If you could only take one prime for your apsc/crop?

I recently travelled on business around the world in two weeks stopping off in five nations. Packing for business and multiple climates meant that space and weight was a premium, so I tried to come up with the most versatile two lens combo. (I also had very little time to take pictures as I was on the run all the time)

I am still evaluating, but I took my Sigma 18-35 and my 18-135 STM. The sigma as you know is like having several primes rolled into one and really was useful for indoor photography. My trusty 18-135 gave me some reach particularly outdoors, but in retrospect I did not use it as much as I thought. I probably could have just got by with the Sigma and zoomed with my feet when I needed more reach!

The trouble is the Sigma 18-35 is a beast and I got to thinking about if I wanted to go even lighter and I could take only one lens for my 70D, what would it be? I'm thinking it would be a fast prime so that I can shoot in low light without a flash. Something not too wide, but wide enough to be able to do some group shots. So, with that logic as a framework, I started looking at primes at the 24-30 range and ideally less than $800. My top pick today might be the Sigma 24mm ART, but may experiment with the concept first by trying out the Canon 24mm STM. The Canon is not as fast, but the size and focal length hit my initial mark.

I know some will say why not buy another camera for this kind of money? I might go that route, but I do love and know my 70D. If I can find a lens I like (with the obvious compromises), I think it is worth giving it a serious consideration

So, before I out out out some cash, I'd be interested in what others would do from their experiences... if you could take only one prime lens on an around the world trip for your APSC/crop camera, what would you take for the most versatility?

Thoughts and opinions welcomed...

Indiana25 wrote:

I recently travelled on business around the world in two weeks stopping off in five nations. Packing for business and multiple climates meant that space and weight was a premium, so I tried to come up with the most versatile two lens combo. (I also had very little time to take pictures as I was on the run all the time)

I am still evaluating, but I took my Sigma 18-35 and my 18-135 STM. The sigma as you know is like having several primes rolled into one and really was useful for indoor photography. My trusty 18-135 gave me some reach particularly outdoors, but in retrospect I did not use it as much as I thought. I probably could have just got by with the Sigma and zoomed with my feet when I needed more reach!

The trouble is the Sigma 18-35 is a beast and I got to thinking about if I wanted to go even lighter and I could take only one lens for my 70D, what would it be? I'm thinking it would be a fast prime so that I can shoot in low light without a flash. Something not too wide, but wide enough to be able to do some group shots. So, with that logic as a framework, I started looking at primes at the 24-30 range and ideally less than $800. My top pick today might be the Sigma 24mm ART, but may experiment with the concept first by trying out the Canon 24mm STM. The Canon is not as fast, but the size and focal length hit my initial mark.

I know some will say why not buy another camera for this kind of money? I might go that route, but I do love and know my 70D. If I can find a lens I like (with the obvious compromises), I think it is worth giving it a serious consideration

So, before I out out out some cash, I'd be interested in what others would do from their experiences... if you could take only one prime lens on an around the world trip for your APSC/crop camera, what would you take for the most versatility?

Thoughts and opinions welcomed...

If you really had to restrict yourself to one prime lens, I think you would have to go for a 50mm standard lens, which on a crop camera would mean something like a 35mm.     But of course, a zoom would be much better, say from 35mm up to about 70mm.

The 24/1.4 art isn't the much smaller than the 18-35 so I wouldn't trade for that.  if you want to keep it small, the 24 and 40 pancakes would be good.  Keep one in your pocket while the other is mounted.  For me personally, I would just rather have my 17-50/2.8 and not worry about lens changes.

Good point. I had read that the Sigma ART primes were heavy.

I considered the Canon 28 1.8 but it is a fairly old lens and there some complaints of it being a bit soft wide open.  If I have to stop it down, then the benefit of having a prime starts to diminish and something like the 17-55 starts to become more attractive.

Indiana25 wrote:

I recently travelled on business around the world in two weeks stopping off in five nations. Packing for business and multiple climates meant that space and weight was a premium, so I tried to come up with the most versatile two lens combo. (I also had very little time to take pictures as I was on the run all the time)

I am still evaluating, but I took my Sigma 18-35 and my 18-135 STM. The sigma as you know is like having several primes rolled into one and really was useful for indoor photography. My trusty 18-135 gave me some reach particularly outdoors, but in retrospect I did not use it as much as I thought. I probably could have just got by with the Sigma and zoomed with my feet when I needed more reach!

The trouble is the Sigma 18-35 is a beast and I got to thinking about if I wanted to go even lighter and I could take only one lens for my 70D, what would it be? I'm thinking it would be a fast prime so that I can shoot in low light without a flash. Something not too wide, but wide enough to be able to do some group shots. So, with that logic as a framework, I started looking at primes at the 24-30 range and ideally less than $800. My top pick today might be the Sigma 24mm ART, but may experiment with the concept first by trying out the Canon 24mm STM. The Canon is not as fast, but the size and focal length hit my initial mark.

I know some will say why not buy another camera for this kind of money? I might go that route, but I do love and know my 70D. If I can find a lens I like (with the obvious compromises), I think it is worth giving it a serious consideration

So, before I out out out some cash, I'd be interested in what others would do from their experiences... if you could take only one prime lens on an around the world trip for your APSC/crop camera, what would you take for the most versatility?

Thoughts and opinions welcomed...

One lens for a crop I would take a 28mm........no doubt.

It would be interesting to try to two pancakes though......24mm and 40mm.  Very small and light and just fast enough.

Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM on Canon EOS M3

Trevor Sowers wrote:

One lens for a crop I would take a 28mm........no doubt.

Do you have a Canon 28? If so, I would love to hear about your experiences.

It would be interesting to try to two pancakes though......24mm and 40mm. Very small and light and just fast enough.

Fascinating concept, two pancakes for a compact configuration!

Indiana25 wrote:

Trevor Sowers wrote:

One lens for a crop I would take a 28mm........no doubt.

Do you have a Canon 28? If so, I would love to hear about your experiences.

It would be interesting to try to two pancakes though......24mm and 40mm. Very small and light and just fast enough.

Fascinating concept, two pancakes for a compact configuration!

Yes I have the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM.  I used and loved that on my crop bodies.  I found it needed to be stopped down to f/2.2 to make me happy.  The new 28mm f/2.8 IS might be a better bet although I haven't tried one.

Indiana25 wrote:

I recently travelled on business around the world in two weeks stopping off in five nations. Packing for business and multiple climates meant that space and weight was a premium, so I tried to come up with the most versatile two lens combo. (I also had very little time to take pictures as I was on the run all the time)

I am still evaluating, but I took my Sigma 18-35 and my 18-135 STM. The sigma as you know is like having several primes rolled into one and really was useful for indoor photography. My trusty 18-135 gave me some reach particularly outdoors, but in retrospect I did not use it as much as I thought. I probably could have just got by with the Sigma and zoomed with my feet when I needed more reach!

The trouble is the Sigma 18-35 is a beast and I got to thinking about if I wanted to go even lighter and I could take only one lens for my 70D, what would it be? I'm thinking it would be a fast prime so that I can shoot in low light without a flash. Something not too wide, but wide enough to be able to do some group shots. So, with that logic as a framework, I started looking at primes at the 24-30 range and ideally less than $800. My top pick today might be the Sigma 24mm ART, but may experiment with the concept first by trying out the Canon 24mm STM. The Canon is not as fast, but the size and focal length hit my initial mark.

I know some will say why not buy another camera for this kind of money? I might go that route, but I do love and know my 70D. If I can find a lens I like (with the obvious compromises), I think it is worth giving it a serious consideration

So, before I out out out some cash, I'd be interested in what others would do from their experiences... if you could take only one prime lens on an around the world trip for your APSC/crop camera, what would you take for the most versatility?

Thoughts and opinions welcomed...

I know you didn't ask it like this, but honestly, if it were me and I was on crop, I would use the Sigma 18-35mm that you have.  It's super sharp and covers the indoor focal lengths I would want for a prime.   If you dont' want that because of the weight, I wouldn't bother with any of the Art series because you're not gaining that much.  If you really want to lose the weight and have a more portable prime, I would probably look at the 24mm pancake, the Sigma 30mm Art (same art series but much smaller lens made for APS-C) or the Canon 35mm f2 IS.

diness wrote:

I know you didn't ask it like this, but honestly, if it were me and I was on crop, I would use the Sigma 18-35mm that you have. It's super sharp and covers the indoor focal lengths I would want for a prime. If you dont' want that because of the weight, I wouldn't bother with any of the Art series because you're not gaining that much. If you really want to lose the weight and have a more portable prime, I would probably look at the 24mm pancake, the Sigma 30mm Art (same art series but much smaller lens made for APS-C) or the Canon 35mm f2 IS.

I agree. I had not thought through the weight and size of the ART lenses. I will take that consideration off of the table. The 18-35 is a brilliant lens no doubt and when space/weight is not an issue, it is on my camera just about more than anything else.

After reading some of the other feedback on here, I pondered the Canon 28mm f/2.8 IS USM... then of course as you mentioned there is the Sigma 30 Art and the Canon 35 f/2. If I give this concept a play, I'll probably go for one of these or the 24mm STM.

Before I had the 18-35, my lightweight travel package was my 18-135mm STM and my 50 1.4. Lots of options with these two lenses. I might consider the 18-35 with a 50 or 85 for some reach as well.

As someone said, options, options, options. I deeply appreciate the differing views presented here and in other threads. I always learn and explore a bit more.

EF-M 22/2 on EOS M
EF 35/2 IS or EF-S 24/2.8 on APS-C DSLR

I love my 24mm STM. Bought it thinking I'd only use it for shots I'd need a wide-ish field of view, but once it's attached I hardly ever feel the need to change lenses for anything. The only thing it's missing is a wider aperture in my opinion, but for its size nothing quite matches.

Your budget is substantially higher than the cost of this lens though, so perhaps you might want to check other alternatives (eg 24mm f/2.8 IS USM, 35mm f/2 IS USM, perhaps a tamron or sigma prime but these last two begin to defeat the purpose of a small and light lens). No personal experience with any of these though.

Another option is to pick up the 24mm STM and another prime that would compliment it and suits your needs (eg 85mm f/1.8 etc etc).

I use my EF-S 24mm 2.8 pancake all the time. It's sharp, compact, and light! Plus it was only $150.00!!

Did you really need to quote the entire post just to have an answer in the subject?

NetMage wrote:

Did you really need to quote the entire post just to have an answer in the subject?

LOL.  I actually like the quote option when used properly.  Unfortunately when it comes to personal choices, some just can't be fixed.

Perhaps the system could have an option to hide quoted material like it can hide signatures, then you can reveal quotes when needed on individual messages