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"Standard" lens for Rebels

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Here is what SLRGear.com had to say about it:

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 35 mm 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.

Unless you really need the light-gathering capabilities of the 1.4 lenses, this Canon f/2 does a very fine job (particularly from f/4 on). A true "best buy" in the Canon EF lens lineup!

It seems that even though it's 16 years old, it's still cutting the mustard in relation to newer optics.

Again, thanks for bringing this lens to my attention.
 
filmluvr said:
jrkliny said:
I have a Rebel with the Canon 35/2. ... I can't imagine why Canon would bother to make an EFS equivalent.
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Because it's not 35mm on a crop. The equivalent would be a 22mm prime.
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Of course it's 35mm on a crop. The field of view is the same as a 56mm on a FF, but the lens is still a 35mm. It's actually a very useful length on a crop. It's roughly equivalent, in terms of FOV, to what used to be the standard lens sold with all 35mm SLRs. Canon also makes a 24 F2.8. That's close enough to the 22 that would be the crop equivalent in FOV to the 35 on FF. If you want a prime with that FOV on a crop, then you can buy the 24 F2.8 (or, if you have the money, the 24L).

--
Alastair
http://anorcross.smugmug.com
Equipment in profile

 
Pixellicus Digitalis said:
If Nikon can make a 35mm f1.8 lens for its APS-C cameras, why is Canon not producing one?
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Because they have a 35mm f2 lens that almost exactly matches the Nikon in focal length and aperture size. No need to make a redundant lens than can only be used on an APS-C camera.

IMHO the the best choices you have for a standard prime lens for Rebels are the Sigma 30mm f1.4, the Canon 28mm f1.8 and the Canon 35mm f2 in that order but rather closely grouped.
 
Everyone has missed the point on this thread. Nikon had to make the 35mm f1.8 because their new low-end bodies do NOT have a built in focus motors required to AF every other Nikon prime.

Only lenses with built in focus motors will AF on the D40, D50, D60 and D5000. That means only newer Nikkor zooms with AF motors will work on them. That left a few new low-end zooms, and the newest supper high priced Nikkor zooms.

The 35mm f1.8 was an "oops offering" to fix a problem they created when they assumed that entry level camera buyers would never move up to primes. Canon probably thinks the same way, but since all Canon lenses have has AF motors since before digital this isn't a problem.

In general the Japanese do not seem to understand why regular folks would want anything but zooms. They think of primes as a specialized tool for very serious photographers.

Tom
--
http://www.kachadurian.com
 
I wonder if the 28/1.8 could be easily updated with the application of some of the new coatings that Canon applies with high-MP digital cameras in mind.
 
canon makes the 35 f/2 and the 28 f1.8 both are excellent lenses for the money can't imagine why you would need anything else.
 
Thomas Kachadurian said:
Everyone has missed the point on this thread. Nikon had to make the 35mm f1.8 because their new low-end bodies do NOT have a built in focus motors required to AF every other Nikon prime.

Only lenses with built in focus motors will AF on the D40, D50, D60 and D5000. That means only newer Nikkor zooms with AF motors will work on them. That left a few new low-end zooms, and the newest supper high priced Nikkor zooms.

The 35mm f1.8 was an "oops offering" to fix a problem they created when they assumed that entry level camera buyers would never move up to primes. Canon probably thinks the same way, but since all Canon lenses have has AF motors since before digital this isn't a problem.

In general the Japanese do not seem to understand why regular folks would want anything but zooms. They think of primes as a specialized tool for very serious photographers.

Tom
--
http://www.kachadurian.com
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Good answer. So un-invloved with Nikon didnt even think of this. Here is the answer.
 
RustyRus said:
Not sure were you are going with this? Canon has two 35mm lenses. Why make a EF-s lens for no reason? The 35mm f/2 actually is better suited for crop bodies and works great.
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Better than what? EF-S lenses are those that are better suited for crop bodies.
RustyRus said:
Why do you think a digital only prime would be any better?
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Not digital only but EF-S. Let us see.
  • Better coating on the back element to prevent reflectiosn from the sensor, like all digital era lenses
  • double Gauss design (modified) vs. a wide angle design, resulting in better sharpness and hopefully better bokeh
  • can use the full benefits of the EF-S mount - closer to the sensor, needs to cover a smaller circle - hence can be better optically
  • since it wil be an EF-S lens, it can be made faster without so much size penalty
  • it will be better (and more expensive), just because it will be newer.
 
Pixellicus Digitalis said:
If Nikon can make a 35mm f1.8 lens for its APS-C cameras, why is Canon not producing one?

Surely a lens of that type,with its inherently high resolution and low-light capability, that would be a great combination with the new 18 mp T2i...
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I have thought the same thing. There is clearly a demand, which is not being met by the existing Canon lens lineup.

The SLR lens bestsellers on Amazon are:

1) Canon 50/1.8
2) Nikon 50/1.8
3) Canon 55-250
4) Nikon 35/1.8
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
55) Canon 35/2.0
.
.
.
.
.
.
77) Canon 28/1.8

So everyone who is saying the 35/2.0 and 28/1.8 are great lenses may be correct, but other people out there are not buying them. There is a massive difference in sales volume between No.4 and No.55. Why don't Canon look over the fence and say "wow! Nikon is selling loads of those nice new 35/1.8s, I wonder if Canon crop-sensor users would like a similar lens?" It is such an obvious hole in their lineup. Duh!
 
NigelJB said:
So everyone who is saying the 35/2.0 and 28/1.8 are great lenses may be correct, but other people out there are not buying them. There is a massive difference in sales volume between No.4 and No.55. Why don't Canon look over the fence and say "wow! Nikon is selling loads of those nice new 35/1.8s, I wonder if Canon crop-sensor users would like a similar lens?" It is such an obvious hole in their lineup. Duh!
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To make matters worse, it is not the only one. Canon makes a pro type of APS-C body now but no EF-S primes to match it (except for the EF-S 60).
 
Peter 13 said:
RustyRus said:
Not sure were you are going with this? Canon has two 35mm lenses. Why make a EF-s lens for no reason? The 35mm f/2 actually is better suited for crop bodies and works great.
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Better than what? EF-S lenses are those that are better suited for crop bodies.
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The crop body does not show some of the downfalls of this lens that you woyuld see on a full frame body hence better for a crop sensor camera.
Peter 13 said:
Peter 13 said:
Why do you think a digital only prime would be any better?
Click to expand...
Not digital only but EF-S. Let us see.
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Digital only/EF-s. Same thing. EF-s lenses cant mount on a 35mm/full frame body. There are no film crop sensor SLR's so its a digital only lens.
Peter 13 said:
  • Better coating on the back element to prevent reflectiosn from the sensor, like all digital era lenses
  • double Gauss design (modified) vs. a wide angle design, resulting in better sharpness and hopefully better bokeh
  • can use the full benefits of the EF-S mount - closer to the sensor, needs to cover a smaller circle - hence can be better optically
  • since it wil be an EF-S lens, it can be made faster without so much size penalty
  • it will be better (and more expensive), just because it will be newer.
Click to expand...
I agree that a better lens could be made. I am just pointing out that Canon makes a 35mm lens and is a great value. If it was a 100 dollars more I would not have bought it. So I dont want a new one with a price increase when this satisfies my need. Furthermore I really dont see an EF-s lens prime ever being made. Why exclude full frame users for no reason.

If they were making a wide angle prime I could possibly see but not in the normal focal range for a crop camera. You make some good points but I just cant see it.
 
NigelJB said:
Why don't Canon look over the fence and say "wow! Nikon is selling loads of those nice new 35/1.8s, I wonder if Canon crop-sensor users would like a similar lens?" It is such an obvious hole in their lineup. Duh!
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Because Nikon owners have fewer alternatives to their 35mm f1.8 lens whereas Canon owners have several. Naturally a higher percentage will buy this Nikon lens because they don't have much choice. See several above posts for further explanation.
 
RustyRus said:
The crop body does not show some of the downfalls of this lens that you woyuld see on a full frame body hence better for a crop sensor camera.
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But it magnifies all other by 1.6. As a result you get a softer (but more uniform) image, the borders included.
RustyRus said:
Why exclude full frame users for no reason.
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Why did they exclude FF with the EF-S 60? There are plenty of resons for the EF-S lenses to exists, and they apply to primes, as well.
 
Have you looked at the Canon lens catalogue? If so, you'll find that there are several lenses that fit the bill at various price points:

24/2.8
24/1.4L
28/2.8
28/1.8
35/2
35/1.4L

All are well-rated lenses in their respective classes and all have the advantage over the Nikkor 35/1.8 in that they can be used on 35mm/FF cams as well. In addition, Sigma has a few of their own if you're so inclined:

24/1.8
28/1.8
30/1.4
Pixellicus Digitalis said:
If Nikon can make a 35mm f1.8 lens for its APS-C cameras, why is Canon not producing one?

Surely a lens of that type,with its inherently high resolution and low-light capability, that would be a great combination with the new 18 mp T2i...
Click to expand...
--
-Scott
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redteg94/
 
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