Lens swappage quandary (24-70 2.8 to 35L?) a good move?

[cuthbert]

My quest for a decent lens indoors and a bit wider lead me down the path of the Sigma 50 1.4, wonderful lens that it is, I just couldn't get it to work properly. I've tried two copies.

Now, I have a 24-70 2.8 but i just don't use it, it doesn't have that magic quality i'm used to and love from primes.

So, I'm thinking, do I sell the 24-70 2.8 and get the 35 1.4 L ?

Who here has made the swap (either way).

I've had the 24-70 since October last year and according to Lightroom, it's taken 1700 shots. Compared to Sigma 85 (about 5,000), 135L (about 7,500) and 70-200 (about 5,000) i haven't used it a lot.

What do you think?

The 24-70 2.8 is mint, very sharp - what are they going for just as a guide?


Also, it would really help me if anybody with the 35 1.4 could post some shots showing the extreme dof/bokeh obtainable with the lens.

I really appreciate any feedback/comments.

 

[Canon Bob]

I've got both and each has its place I suppose. The 24-70 gives you a bit of flexibility and the 35/1.4 lends itself to a little better IQ and, assuming all's working normally, more accurate focus (if it's needed).

Bob

 

[iamchrisphoto]

What you have described is exactly what I'm doing in the new year.

I will be selling by Nikon 24-70mm and replacing it with the 35mm f1.4, to join the 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 I already have.

The 24-70mm is great lens, but I find it a little too heavy and big for my preferred style of shooting.

I'm sure you won't regret if you do. I can't wait to get the 35mm 1.4!

 

[cuthbert]

Thanks both, i'm a bit of a bokeh muncher and I love shallow dof and the whilst the 24-70 is a great lens, and very flexible as you say, it doesn't seem to have the 'magic' of a prime. I've seen some shots from Joe (who did the same thing) that look lovely.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I've tried to swap my 24-70 and have gone a full circle back to the square one. I didn't try 35mm L though.

I agree primes have a better 'look' but only for as long as they suit the conditions. You may only use the zoom when you really need it, but I suppose it should come very useful at times. 35L in addition to 24-70L is perhaps the best plan.

Have you tried canon 50mm f/1.4? It is built like a cheap toy, but if cared for (hood permanently on, and never tap the filter thread) and stopped down to at least f/2 it is one of the sharpest lens in the Canon line up (unlike that Sigma )

 

[Canon Bob]

Thanks both, I'm a bit of a bokeh muncher and I love shallow dof .......

Both of which become harder to achieve as the focal length gets shorter. (harder to achieve meaning that the relative positions of shooter, subject and background become more critical)

Bob

 

[cuthbert]

I guess my thinking that in over a year, compared to my other lenses, I haven't used it a great deal and it seems a waste to have it sitting there and when I think about the reason i haven't used it it's because it lacks that 'magic'.

I tend to find that when I go for a zoom, it's always the 70-200 because that range suits me. but I'd like to have something a bit wider for indoors and more restricted spaces.

I actually find myself using the Sigma 85 squashed up again a wall and it's amazing just how slow a 2.8 lens is indoors (like ISO 3200 is needed for a decent shutter speed).

A 35L seeems to fit the bill - i was looking at a Fifty because it seems the cheapest option and a good comprise, but the problem for me is that if it have to stop it down to f2 or 2.8 to get a sharp shot, i might as well use the 24-70 anyway?

I think also, the Sigma 85 has raised the bar for wide open sharpness too - i buy a 1.4 lens because i want to use it wide open or near wide open (i tend to use mine at 1.6 almost all the time) - the 35L is pretty comparable to the Sigma 85 and probably not noticeable in real terms:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=756&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

The more i think about it, the more i see shots like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chemhualu/4722889851/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anyi/3013940345/

the more i want it.

 

[cuthbert]

Well, the more I browsed Flickr the more I perhaps realised the 35L was for me all along, very exited now!

Thanks again for all your comments.

I know I'm loosing a bit of flexibility but I think that is worth the trade off for the 1.4 aperture.