Fast prime for a crop sensor

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chris-red

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Chris
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I'm looking for a good fast prime for my 50d.

I have a 50mm 1.8 but find it is too long and I would like something that focuses quicker too. Will be used as a walk about prime, for people shooting (i.e. parties and the like) also for the Roller derby shoots I do (fast moving low light)

What I am looking at....

20mm f2.8 USM
Pros USM
Cons maybe too wide, expensive

28mm f1.8 USM
Pros wide aperture and USM
Cons Expensive

35mm f2
Pros ideal focal length?
Cons no USM same as 50mm in focusing?

40mm f2.8 STM
Pros Cheap, STM focus?(any good)?
Cons too long maybe


I'm still not entirely sure which would be best and not even set on what focal length I want. Any input? Ideally under £300 but may stretch for the right lens.
 
wuyanxu said:
I don't believe it exists on Canon.

35mm f2 is the answer, it's a full frame lens as well in case you want to upgrade your camera in the future.
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I'm concerned about the focusing speed on it though, no USM is it noticably faster than the 50 1.8?
 
I quite liked the Sigma 30mm f/1,4 when I owned a crop. You can pick up a new one for around £300 from onestop-digital.com. Mine was a little soft between 1.4 to 1.8, but very sharp thereafter, and at least had 1.4 as an option if you needed it. You also get a nice hood and pouch for free, unlike with Canon non-L lenses.
 
Orville said:
I quite liked the Sigma 30mm f/1,4 when I owned a crop. You can pick up a new one for around £300 from onestop-digital.com. Mine was a little soft between 1.4 to 1.8, but very sharp thereafter, and at least had 1.4 as an option if you needed it. You also get a nice hood and pouch for free, unlike with Canon non-L lenses.
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Thats looks good, how does it compare to the 28 1.8 and the 35 f2?
 
28 or 35 for walkabout prime. I would find the 20 too wide.

30/35 just seems to be a happy medium and happy medium is the best you can get if just going out with one prime lens. I actually prefer the look that a 50 gives but it is more often than not too long (and please no-one mention 'zooming with your feet' as that is nonsense)
 
chris-red said:
I'm concerned about the focusing speed on it though, no USM is it noticably faster than the 50 1.8?
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It's faster than 50mm f1.8, it's more than fast enough because the amount of overall movement is relatively short.

Only concern for lack of USM is the motor noise, it's quite noticeable when it goes hunting. Otherwise it's hardly noticeable.
 
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wuyanxu said:
It's faster than 50mm f1.8, it's more than fast enough because the amount of overall movement is relatively short.

Only concern for lack of USM is the motor noise, it's quite noticeable when it goes hunting. Otherwise it's hardly noticeable.
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Not bothered about noise as long as it locks on quick. The sigma 30 - 1.4 looks perefect to be honest but, I keep reading about some copies being soft and some having focusing issues. TBH I don't want that trouble!
 
wuyanxu said:
I don't believe it exists on Canon.

35mm f2 is the answer, it's a full frame lens as well in case you want to upgrade your camera in the future.
Click to expand...

Out of all the primes ive used (no L's though) i found this to be the nicest on a crop camera.

I'd say AF speed was about the same as the 40mm STM. Both a bit slower than my 50 f/1.4 but more than good enough unless using AI Servo IME.
 
chris-red said:
Not bothered about noise as long as it locks on quick. The sigma 30 - 1.4 looks perefect to be honest but, I keep reading about some copies being soft and some having focusing issues. TBH I don't want that trouble!
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I had 3 copies of the Sigma. Maybe i was just unlucky but all had issues in some way. The worst was focusing at smaller apertures. Group shots at, say, f/8, 20ft would show an obvious miss focus more times than not, although closer shots, even wide open would be fine.
Its a nice lens but i ended up with the 35 f/2 and had no regrets and no issues.
I'd love one of the new IS versions, although i cant really afford one just yet.
 
I had the same problem on my crop. 50mm was great by to long indoors with kids. Also a bit loud. Looked at the 35f2 and 28f1.8 and sig 30. Was put off the 35 by reports of it being noisier than the 50 and it was also to close to the 50. Sigma got ruled out in case I ever move up to ff so went for the 28mm so far so good.
 
dave_bass5 said:
I had 3 copies of the Sigma. Maybe i was just unlucky but all had issues in some way. The worst was focusing at smaller apertures. Group shots at, say, f/8, 20ft would show an obvious miss focus more times than not, although closer shots, even wide open would be fine.
Its a nice lens but i ended up with the 35 f/2 and had no regrets and no issues.
I'd love one of the new IS versions, although i cant really afford one just yet.
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I wouldn't have thought the aperture would affect focus as all focusing is done with the lens wide open right?
 
chris-red said:
I wouldn't have thought the aperture would affect focus as all focusing is done with the lens wide open right?
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Yes, I suppose it was distance rather than f stop, but i wouldn't have been using large aperture outdoors for those sort of shots so never really experimented with it. I even proved it to the shop staff so it was replicable, although not always obvious.
 
I think I'm gonna rule out the sigma, I can;t be doing with the lucky dip of a good lens but am still torn between the 35 and the 28,


The 35mm is £207, the 28mm £315

is USM and the extra what? 1/3 stop? worth £100?
 
chris-red said:
I'm concerned about the focusing speed on it though, no USM is it noticably faster than the 50 1.8?
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I use the 35m f2 for boxing and other combat photogrpahy.. Its excellent ..focusing is great even in the low light boxing venues I go to.. Absoloutly love this lens.. Used to use it on the crop canon 1dmkIV and now on FF 1dx
 
KIPAX said:
I use the 35m f2 for boxing and other combat photogrpahy.. Its excellent ..focusing is great even in the low light boxing venues I go to.. Absoloutly love this lens.. Used to use it on the crop canon 1dmkIV and now on FF 1dx
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Sounds good! I'm leaning towards it.:thumbs:
 
I think USM is great if it's the sort that allows full time manual focus.

I went for the Sigma and it was sharp from f1.4 straight out of the box and never missed a beat, and as I keep saying :D ... I've never had a front/back focus issue with any Sigma lens I've owned, or any Canon, Nikon, Tamron or Panasonic either.

If the Sigma was an also ran I'd agree with passing it by but as it should be one of the front runners at this focal length it'd be a shame to not consider it and if you're worried about focus issues maybe you could visit a dealer and try before you buy?
 
chris-red said:
I think I'm gonna rule out the sigma, I can;t be doing with the lucky dip of a good lens but am still torn between the 35 and the 28,


The 35mm is £207, the 28mm £315

is USM and the extra what? 1/3 stop? worth £100?
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I'd look more at the difference in focal lengths rather than the 1/3 stop difference.
You may, or may not, find 35mm too long, in which case its worth paying the extra for a wider reach. No point having a new lens and not wanting to use it.
If you think 35mm is fine then i see no reason not to go for that over the 28mm.

To be honest ive not seen many good reviews of the 28mm f/1.8 (Photozone only gave it 2/5 for optical quality), although ive not read many reviews of it anyway.
 
I considered the 28mm f1.8 also, but I've read it's not as sharp as 35mm f2, and corners are much worse.

There are 2 things that never leave my camera bag (except spare battery and other usual stuff) they are the 35mm f2 and 270ExII flash. The 35/2 is a cracking lens.
 
Going for the 35mm

From all I've read they aren't far off each other but the price difference swings it.

Thanks all for your input.
 
dave_bass5 said:
Nice one. Its not a perfect lens but i loved mine over any other prime ive owned, until i got my 100 f2 :-)
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Ha if it was perfect for £208 everyone would have one! I ordered if romg Calumet in London they just have to get one sent down from there head office I should be able to pick it up tomorrow or Wednesday :-).
 
Thats a very good price as well. Even Digital Rev are asking quite a bit more for it.
I sold mine for £100, with official hood a couple of years ago. what a mug lol.

When i first got mine i had a 350D. With the 35 on that i could put the camera in my jacket pocket. Not much chance of doing that now with my 5DMKIII, not even with the pancake lens :-(
 
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