Primes

[rayray086]

Been recently delving into using more primes, and I'm lovin' them. Got two Sigmas, a 50mm f/1.4 (currently faulty :() and a 30mm f/1.4. Previously was using Canon's 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.4, and have found the Sigmas to be much more better to use with the HSM motor, better build and the dreamy bokeh, especially on the 50mm.

Some of mine using the Sigma 30mm on a 1000D:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Events/10DOVW/IMG_8963.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Events/10DOVW/IMG_8937.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Events/GAF10/IMG_8047.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Events/GAF10/IMG_7968.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Events/GAF10/IMG_7972.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/rayray086/Non-car/LC%20Marketplace/IMG_8296.jpg

Who else likes to use their primes? I'd like to know what else out there would be good to have, and personally would like to look for a longer focal length to add to my collection!

[vanboy]

I have 2 at the moment, they come out when it gets too dark!

Loved the nifty 50 so picked up a EF 50mm 1.4 and really enjoyed that. On the crop it was feeling abit too zoomed so I shelled out to get a EF 35mm 1.4 when I was visiting BH Photo last year.
Hard to go back to to the 50 once you get the wider range of the 35 (though I wonder if that would be the same with the 35 if I ever went to 24!). 35 on the crop is about 56? so it does well as a walk around. I also found it hard to say shoot your plate of food with a 50mm

If youre looking longer.. an 85 on the crop would be equivalent to 136? I think that would be good for longer portraits etc, but need to switch back for more walkaround stuff. Imagine how far you'd need to be to take a group shot at 85mm!

[Pharkus]

I find myself backing into walls already with my nifty50. Seems I will have to consider the 24 and just skip the 35. Though with the 24-70 looking more and more likely on the books, I may not even need to...

[10d]

Love my primes!

35 and 50 for me.

[vanboy]

I find myself backing into walls already with my nifty50. Seems I will have to consider the 24 and just skip the 35. Though with the 24-70 looking more and more likely on the books, I may not even need to...

I'll get my 35mm off a mate who's borrowing it to show you on Tuesday. Indoors at night, should be perfect ;)

[rayray086]

I find the 50mm to be either too long or too short for my purposes. Then again I use crop bodies - would be neat to have a full frame but my budget doesn't allow it :(

The 85mm sounds like a popular choice - should be able to force me to take more portrait shots!

Anyone have prime lens experience with third-party brands like Sigma, Tamron etc? I have preference for Sigma for their bang-for-your-buck ethos and also for their build.


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[Cam]

I've got a 50mm f/1.8 in the post and should be arriving this week. For the price ($130 shipped) you would be mad not to have it as part of your kit (for a beginner like me anyway)
:)

I'm really looking forward to using it.
Based on above discussion (and vanboy's post) I can see myself going for a 35mm or probably straight down to a 24mm though....

[Byza]

I also have the nifty 50 1.8 on a crop body 450d..

It is an amazing lens for the money and really love using it..

I have found that the hype of prime lens lately has also exposed those who still haven't grasped framing properly... Taking half cropped/framed shots to an extent can be cool BUT using a prime isn't an excuse for not framing a majority of shots properly.. Using a prime will make you learn very quickly about DOF, framing etc...

Im looking at jumping into a 24 or 35 but not 100% sure just yet as want to go full frame in the next 6 months...

[vanboy]

Totally agree with you there Byza, I keep trying to force myself to run around Manual, MF, Prime.. instead of my lazy AV, AF, 24-105
I had a play with a Leica the other day, had a very different feel to it. Fix aperture at the front, manual focus whilst dialing the shutter speed up top. Really made you think about the shots

If you're going full frame, the 35 would still be very useful?