Is 5D really my only option?

[Digital Imaging Technician]

I'm a frustrated D200 owner looking for a fast (sub f/2.8, preferably f/1.8), 28mm (35mm equivalent) prime (the size of zooms is too big). Is the 5D with it's EF 28mm f/1.8 USM my only option if I want to keep shooting digital? I've looked into the Nikkor 20mm f/2.8, but it's not fast and doesn't seem to perform very well on the D200 (read the verdict here: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_20_28/index.htm ).

It's a shame no DSLR makers have updated their line of primes to reflect the focal multiplier of their APS cameras. I don't have anything against APS sized sensors per se, but fact remains, there seems to be no lenses that suit me.

I'm thinking of a Sigma DP1, but it's a slow (f/4) and Sigma's high ISO noise is quite terrible. The 6 second wait between RAW shots with the GX100 makes that option quite unattractive too.

Any other camera makers have any lenses that would suit me?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mironv]

--Sigma 20mm,24mm and 28mm f1.8 HSM lenses are top notch and will cover FOV for what you looking for.
Mironv
http://mironv.smugmug.com/

 

[Matt_Anderson]

the 5D has given me a new passion for primes.

the 35mm f/1.4 L , 85mm f/1.2 L, and the 135mm f/2 L are getting the most use.

the L zooms are dusty

 

[Matt_Anderson]

I would give the Zeiss primes a seriously look

 

[Greg Zillgitt]

If you want good high-ISO performance combined with a selection of fast wide primes, and you want it now, then Canon is your only choice. Nikon is rumored to be releasing a bunch of new and updated lenses sometime in the near future, but unless you can afford to wait months for the lenses and who knows how long (if ever) for a pro body with a decent sensor, then the 5D is your best bet. IMO no other manufacturer besides Canon and Nikon has a system - bodies, lenses, flashes, accessories, user community, professional support, etc - worth considering.

--
http://www.pbase.com/gzillgi
http://www.pbase.com/gzillgi/wedding_portrait

 

[John Yu]

Do you use any yourself, Mironv. None of them are HSM.

I bought a Sigma 24/1.8 last year. But it didn't focus probably on D200. The shop said it's because it's old design and doesn't AF well on newer DSLR bodies. It needs calibration or re-chipping by Sigma. This doesn't surprised me. I eventually returned it and spent the money on something else. I suppose if it's calibrated, it'll be fine.
--
John

--Sigma 20mm,24mm and 28mm f1.8 HSM lenses are top notch and will
cover FOV for what you looking for.
Mironv
http://mironv.smugmug.com/

--
John

 

[Kent J]

The Canon 28mm would not, of course, have a 35mm-equivalent FOV on the 5D.

You could search out a Nikkor 28mm f/1.4. They're expensive, but a whole lot cheaper than a 5D+28mm/1.8.
--
-Kent

Life is too short for slow glass.
http://www.pbase.com/kjoosten

 

[Digital Imaging Technician]

With 35mm equivalent I mean that I'm looking for a lens that is equivalent of 28mm on a 35mm film camera or full frame (ie the 5D) DSLR.

On the D200 that would be 19mm (19*1.5=27mm).

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

Bear in mind FF is only a partial answer as sensor design limitations degrade corner quality significantly at or near maximum aperture with wide angle primes - with the 5D being worse in this respect than the 1Ds Mk II. If you want to shoot FF at maximum aperture without corner shading and other quality issues with only option remains a film body.

If you shoot f5.6 or smaller corner shading is not much of an issue on FF digital.
--
Leonard Shepherd

Good photography has more to do with the pictures you take than the equipment you own.

 

[Gary Sprowls]

Yep,

Vignetting on the 5D with wide lenses is a big problem. I saw shots from the 24-70 L at 24mm wide open at 2.8 that were horrible. The examples I saw the lens had to be stopped down to f/11 before the user considered it acceptable. This was a 1DMKIIn user considering the 5D as a second body. Needless to say, the 5D purchase is no longer under consideration.

Gary

 

[jtan]

What purpose do you intend to use an 18mm F1.8 for - just curious? The image quality at the edges of the FF sensor especially this wide aren't super especially with F1.8....bumping ISO might be an option.

 

[Digital Imaging Technician]

What purpose do you intend to use an 18mm F1.8 for - just curious?
The image quality at the edges of the FF sensor especially this
wide aren't super especially with F1.8....bumping ISO might be an
option.

I do not intend to use an 18mm on a full frame.

I want an 18 or 19mm for the D200. That would give me about the same crop as a 28mm on a 5D.

 

[Moonwalker]

"... Nikkor 28mm f/1.4. They're expensive, but a whole lot cheaper than a 5D+28mm/1.8..."

... and not available (I have been looking for one for almost two years now). Nikon has discontinued the 28mm f/1.4D lens unfortunately.

Markus

 

[200mm]

--I love the canon lenses, but I had problems with dust and soft corners on the 5D, I am waiting to see what the next 5D will look like, but now I am happy with my 35 1:4, 50 1:4 and 85 1:4 nikors, on my S5.

Roger.

' Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know'

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

I want an 18 or 19mm for the D200. That would give me about the
same crop as a 28mm on a 5D.

If you can live with f2.8 Nikon's full aperture MTF confirm it easily outperforms any of the Nikon wide angle primes (mainly 2.8 as well) wide open, and also the 17-35 at 17mm.

Being reasonably telecentric it also seems to perform relatively better on DX than the 20 and 35mm Nikon primes I own.

Because the 17-55 does not have the corner quality issues of an equivalent Canon on Canon 24x36 digital, using it on a D2x results in more information captured than on a 16 MP 1Ds Mk II. Canon seems to loose more in the 24x36 frame corners than is gained by going from 12 to 16MP.

In fairness to Canon the 1Ds does not loose corner quality with say a 400 f2.8 so at this focal length 16MP has a slight advantage bigger than A3 print size over 12MP. However the discussion is about wide angles, not long telephotos.
--
Leonard Shepherd

Good photography has more to do with the pictures you take than the equipment you own.

 

[JXander]

funny, i havent experienced "Bad" vignetting on my 5D like everyone mentions, and what little is there is easily fixed in photoshop....not really a big enough problem vs the IQ and wide angle ability from this camera....the 24-70 rox my sox.

the pictures in this gallery were taking in boston with the 24-70, mostly in very low light on iso 3200 f2.8 @ 24mm...wheres the bad vignetting??? no pp done at all

http://www.jagfotoz.com/gallery/2850381#152818272
--
http://www.JagFotoz.com

 

[[email protected]]

Not exactly what you asked for,
but not far off and an excellent inexpensive
lens.

maljo

 

[Kabe Luna]

Bear in mind FF is only a partial answer as sensor design
limitations degrade corner quality significantly at or near maximum
aperture with wide angle primes - with the 5D being worse in this
respect than the 1Ds Mk II. If you want to shoot FF at maximum
aperture without corner shading and other quality issues with only
option remains a film body.
If you shoot f5.6 or smaller corner shading is not much of an issue
on FF digital.

One observes the same loss of sharpness in corners with Canon wide angle lenses at wide apertures on film as with digital sensors. Many digital-specific lenses also suffer loss of sharpness and light in the corners at wide apertures because their image circles are just large enough to cover the APS-C format–just as with full frame digital. The obvious solution is the same as it always has been: stop the lens down if you need corner-to-corner sharpness.

--
Leonard Shepherd
Good photography has more to do with the pictures you take than the
equipment you own.

--
- -
Kabe Luna

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabeluna/

 

[Tony H]

The Canon 28mm would not, of course, have a 35mm-equivalent FOV on
the 5D.

I think you are a bit confused, unless I really misread the OP's post.

He's looking for something that will give the equivilant view of about 28mm on a 35mm camera.

For crop cameras at 1.5 (canon crop at 1.6), you're looking at between 17 and 20mm.

The canon 5D, being a FF (based on 35mm film) sensor, the 28mm lens will give the OP the 28mm view the person is looking for.

-Tony

 

[RiverSide Photography]

He wants an FOV of 28mm and you're suggesting an FOV of 52.5mm ?

Not exactly what you asked for,
but not far off and an excellent inexpensive
lens.

maljo

--
I see dead pixels