Wider prime for a Canon
Discussion
Hello, I have a time served 50D and for years have used a 50mm 1.8 and now booked to spend a few weeks in Asia this November with my other half and our 3 year old.
This means I need to travel much lighter so taking minimal kit is required. The 50 is great but just not wide enough for me to keep on all day, which is my aim.
So, new glass opportunity. Somewhere around a 30mm wide aperture seems ideal. The holiday is costing enough so probably need to look for something second hand, but what? The Sigma 30mm looks reasonable but seems to be for mirror less bodies and the Cannon 35 f2 looks possible but I'd prefer a wider aperture as I really like low light and unlikely to have a tripod. Any other options, Canon 28 f1.8?
This means I need to travel much lighter so taking minimal kit is required. The 50 is great but just not wide enough for me to keep on all day, which is my aim.
So, new glass opportunity. Somewhere around a 30mm wide aperture seems ideal. The holiday is costing enough so probably need to look for something second hand, but what? The Sigma 30mm looks reasonable but seems to be for mirror less bodies and the Cannon 35 f2 looks possible but I'd prefer a wider aperture as I really like low light and unlikely to have a tripod. Any other options, Canon 28 f1.8?
I was given a Sigma 35mm a couple of years ago. I fitted it to my 5D3 and yep, it didn't work. No problem on my friend's 5D2, but that's the problem with Sigma lenses, there's no guarantee they'll work on the next generation of body.
Decide which Canon lens you can afford and want, buy it. Enjoy for decades.
The trouble, of course, is that a wide lens won't be wide on your 50D. A 35mm on your 50D gives the same angle of view as a 50mm on my 5D3, so, you need to try some lenses on your camera to see what you think you need. Your 50mm on your body is like an 80mm on mine!
Prime EF-S lenses (designed for cameras such as yours) are a bit thin on the ground, I'm afraid.
Decide which Canon lens you can afford and want, buy it. Enjoy for decades.
The trouble, of course, is that a wide lens won't be wide on your 50D. A 35mm on your 50D gives the same angle of view as a 50mm on my 5D3, so, you need to try some lenses on your camera to see what you think you need. Your 50mm on your body is like an 80mm on mine!
Prime EF-S lenses (designed for cameras such as yours) are a bit thin on the ground, I'm afraid.
Just found this: Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8 STM Lens! https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-EF...
£145 brand new. That's a light, tiny lens, and gives a proper wide angle of view on your 50D, the equivalent of about 40mm. That's not WIIIIIIDE, but twice the angle of your 50mm. No brainer I'd say. And cheap.
£145 brand new. That's a light, tiny lens, and gives a proper wide angle of view on your 50D, the equivalent of about 40mm. That's not WIIIIIIDE, but twice the angle of your 50mm. No brainer I'd say. And cheap.
Edited by Tony1963 on Thursday 16th August 07:33
Tony1963 said:
I was given a Sigma 35mm a couple of years ago. I fitted it to my 5D3 and yep, it didn't work. No problem on my friend's 5D2, but that's the problem with Sigma lenses, there's no guarantee they'll work on the next generation of body.
Decide which Canon lens you can afford and want, buy it. Enjoy for decades.
The trouble, of course, is that a wide lens won't be wide on your 50D. A 35mm on your 50D gives the same angle of view as a 50mm on my 5D3, so, you need to try some lenses on your camera to see what you think you need. Your 50mm on your body is like an 80mm on mine!
Prime EF-S lenses (designed for cameras such as yours) are a bit thin on the ground, I'm afraid.
I didn't think Sigma had done a 35mm prime before the Art version. And the Art version is definitely compatible on a 5DIII and in fact, the availability of the USB dock for it means its firmware can be updated by the user if it's ever needed. Decide which Canon lens you can afford and want, buy it. Enjoy for decades.
The trouble, of course, is that a wide lens won't be wide on your 50D. A 35mm on your 50D gives the same angle of view as a 50mm on my 5D3, so, you need to try some lenses on your camera to see what you think you need. Your 50mm on your body is like an 80mm on mine!
Prime EF-S lenses (designed for cameras such as yours) are a bit thin on the ground, I'm afraid.
I know Sigma lenses of old had this issue but it's not an issue for modern lenses and honestly the current range of Sigma primes are absolutely superb so it would be a shame to dismiss them so quickly.
All that said, hard to argue against the 24mm pancake.
Some points:-
1) Having a pancake lens on a 'holiday/travel' camera makes it much more portable, easily drops into a large handbag or small daysack It will get taken to more places, and left in the hotel room less.
2) Its much more discrete, so not so obvious that someone is wielding a potentially expensive DSLR in an unknown area
3) Since the pancake lens is very light, its easier to hold the body steady, thus allowing slower shutter speeds to be used, making up for the small reduction in stops of light (obviously this does not help if target is moving!!)
1) Having a pancake lens on a 'holiday/travel' camera makes it much more portable, easily drops into a large handbag or small daysack It will get taken to more places, and left in the hotel room less.
2) Its much more discrete, so not so obvious that someone is wielding a potentially expensive DSLR in an unknown area
3) Since the pancake lens is very light, its easier to hold the body steady, thus allowing slower shutter speeds to be used, making up for the small reduction in stops of light (obviously this does not help if target is moving!!)
I have an old Canon 35mm f2 which is great. Not the current IS USM version, but the old fashioned AFD-motor one. Wide open at f2 the centre is every bit as sharp as the Canon 35mm f1.4L (Mk1, not Mk2). The corners on full frame are pretty mushy wide open, but on a crop body it would be less of an issue. Focus works well but obviously not as quick or quiet as a USM.
It is my standard holiday / day out with kids combination. I now have the 35mm 1.4L II (which is stunning) but still use this little old f2 regularly as well.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-35mm-F2-Prime-...
If you want new, there is now a Yongnuo copy available, but I have no idea of the quality.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35mm-F2-Lens-Wide-Angle...
It is my standard holiday / day out with kids combination. I now have the 35mm 1.4L II (which is stunning) but still use this little old f2 regularly as well.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-35mm-F2-Prime-...
If you want new, there is now a Yongnuo copy available, but I have no idea of the quality.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35mm-F2-Lens-Wide-Angle...
I picked up a 24mm pancake on a whim while out in Canada, needing something portable, wide and relatively fast. It produces some impeccable photos, and in real life situations can prove unbelievably handy (dodgy side streets or climbing mountains etc). Great value for money, and good for macro stuff as a side benefit.
RDBx said:
What's the reconning on the 24mm's ability in relatively low light (wide open) and hand held? Will be in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong, want to be able to at least try to take some good images.
Try your current lens at f/2.8 in similar light, see how you get on. The 24mm will be one stop better, ish. Seriously, just buy it. If you don't like it, sell it for £90 and find something else. We ain't talking £1k, so you're going to need to accept a few compromises.
And yes. I've had a beer
Tony1963 said:
Try your current lens at f/2.8 in similar light, see how you get on. The 24mm will be one stop better, ish.
Seriously, just buy it. If you don't like it, sell it for £90 and find something else. We ain't talking £1k, so you're going to need to accept a few compromises.
And yes. I've had a beer
Thanks, very true. I will be have a play with my other prime and see how I get on. It's sounding like the best option if I need wider, faster and light.Seriously, just buy it. If you don't like it, sell it for £90 and find something else. We ain't talking £1k, so you're going to need to accept a few compromises.
And yes. I've had a beer
Tony1963 said:
Just found this: Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8 STM Lens! https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-EF...
£145 brand new. That's a light, tiny lens, and gives a proper wide angle of view on your 50D, the equivalent of about 40mm. That's not WIIIIIIDE, but twice the angle of your 50mm. No brainer I'd say. And cheap.
I was looking for a new lens for a trip to NYC at the end of the month and found this thread, picked one of these up for £103 brand new and its just arrived. £145 brand new. That's a light, tiny lens, and gives a proper wide angle of view on your 50D, the equivalent of about 40mm. That's not WIIIIIIDE, but twice the angle of your 50mm. No brainer I'd say. And cheap.
Edited by Tony1963 on Thursday 16th August 07:33
I have a Canon EOS 400D which is obviously getting on a bit but it still does a good job. I wanted something wider than my nifty fifty so this fits the bill well. It's also small so once I've taken the battery grip off it means I can pocket my camera instead of taking a bag out and about.
Looking forward to trying it out.
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