Advice on Canon PRIMES

PikkieChick wrote:

cybersimba wrote:

Keith Z Leonard wrote:

I use 2 prime, Sigma 50 f1.4 ex and Canon 135L I've used the 100L, 85 f1.8, and 85 f1.2L as well. Of all of them the 135L is my favorite lens, no question. Nothing wrong with the 85's either, but the 135 has that mix of great performance AF, sharpness, compression, and fast aperture.

I ABSOLUTELY vote for 135L. That is one prime that will give you photos that none of your current zooms or any other primes would give! 100L would be another great addition for you if you want to do more Macro shots. 35 f2 IS and 85 1.8 would be other two to consider in that range. I think the fact that you have 24-70 2.8 II you shall not need anything in that range unless you have specific need. for e.g. 85 1.8 is outside of 24-70 and is a great portraiture lens so that will serve purpose for you and so will 135L (because its simply awesome and magical IQ of images from that lens will convince you to have one). But again 85 1.8 and 135L are portraiture lenses serving that purpose.

I am actually a little confused about your comment on "landscape, architecture" and your considering 35/50/85/100/135. I would think for landscape, architecture you would probably look at something wider??

Cybersimba

Hi Keith Z Leonard and Cybersimba - Sorry for the confusion, yep you are right I do use my 16-35mm more for landscapes, I guess I was referring more to street photography, candid people shots (more candid people shots than actual posed portraits)

Ive heard that there can be issues hand holding the 135mm re sharpness, any truth to that ? Ive read that people go with the 100mm with IS instead, but is this lens primarily for macro (which I dont do a lot)

It's true that you can get blurry shots hand holding any photo with any lens if you don't have a fast enough shutter speed. 1/150 or faster is how I typically use the 135L. Of course if I'm lighting a portrait with strobes I can shoot slower and use the flash duration as my shutter speed. IS helps, of course, but you don't find many primes faster than f2.8 with IS.

The 100L gives a different look, it's a very good lens, but I don't prefer it for portraits.

As for the common belief that the 135L is too long for indoors I give you.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22781076@N03/sets/72157645361357696/

If you need to quickly get a bunch of different shots from different distances...that's why zooms exist, for events, etc.

Also the 85mm 1.2 may not be worth the extra money due to bulk especially when the 1.8 performs nearly as well ?

The 85 f1.2 has much better image quality than the f1.8 at large apertures, the f1.8 has much faster AF and when stopped down is really great. One of the better deals in Canon lenses.

I guess Im venturing into primes wanting to not be lazy with my zooms and after sharpness, IQ, shallower DOF, use in lower light situations. I can get some of these lenses at great prices very soon.

Zooms don't force you to be lazy, but the rest of it makes sense to me.