Canon 35mm f1.8L on 450d?

[janamelinda]

Does anyone have this lens and use it on a crop body? I'm looking at purchasing a new lens for portraits and what not (ok anything else for that matter!)
I just want something a little wider so I can get closer to my subject, but still have more 'room' for background in my shots. Does that make sense? I was on the fence about upgrading my camera, but I think I'd rather get a lens first. hhehehehe.

I'd love some suggestions or feedback on the lens! TIA!

[lputman]

Shooting with a 35mm on a crop body camera is like shooting with a 56mm lens. It would be a great lens to use on a crop body but you would still need to be careful of distortion when getting too close.

[janamelinda]

What about using it indoors? Will I find it tooo tight?
Any other suggestions? What about the 24mm? I was also looking at the 24-70mm too...but I have my little nifty 50 and my 80mm and I'm happy with those for now...ha

[MrJones]

isn't it f/1.4?
there's the 35mm f/2 and the L is 1.4...
I was looking into it as well, still can't decide though
I just wonder if it will be THAT different from the 50mm, I think the 24mm will make more of a difference.

[janamelinda]

Originally Posted by MrJones

isn't it f/1.4?
there's the 35mm f/2 and the L is 1.4...
I was looking into it as well, still can't decide though
I just wonder if it will be THAT different from the 50mm, I think the 24mm will make more of a difference.

hahaha! I have to go look now; I honestly can't even remember at this point because I've been researching several lenses. I'm looking at the 'L' lenses. mostly. But I'm open to suggestions/feedback.
So, yes 35mm f1.4L
or
Canon 24mm f1.4L (yep, looked 'em up).

[inkista]

The 35L is a terrific lens (it's one of the so-called "Holy Trinity of L Primes"), but it's big and heavy and extremely expensive. The EF 35 f/2 or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 are also worth looking at if the 35L's $1400 pricetag is looking a bit pricey.

I use an adapted Leica-R 35/2 a lot, though, and it does feel uncannily like shooting with a 50mm on a full-frame camera. I know this, because I had my 35/2 mounted on my 50D, while a friend handed me his D700 with a 50/1.4 mounted to take some group shots for him (so he could be in the shot). I nearly confused which camera I was holding, the view was so similar.

Whether it's wide enough or not for you is a matter of personal taste, though. I'd recommend using software, like ExposurePlot to analyze the photos you've taken with zoom lenses, to see where you "sit", focal length wise, and then grabbing the prime closest to your most-used mid-range focal lengths. If ExposurePlot is showing you the extremes of your zoom lens, though (i.e., with the 24-70 you're piling up at 24mm and 70mm, though, I'd recommend considering wider/longer lengths).

[Glenn72]

Looking at the 35mm F2 and it appears to be more or less the same build quality and specification as the 50mm 1.8 II lens and just wondering why it is 3 times more expensive then the 50mm 1.8 II lens? Anything special that I should know about this lens that makes it as good as the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens as they are in the same price range here in Spain.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Glenn72

Looking at the 35mm F2 and it appears to be more or less the same build quality and specification as the 50mm 1.8 II lens and just wondering why it is 3 times more expensive then the 50mm 1.8 II lens?

It's actually better build quality: it has a metal mount, not plastic; wider and better placed manual focus ring; and it has a distance scale. And it's 35mm. That requires bending the light more than a 50mm does. It's always more difficult to design good wide lenses than it is normal or telephoto. A 50mm focal length is probably one of the easiest focal lengths to design for. Wide angle lenses generally require more correction for distortion, chromatic aberration, etc.

If you look at the MTF charts, the 35/2 is not as good a performer as the 50/1.8. But then, it's a 35mm lens.

[Glenn72]

Thanks for the reply inkista, I never really considered the 35mm a wide angle lens since it would be 56mm on my 1.6 crop sensor. I'll just have to save up and pick one up in the future.

[janamelinda]

Ok, so I have to say, I rented this lens over the weekend, and I really love it. I did a family session and used it the entire time. It's fast, quiet, and oh so sharp. *love*
I think it will be perfect for portraits (infants, children, couples, etc.) I hated to give it back.
:-(
So, now I'm watching Amazon to see if 'they' get it back in stock. Other places have it, like Adorama, etc., but last week Amazon had it for less (by a good $100), and then sold out. urgh! I'll try to be patient...ha!