordable enough that it deserves serious consideration unless you absolutely have to have USM or f/2 just isn't fast enough.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_ferris Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>The 35mm f1.4L is, justifiably, a legendary lens. The only thing keeping me from buying one now is the nagging feeling that when a new 1Ds MkIV is announced (sometime in the foreseeable future) it will be with a MkII 35 f1.4 L, I doubt the image quality will be vastly different but, for my use, I would really like weather sealing.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Everyday I shoot, street photography and street portraiture, it's with a 35 f/1.4. It's the only lens I use today. The extra cost was worth it for what I do. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_ferris Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>Brad,</p> <p>Isn't yours the Zeiss 35 f1.4? I seemed to remember you saying that was what you used in another thread. Just interested because I like a lot of your images.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thanks, Scott. Yes, I also have a Zeiss 35mm. But it's an f/2.0, not the newer f/1.4. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip_wilson Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I have the 35 F2 and I am disappointed with it. I find the 50F1.4 and 85F1.8 are both very good - especially for their price (although the 50F1.4 is soft until F2). I rarely use my 35F2 as I find the 24-70 performs as well. I was a big fan and user of the old FD series 35F2 but the EF lens has not impressed me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigd Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>Philip, you didn't say what it was about the 35mm f/2 that you found disappointing. What was it?</p> <p>The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is a fantastic zoom lens that costs something like five times the price of the 35mm f/2. I was highly impressed by its performance, but I don't like carrying around a brick on the front of my camera, so I ended up selling it.</p> <p>I don't find the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM to be all that soft below f/2, but the DOF is so shallow that it is very easy to get soft pictures.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g dan mitchell Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>Not sure why you are asking for "advice" - it seems that your mind is already made up, though based on some questionable assumptions. You want to avoid zooms "for the obvious reasons?" What might those be? You have heard that the 35mm f/2 is "really bad, " especially in the corners - which is not the case at all. And you only want the opinions of those who are "satisfied" with the lens you seem to have settled on, the 35mm f/1.4.</p> <p>Why are you asking us, again?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_ferris Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 <p>Must be honest I was wondering about <em>"the obvious reasons"</em> but didn't want to go there.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Taylor Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 I use the 35L for work. My go-to lens. if you can afford it just get it. http://www.iantaylor.ca/chakma.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_south Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 <blockquote> <p>The 35mm f1.4L is, justifiably, a legendary lens. The only thing keeping me from buying one now is the nagging feeling that when a new 1Ds MkIV is announced (sometime in the foreseeable future) it will be with a MkII 35 f1.4 L.</p> </blockquote> <p>That's funny, I just had the same dream! ;-) </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric merrill Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 <p>I really like the 35/1.4 + 5D (original). I don't think you'll be disappointed.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Smith Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 <p>People seem to like the 35/2, but when I read the review of it on "the digital picture" I wonder why as it wins no awards resolution-wise at or near full aperture - in fact it looks pretty poor. The 24/2.8 is pretty good (I have one). Pretty well everyone loves the 35/1.4 (me included), except perhaps for Photozone.de. If you cannot stretch to an L (I don't blame you) I think you will just have to get the 35/2 and be done with it. The 24-70mm, by the way, is very good at 35mm, but it is a huge lens and expensive (like the 35L).</p> Robin Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aran_watson Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 <p>Optically the 35/2 is a great little lens, IMHO. Small, light, and beautifully sharp photos. But nobody mentioned how LOUD the little sucker is! I actually had people at parties stop talking and look at me more than once! Oh well, ear plugs are cheap...<br> I think most of the incredible wonder of the 35/1.4 is in the wide-open end, plus craftsmanship. But for the same price you could buy 4 35/2s so I don't think that's as big of a factor.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Taylor Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>My link didn't work. Couple samples:<br> http://www.iantaylor.ca/chakma.jpg<br> http://www.iantaylor.ca/kid.jpg<br> http://www.iantaylor.ca/2-2.jpg</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Awesome work, Ian! www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Taylor Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Thanks Brad.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_bryant2 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Ian, those shots are great! What body are you using?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Taylor Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>Thanks. Mainly 5DMK2.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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