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02/23/2007 11:44:59 AM · #1 |
I want a "normal lens" for my Canon 400D and I'm not sure what to go for. I've looked at both the Canon 28 f1.8 and the Sigma 30 f1.4 and I'm not sure which to go for. Reviews on the Sigma lens aren't fantastic, especially in regards to AF so I'm leaning towards the Canon. I'm also thinking of the Canon EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS instead of the prime but I've read image quality is not as great.
Any feedback I could get would be nice. |
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02/23/2007 11:50:14 AM · #2 |
the Canon 28mm 2.8 is freakin' awesome, but of course you lose a stop of light.
it's cheap, too |
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02/23/2007 11:52:23 AM · #3 |
| Hell, you could just wait a month or so and pick up Canon's new 16-35mm 2.8. Not sure how much it will go for but I expect it to be a great lens for you Canon guys. |
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02/23/2007 11:53:49 AM · #4 |
primes are most of the time great lenses, and often not too expensive, but obviously they cover a limited range so you'll end up having a lot of "holes" in your bage, or a lot of lenses. SO you'd better be sure which one you want. I chose the 85 f/1.8 from canon for portraits, never regretted it.
You already have a good 75-300. If I were you I would change your 18-55 to an faster lense. For example I own the 18-50 2.8 from sigma. The same range as your 18-55 but the f/2.8 gives a very good bonus for low-light or limited DOF pictures (like portraits). Canon makes equivalent lenses that may be sharper, but more expensive too.
have a look here //www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html for more information.
Don't be too rigid about lense sharpness. Very often you'll not see the diffference. Not saying there isn't any, but don't expect it to be visble from a 100 miles.
And first and foremost, think about what you want to do with them. HAving a long collection of primes is great if you shoot in a studio, maybe less practical in street photography.
Message edited by author 2007-02-23 12:00:29. |
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02/23/2007 11:57:06 AM · #5 |
| I'll look into that. Thanks. I wouldn't mind the 16-35L 2.8 but it is and L and I'm not sure I can afford it. |
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02/23/2007 11:57:58 AM · #6 |
Stick with a prime. Even fast zooms are slow in comparison and most often not razor sharp wide open. A fast prime at f/2.8 is already stopped down and should be razor sharp. You could also consider the 35mm focal length; it's a 56mm equivalent, so the difference in FoV between that and a 50mm is almost not worth talking about. Many older "normal" primes for 35mm were 55mm or even 58mm.
So you then have four Canon choices, the 28/1.8 and 28/2.8 as well as the 35/1.4 and 35/2. I'd think you'd throw the 35/1.4 out of contention on price alone, though it is of course the optical standout of the bunch. The 35/2, gets pretty good reports. The 28/1.8 is a darn decent lens as well, as is the 28/2.8. |
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02/23/2007 12:57:59 PM · #7 |
Lenses are typically said to be "Normal" when their focal length is equal to the diagonal of the film/sensor used. That means that a "normal" lens for a full frame (24mmx36mm) format camera is about 43mm and for a APS-C camera it's about 27mm. Many older 35mm cameras (usually rangefinders) had 45mm lenses as their "normal" lenses.
My personal preference would be the Sigma 30mm f1.4. I've seen some really impressive low light work done with this lens, but either one of the Canon 28mm lenses would be a close runner up.
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02/23/2007 01:55:03 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by MarioAngel:
I want a "normal lens" for my Canon 400D and I'm not sure what to go for. I've looked at both the Canon 28 f1.8 and the Sigma 30 f1.4 and I'm not sure which to go for. Reviews on the Sigma lens aren't fantastic, especially in regards to AF so I'm leaning towards the Canon. I'm also thinking of the Canon EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS instead of the prime but I've read image quality is not as great.
Any feedback I could get would be nice. |
i have the sigma 30mm 1.4 and enjoy it a lot. i know the reviews say it's not as sharp in the corners as might be expected for a prime, but i've not noticed it.
nor have i noticed any trouble with auto focus... works great, it's fast, and very quiet. several other dpc owners said they enjoyed it as well...
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03/02/2007 01:27:15 PM · #9 |
| Thanks for the help. I'm thinking the Sigma 30 f1.4 right now. |
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03/02/2007 01:35:38 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by hopper:
the Canon 28mm 2.8 is freakin' awesome, but of course you lose a stop of light.
it's cheap, too |
J've always been happy with 2.8 never shot a lot wider than that
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03/02/2007 03:13:56 PM · #11 |
Just what is a "normal" lens?
It is of interest to note that a "normal" lens for one camera is not necessarily a "normal" lens for another. For example, kirbic's 5D "normal" lens is about 50mm but for most current dSLRs "normal" is about 31mm. A "normal" lens for most current dSLRs would be "wide angle" on kirbic's 5D. For medium and large format cameras the focal lengths for "normal" lenses are even larger.
A "normal" lens is defined as one having a field of view close the human eye, about 46 degrees, not one of a specific focal length.
The Canon 5D has a full 35mm sized detector like most film-based cameras of old with a wider light capture area which gives a 50mm focal length lens about a 46 degree field of view making it "normal". Medium and large format cameras have even wider capture areas so their "normal" is even longer focal lengths.
Another factor that comes into play is depth of field. DOF is at a particular distance will be narrower than that for a similarly focused 31mm lens.
There... that should help confuse the issue!
Message edited by author 2007-03-02 15:16:02.
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03/09/2007 02:01:27 AM · #12 |
| I understand what a normal lens is. I just want some help trying to decide what specific lens ,if any, I should get. |
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03/10/2007 03:08:28 PM · #13 |
I own the Canon 30mm f/1.4, and I really like it. It spends a lot of time attached to my camera. I shoot in low light a lot, so the f/1.4 is GREAT.
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03/10/2007 04:25:27 PM · #14 |
//home.fuse.net/pets/fov.jpg
shows what the FOV of a 50mm lens is on all the dSLR sensor sizes.
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03/10/2007 04:30:02 PM · #15 |
Why not go retro?? Buy an M42 adapter for your 400D, then you have the choice of so many prime lenses at giveaway prices. Zeiss, Leica and all the major brands, at all different focal lengths, at low prices.
Of course, it means you will have to go manual, but there is some awesome glass out there for pennies. |
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03/10/2007 04:39:07 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by formerlee:
Why not go retro?? Buy an M42 adapter for your 400D, then you have the choice of so many prime lenses at giveaway prices. Zeiss, Leica and all the major brands, at all different focal lengths, at low prices.
Of course, it means you will have to go manual, but there is some awesome glass out there for pennies. |
I have done this - The adaptor cost me more than the lens I bought to use with it - a Vivitar 28MM f2.8!
Going manual can be a bit of a bind at times but it is good to try! |
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03/10/2007 04:48:09 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by pix-al:
Originally posted by formerlee:
Why not go retro?? Buy an M42 adapter for your 400D, then you have the choice of so many prime lenses at giveaway prices. Zeiss, Leica and all the major brands, at all different focal lengths, at low prices.
Of course, it means you will have to go manual, but there is some awesome glass out there for pennies. |
I have done this - The adaptor cost me more than the lens I bought to use with it - a Vivitar 28MM f2.8!
Going manual can be a bit of a bind at times but it is good to try! |
Adapter from ebay for the Pentax, £1.99 + £3.00 postage!! |
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03/10/2007 05:33:55 PM · #18 |
| I've heard reviews saying the 30 1.4 is better than the 35L when they're both on a crop sensor. I mean obviously the 30 1.4 is designed for only crop sensors so really it's hard to compair the two on FF. |
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