Good non-'L' prime lenses?

[flawlessly]

Just checking everyone buys these lenses or not, recommended, and better usage for 1.6x camera?

1st of all, a lens over 50mm should be too long on 1.6x camera, so I narrow them down to...

EF 20 f2.8
EF 24 f2.8
EF 28 f1.8
EF 28 f2.8
EF 35 f2
EF 50 f1.4
EF 50 f1.8 II

I only need two or maybe three lenses from the list for indoor (half or full body) portrait works. Which two or three would you pick?

Thanks!

[stupot]

50 1.4, sigma 30ex

[FlashZebra]

Just checking everyone buys these lenses or not, recommended, and better usage for 1.6x camera?

1st of all, a lens over 50mm should be too long on 1.6x camera, so I narrow them down to...

EF 20 f2.8
EF 24 f2.8
EF 28 f1.8
EF 28 f2.8
EF 35 f2
EF 50 f1.4
EF 50 f1.8 II

I only need two or maybe three lenses from the list for indoor (half or full body) portrait works. Which two or three would you pick?

Thanks!
If you want someting more than testimonials, you can get easy to read and nicely codefied test reports on most (possibly all) of these lenses here:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

There are also test images for these lenses included on most of these reports.

Enjoy! Lon

[KevC]

There are many.

They include 28/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 135/2.8SF

[mspringfield]

I like the 100 F2.

Michael

[Dante King]

I agree with KevC, but the 85 and 135 will most likely be too long on your camera for indoor work unless you have some real room to maneuver.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Good non-L primes? Lots of them. Just some I can think of:

28 1.8 (I hear it's good..never used it)
Sigma 30 1.4
35 f/2
Sigma 20 1.8
50 1.4 (personally think the 1.8 is junky)
EF-S 60 macro

[Andy_T]

Actually, most primes give great image quality.
I can wholeheartedly endorse the Canon 28/1.8, Sigma 30/1.4 and Canon 50/1.4.
I see from your gear list that you have the 50/1.8, well, if you like this lens, be assured that all others are even better. The 35/2.0 is a very similar design to the 50/1.8, but more expensive due to the smaller production runs.

I also like my Tamron 17/3.5 quite a lot but I am not sure whether this is still in production.

Best regards,
Andy

[coreypolis]

you're going to be doing portraits and won't consider anything over 50? even with the 1.6x, its not that long. I've used 200 in a garage on a 1.3x body without problems


the 85 1.8 is about the best deal there is for performance to price ratio, and 85 is a much better length for portraits

[Benandbobbi]

I like the 50mm 1.4

[AeroSmith]

I think all of the Canon primes are excellent. Though personally I won't buy any of the non-USM lenses.

[flawlessly]

28 f1.8, 85 f1.8, & 135 f2.8 SF are looking good to me. Need to find some rooms for that 135 tho :)

[AeroSmith]

The 85/1.8 is an absolutley stellar lens for portraits and so much more.

[Matt_385]

I'm getting ready to buy a 50mm f1.4. I want it for mostly portraits. I love it's extremely narrow DOF and low light capability.

[Doom1701e]

For sure 50 1.4! Damn sharp lens.

[SamFishlock]

I've used 200 in a garage on a 1.3x body without problems

I know someone with a garage big enough to do bird photography in, I'm sure 600mm lense can be used for photography!

Only prime lense I've used is a 50mm 1.4, and the only prime lense I own is an 8mm Peleng lense, so I would have to knock up a vote for the 50mm 1.4, t'is good imo!

Sam.

[Mr. Clean]

Sigma 30mm 1.4
Canon 50mm 1.8 or 1.4
Canon 85mm 1.8
All great potrait lenses

[JBillings]

I see votes here for the 50mm 1.4, but if your on a tight budget the 50mm 1.8 performs admirably. And it's hard to beat for the money. The 85mm 1.8 is a great lens. I use it indoors at basketball events. It's very sharp and focuses very fast.

[aparmley]

28 1.8, 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 100 2.0 - those are probably the top of the non L primes made by Canon. . .

[drbenjamin]

Nobody has mentioned the 100mm f/2.8 macro. It is a lovely lens. Not as fast as the 100/2, but unbelievably sharp, really nice bokeh, and it can do macro too! If I go on a short walk with just one lens on my camera, the 100 macro is it.

[SolPics]

I really liked the 20 mm f/2.8 . I used it for group photos and landscapes.