Replace my 24-70f/2.8L II with a faster 35f/1.4L II? Prime speed and IQ vs zoom versatility

Kaso wrote:

Pierre from Sweden wrote:

As 35mm is my most used focal length, replacing my 24-70f/2.8L II with a faster 35mm is what I plan to do before our next trip to Amsterdam this fall.

1. To all here that own 35f/2 IS and 35f/1.4L II or have used both. Comparing image quality, resolution, contrast, ca, coma, rendering and bokeh. How do you rate 35f/2 IS vs 35f/1.4L II on FF used wide open?
2. If you also own or have used a 24-70f/2.8L II. How do 35f/2 IS and 35f/1.4L II compare to 24-70f/2.8L II used wide open at 35mm?

35/1.4L II > 35/2 IS > 24-70/2.8L II @ 35 @ 2.8

The new 35/1.4L II is superb, a lens to own if you appreciate images at that angle of view and have the budget for it.

I had considered the 35/2 IS a hidden gem, and then got really impressed by the Sigma Art 35/1.4. (For convenience in certain contexts, I still mount my 35/2.) To those who can afford it (and don't mind the weight ), I readily recommend the 35/1.4L II.

FWIW, I believe an excellent prime -- in particular 35mm in this case -- steers one to the creative side by removing the flexibility of random choices. It takes guts to spend most of one's trip using a single prime lens.

Good luck!

Thanks, you are really spot on Kaso.

Hmm, you really got me thinking! I have used Hasselblad, Yashica, Contax, Leica but mostly Nikon and Canon for more than 40 years. Canon DSLR since 2004.

I really like my 24-70f/2.8L II but I do not like the size and weight. I miss shooting wide open at f/1.4 or f/2 for stoppning action, low light indoors, separation and bokeh.

I prefer not having to many lenses, quality always trumps quantity and to many choices only steals valuable time. My family and I have made several 3-5 weeks long trips with a single 35mm or 50mm and loved it but I prefer bringing 3 lenses: 21mm, 35mm and a 70-200f/4 IS.

My best experience I have had so far was on a 5 week family trip to Hawaii. I used a Leica M9P 21f/3.4, 35f/1.4, 50f/1.4 and Canon 20D + 70-200f/4L IS. This was near perfect.

Perhaps it is better to complement my Canon FF system like I did with my Leica+Canon but this time with a Fujifilm X-Pro 2 and 2-3 small and fast f/1.4 primes. No anti-aliasing filter is a big plus for IQ! I have never had a problem with aliasing on my Leica M9P.

FF vs APS-C Gives that I will get 1 stop less bokeh and 1 stop less usable high ISO. I will gain some DR. Well, well so many choices, nothing is perfect, but most things keeps getting better and better.

/Pierre