Prime time

ozyboyross

ozyboyross

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Ozy
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I have made the decision that i would like 90% of my lens collection to be primes, mainly because i love the fact they make me move to get the shots i want, not just stand and zoom, and the fact I think on the whole in my price range they would produce sharper images (waiting for the mob to disagree)

But mainly If i need a zoom, I can borrow from my dad a 70-300IS or a 70-200 2.8L plus LOTS of shorter zooms.

But he doesnt have alot of primes, and It would be nice to compliment each others collection.

Unfortunately I am not mega rich, and max I could spend on a lens is probably around £400. I would just like a list of what you guys consider to be the best primes around!

Im so far eyeing up:

Canon 50 1.4
Canon 85 1.8
Tamron 90 2.8 macro

I would love something I could use for motorsport too, but within my budget I know that could be pushing my luck but considered the following a possibility used:

Canon 200 2.8L MK2

What other primes would you guys suggest/recomend
 
I'd have a look at the Sigma 150 macro.....avoids you having the 85/1.8 and the Tamron 90 but gives you macro and a damn good medium telephoto in the same package.

My 2p

Bob
 
check out the sigma 50mm 1.4 as well mate, often gets better reviews than the canon.
canon 85 > tamron 90. id choose one or the other.
 
The main advantage of primes is low f/numbers rather than improved image quality, so unless you intend to use them at close to lowest f/number, you could just tape up the zoom ring and get the same result. But maybe this is not the answer you are looking for ;) .

Nothing wrong with your choice of primes at all. Perhaps you could do without the macro by putting tubes on the 85? Depends how keen you are on macro I guess.
 
thanks for the advice guys like i say the main reason for aiming for primes is i can borrow alot of zooms very easily from my dad (which is VERY handy) so thought it would be nice if we both had something a little different so he can too borrow my kit!

the macro work, i dont know if im into or not yet, had a play with dads sigma 180 macro the other day and really enjoyed it, and just figured on those rainy weekends when ive got b****r all to do it would be very easy to grab a flash and some random bits and play around!
 
Here's my little bag of goodies...

Sigma 20mm f1.8.
Sigma 30mm f1.4 HSM.
Sigma 50mm f1.4 HSM.
Canon 50mm f2.5 Macro (but it isn't really.)
Sigma 150mm f2.8 HSM Macro.

I have no complaints about any of them but the 150mm is a touch heavy. As I'm a fan of the wider end the 20mm f1.8 sees a bit of use. The 30 and 50mm's have been useful as general purpose, portrait and low light lenses.
 
I've got the sigma 30mm 1.4 as well and it's a dream of a prime, particularly on my crop. I got this from it:

4195302146_0b7be0253b.jpg


also got the 85 last week and already love it, got this with it:

4310753207_01fd49836a.jpg
 
As already mentioned, if you don't need the wide apertures you're better off with a zoom. I bought primes as most of the shots I take are in low light or I want to use a really shallow DoF (in which case you sometimes need an ND filter if you're outside).

I've got the Canon 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.4. Love them both (but wish the 35mm had USM). The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is apparently sharper below f/2 (with a good copy) than the Canon and I often wish I'd gotten that instead. The 85mm f/1.8 is outstanding according to nearly every review I've read. I've rented the 35mm f/1.4L as well and, despite being a monster of a lens, it's a beautiful piece of glass and I have some amazing shots taken with it.

There are longer fast primes as well - 100mm f/2, 135mm f/2 and aforementioned 200mm f/2. You're spoiled for choice but the longer ones aren't cheap.

If you've not used primes much before, I'd suggest renting a couple to see how you get along.

George.
 
BadgerLover said:
As already mentioned, if you don't need the wide apertures you're better off with a zoom. I bought primes as most of the shots I take are in low light or I want to use a really shallow DoF (in which case you sometimes need an ND filter if you're outside).

I've got the Canon 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.4. Love them both (but wish the 35mm had USM). The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is apparently sharper below f/2 (with a good copy) than the Canon and I often wish I'd gotten that instead. The 85mm f/1.8 is outstanding according to nearly every review I've read. I've rented the 35mm f/1.4L as well and, despite being a monster of a lens, it's a beautiful piece of glass and I have some amazing shots taken with it.

There are longer fast primes as well - 100mm f/2, 135mm f/2 and aforementioned 200mm f/2. You're spoiled for choice but the longer ones aren't cheap.

If you've not used primes much before, I'd suggest renting a couple to see how you get along.

George.
Click to expand...

Not sure it's as simple as whether you need wide apertures or not. I prefer primes because I find the IQ to be much better than with zooms, even at higher f numbers. f4 on my 30mm comes out sharper than f4 on my tamron 17-50.
 
Remember, even if you don't shoot at the wide apertures they still help. How? By allowing more light to reach the AF sensor. More light to the AF sensor (Whilst focussing wide open) means an improved Signal to Noise ratio which means a faster response and more accurate result.
 
wow that image has sold the Sigma 30 1.4 to me, thats fantastic!

Thanks for all the advice guys, not after advice to buy zooms though, thats not the point, i want primes, i can borrow any zoom i want from my dad to cover any range imaginable and most of them are L glass, so both having the same lens's wouldnt really benefit either of us, plus i cant afford alot of the glass he can lend me!

I definately want primes, i love using them, they make you think more about what your doing, zooms have a very good purpose and im not knocking them at all, i will still use them, just they wont be owned by me!

The 200 F2.8 is the longest I can probably afford prime wise, so from there on it will be zooms! but i believe a nice prime range covering wide angle to 200mm would be very nice to have indeed, especially having the back up of a very wide range of zooms should the need arise!

The only zoom im wanting to get my hands on is the 70-200F4L non IS other than that I want a prime collection :)
 
glad you like the 30mm, if that one sold it to you this one should cement it in your mind:

4292263781_5053d7f98e.jpg
 
I use primes mainly, and agree with your selection, I would add a 135mm F2 if you can afford it, it's one of canon's sharpest lenses, and the bokeh is a dream.

If you get the 200 F2.8 (and you should), it's a great walk around lens, lighter and more compact than the 70-200 F2.8, and if you want something a little longer you could get a 1.4 TC-works well with the 200 F2.8

The only area where I prefer zooms over primes is the wide end.

Here's a shot from this morning, 200 F2.8 + canon 1.4TC

1DSL1621s.jpg
 
Wow the 200mm 2.8 really is as good as i imagined it to be, dads got a canon 2X tc so wouldnt need one of them (he doesnt like it much)

Shame work firewall blocks flickr! I will look when i get home tonight though for sure!

Primes are def the way to go i think, and the 200 may have to be my first purchase as I think it would get alot of use. then ill fill in the gaps as they come along!

So future kit bag is looking like this

Sigma 30 1.4
Canon 50 1.4
Canon 85 1.8
Tamron 90 2.8 macro
canon 200 2.8L

plus the access to all my dads zooms i think it will be a very nice kit!
 
joescrivens said:
glad you like the 30mm, if that one sold it to you this one should cement it in your mind:

4292263781_5053d7f98e.jpg
Click to expand...

Don't blame the lens Joe. You just have a very attractive partner.
 
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