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Help me choose a fast (wide) prime

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diesel

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I need to buy a fast prime (f 1.4 - 1.8) and it needs to be around 28-35 mm FX. New or second hand, doesn't really matter.

Also, the brand is not that important (Nikkor, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina ..).

I was looking at the Sigma 35 mm f1.4G, but it seems that is a little bit on the expensive side and I can't justify the price as photograph is just a hobby. The Nikon 28 mm f1.8G is a good option, too. But rather to costly.

What do you thing about Nikon 28mm f2.0?

Any advice would be most welcomed.
 
sigma 35mm 1.4.

You won't regret it.
 
Hi DonSantos

Sigma 35 was (is) my first option. But, as I have already said, it is a little bit to expensive for my taste. And I have the feeling that I won't use it to its real potential.

Any other idea? Maybe a little bit cheaper?
 
Diesel
your options are in order of increasing price (low to high)
Nikon 28 f/2 AI (with larger focusing ring)
Voigtlander 40 f/2 new (already chipped)
Zeiss 35/2 used
sigma 35 f/1.4

i'd skip the 28 Nikon because of the field curvature, but that's me, i prefer a lens giving a flatter field.
 
Ps if you have a d600, very accurate focusing is required, more so if you have a d800; d700 is much more forgiving.
 
diesel said:
Any other idea? Maybe a little bit cheaper?
Click to expand...
WalimeX pro 35mm F/1.4 = Samyang.

DSCF1397ka.jpg


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Samples:


DSCF1387k.jpg


DSCF1384k.jpg




Regards: Carsten
 
There is the Samyang 35/1.4 if you are fine with MF or prefer it. MF action is top notch. I am using it in LV mostly. Optically – top notch. I know I wanted to compare it to the Sigma but just can’t get myself to do it. It has an edge in the centre wide open. I like the way the lens renders and that in all aspects. The sharpness is very even across the frame no dx ring of softness and such, field is nicely flat. Here is how it does against the Nikkor 24-70:

F11 Samyang 100 vs Nikkor 90-95 all frame

F9 100 vs 90

F7.1 100 vs 90, centre 95

F5.6 100 vs 92, centre 96

At f2 the Samyang is equal to Nikkor at 2.8. At f2.2 starts getting better. At f2.5 noticeable difference. this is valid for centre sharpness. I don’t look into the corners at these apertures but might add particular details on above brief summary. Colour is very similar to the Nikkor except that I am now noticing less pronounced yellows with Samyang (more accurate if you like - my colour cast corrections usually calm down this yellows). The lens is incredibly inexpensive.

good luck with the search,

--
Hynek

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Sunwaysite

SunwaySite - Natural Landscape and Nature Photography
www.sunwaysite.com www.sunwaysite.com
 
I would take a look at the Sigma f1.8 range. I used to have a 24mm f1.8 and it was a very good lens as long as you didn't point it toward the sun too much. Not bad at macro either. A used copy won't cost the earth.

I have some samples online but not taken with an FX camera. I originally used it on a D200.
 
Thank you for the answers. I'll consider them all carefully.

I'm currently shooting with a D80, but asked for a FX lens as I intend to switch to this format in the (near) future.

As for the MF lens, with my D80, it is rather difficult to focus correctly, especially wide open . But this options just opened some more doors .. sort of speaking. I have used to shoot MF on a Leica, but this is totally different.

What I need the lens for is to take pictures of my kids in low light (ambient, indoor), without flash. This will be the main purpose of the lens.
 
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Sergey_Green said:
I see the contacts on the back of the lens, is it for AF?
Click to expand...
No this is a MF Lens.
The Contacts are for the Aperture Info + Program Modes M, A, S, P. (Nikon only)

Regards: Carsten
 
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You really need to think about what your priorities are. You don't want to spend $800 on a lens but you plan on buying a $2000 or more camera in the "near" future. How near is that? Before the end of the year?

If you think it might be a little while before you go full-frame, I'd look at the DX-only options while a Sigma 35 f/1.4 A1 lens is great and it will work on full frame it costs $850. You could instead get the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens for under $300 or you could get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX lens for $200. If you do upgrade to full frame, you can use these in "crop mode" on the full frame camera or you could sell them on something like craigslist and make back probably at least half the cost if not more (assuming you keep it in halfway decent condition). Maybe when purchasing you might find someone who is upgrading to full-frame and maybe you can get the lenses cheap now and you'll reduce the amount of money you "loose" when you upgrade yourself.

I use the term "loose" in parenthases because while you buy a lens for $300 and sell it for $180 it may seem like you're loosing $120, but if you use that lens for a year and get a couple hundred photos of your kids in that time while they are growing up instead of waiting until you can afford something better... isn't that $120 more than worth it?

If you're adamant on getting a full-frame lens, you're either going to have to pay more or be willing to make some compromises such as looking at Rokinon/Bower's manual focus options or finding an older used lens.

Also keep in mind that DX sensors are drastically improving and more wide f/stop lenses are starting to come out for DX cameras... the D7100 is a very impressive camera, in a number of respects, better than the D600 and it's only a little more than half the cost.

--

\~K
 
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Thank for your replay. You are quite right about my priorities.

As for the "near" future ... in about one year I intend to buy an FX camera . It might be a used D600. Who knows...

As for the lens, I'm sure now that I don't want it to be MF.

DX it might be a good option, after all. I'll take them into consideration as well.

Thanks a lot. You gave me a great help.

Regards
 
Thanks for the input. Looks about what I need (Nikon 28mm 1.8G). Just have to find more info/opinions/pictures about this lens.

Regards
 
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