Full frame prime?

I went for the nikon 50 1.2 as something completely different from the modern zooms. It's really nice on the 5dmk2
 
I have the 24-105, 17-40 and swapped my 70-200F4IS for a 100-400.

Prime wise I've got a 135mm F2, it is ideal for headshots, candids at weddings and events etc, is small, fast, very very sharp and takes the 1.4x exii converter really well giving me a 189mm f2.8 which comes in handy from time to time. It is probably my favourite lens to use even if I don't find that many occasions to use it.
 
That's handy to know Mark.

I thought the extender only worked on certain zooms. Any other primes it works on?
 
I've still got my 24-105 although it's virtually redundant since I got my 70-200 MkII and a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 IF EX HSM. I've also got a 35 f2, a 50 f1.4 and an 85 f1.8 primes that get used mostly for portrait and group shots. I got them all second hand and they cost around £700 for the 3. The only other prime I have is the 100 f2.8L macro which also gets used as a portrait/walkabout lens occasionally.

The wife has a 40 f2.8 STM that she uses on her 650D and I occasionally use that if we're both out shooting but it's not very often. The 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.8 are the best 2 on my 5D3 without a doubt, but the 35 f2 and 50 f1.4 are the best on my 7D as I prefer the focal length of them.
 
HI Jeff,
I have a 50 1.4 [1.2 eyewatering price] 28 1.8. I'd quite like an 85mm for portraits but there you go. Can't have everything!
TTFN
 
Funny thing is I've previously owned both the 50f1.4 and 85f1.8 but that was when I had my 40d and they always felt too long...also I had the 17-55f2.8 so never thought the advantage of f1.8 was that great, especially as the 17-55f2.8 was sharp at 2.8 whereas I always had to stop the others down to get similar results.

I am tempted to try a 50mm prime now I am full frame, perhaps I should do for the f1.8 version 2nd hand to see how much I use that focal length...
 
I had 50/1.4, 100L macro and 85/1.2 primes that I used a lot (plus a 24/1.4 that I rarely used). I liked the 50/1.4 for low light shooting/general use and the two longer primes for portraits. Both had advantages (ultra fast v IS/slightly dreamy v pin sharp).
 
All Canon lenses and used on a 5D & 40D (I also have zooms but the 70-200 F4 is not the IS version)

24mm F2.8, 35mm F2 (also makes for a good back up lens when travelling), 50mm F1.8 (mainly because of the price but it doesn't see much use), 85mm F1.8 and 135mm F2.

I am asked to shoot classical music/opera rehearsals and concerts.
 
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Depends where your interests lie really, Jeff! I have 3 primes in the bag, the most used of which is the 8mm fisheye. The 50mm and 105 Micro come out to play when needed but the zooms I use cover the focal lengths, so it's only very low light and true macro that they tend to get used for.

A 50 f/1.8 will be inexpensive and easily sold on at little or no loss if bought wisely.
 
85mm f/1.8.

For £300 new it's simply stunning, lovely and sharp even wide open.

It's amazing on both 5d and 50d.

Also 35mm f/2.
 
Binned my zooms and went prime quite a while ago. Sigma 50 1.4 and Nikon 85 1.8 G, found the 135L to long when I used Canon. Looking into getting the Sigma 35 & 85 1.4 also. I use FF.
 
Sigma 85mm f1.4

Great focal length for portraits.
Low light performance
Lovely bokeh
 
Thanks for all the replies....

When I am out with the family walking etc I normally have to get grab shots of the kids and don't always have time to swap lenses to one more suited to the portrait shot...
:(

I guess my prime use of a prime! would be for setup shots - I guess the 50mm would be the most versatile for that and would double up when in confined spaces at say family gatherings where I don't want to look too toggery! and flash would be intrusive...the 40mm pancake looks interesting but it's only f2.8
 
kennysarmy said:
Thanks for all the replies....

When I am out with the family walking etc I normally have to get grab shots of the kids and don't always have time to swap lenses to one more suited to the portrait shot...
:(

I guess my prime use of a prime! would be for setup shots - I guess the 50mm would be the most versatile for that and would double up when in confined spaces at say family gatherings where I don't want to look too toggery! and flash would be intrusive...the 40mm pancake looks interesting but it's only f2.8
Click to expand...

You lucky youngsters some of us are so old we only had primes when the kids were young,and manual focus at that
 
kennysarmy said:
Thanks for all the replies....

When I am out with the family walking etc I normally have to get grab shots of the kids and don't always have time to swap lenses to one more suited to the portrait shot...
:(

I guess my prime use of a prime! would be for setup shots - I guess the 50mm would be the most versatile for that and would double up when in confined spaces at say family gatherings where I don't want to look too toggery! and flash would be intrusive...the 40mm pancake looks interesting but it's only f2.8
Click to expand...

If you're not wanting to swap lenses just use zooms, they're ideal for changable situations.

With your 5D2 you can bump the ISO reasonably high, unless you need wafer thin DoF, which, with moving subjects like children brings its own challenges) why not use something like your 24-105 or a 24-70 f2.8 and compensate for the stop, stop and a half you lose over primes, by upping the ISO.
 
CaptainPenguin said:
You lucky youngsters some of us are so old we only had primes when the kids were young,and manual focus at that
Click to expand...

And you're better photographers because of it!
 
kennysarmy said:
I guess my prime use of a prime! would be for setup shots - I guess the 50mm would be the most versatile for that and would double up when in confined spaces at say family gatherings where I don't want to look too toggery! and flash would be intrusive...the 40mm pancake looks interesting but it's only f2.8
Click to expand...

in confined space, I find 35mm is much more useful. for me, personally, I found 50 to be pretty useless, too tight in confined space, too wide outside.

so, I have 35/2 and 85/1.8. 35mm gets used a lot as it's the perfect prime IMHO (small, light and fast). 85mm only gets a place in the bag to compliment my 17-40mm in 2 lens setup or for portraits.
 
Ah, somehow I thought this was a Canon thread so never looked in. Primes in general then?

I'm pondering on some lush primes at present. Only have the one, Nikon 105mm 2.8 micro - which is a brill lens, but it's not getting used much since I bought the 70-200 2.8.

I have a 24-70 2.8 too. But fancy the new sigma 35mm 1.4 - I just hate crossing over focal lengths! I'm wondering should I sell the 24-70, nice a lens as it is, it's pretty hefty for it's size and I probably use it most in the 35-50 range. Or sell the 105mm to allow me get the 35mm 1.4, and just get some cheap macro tubes for whenever I want to do some close ups?
 
My 50mm f1.2 was pretty much stuck to my 5D mk2 and guess it'll be the same with the mk3.

I do have a Tamron 28-75 that is barely used and have been thinking of selling it and buying another prime, but not sure what to go for!

Rob
 
I went the oppposite way and ditched my 24-105 in favour of primes

I now have a 28mm f1.8 which keeps me wide for landscape work but it also gives me the extra stops for low light/bokeh.

A 85mm f1.8 which covers my portraits that I do.

When I had the 24-105 I found I never really needed anything beyond the long end of the zoom so over the course of this year I plan to fill the gaps in between what I have with probably a 35mm, 50mm and if budget stretches a 135mm
 
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