A good prime below normal

[vvizard]

I don't know if I can live with beeing stuck at 77mm (in 35mm world) until I can afford a wide-angle zoom (17-40 f/4L probably). I was therefore thinking if there is any well recommended primes which ain't to expensive, and which at least isn't any narrower than 50mm in 35mm world. It can't be very expensive (max $350), and have to have an aperture at least at f/2.8. If they exist, do you have any to recommend? I don't care if it's Canon/Sigma/Tokina/Tamron as long as quality is great, while matching my price/aperture wishes.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Sigma makes a bunch of really nice primes.. 20,24,and 28mm if I remeber... the 20mm is f/1.8

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=125&sort=7&thecat=13

[dwbrant]

Yep I've got a Sigma 20mm f1.8 (it's really usable after f2.8 ) and it's really nice. I get really good images from it. sorry, can't post any since I've been 2 busy to actually process images in a while now, but you'll hear from others I'm sure.

The lens cost me around $260 on ebay (new-in-box).

[DaveF]

If memory serves, Pekka thinks highly of the Canon EF 35mm f/2.0. B&H has it for $225 with a $10 rebate.

[dwbrant]

I've tried the Canon 35mm f2.0, it's also a nice lens. What made me go with the Sigma 20mm instead was the fact that the Canon has some kind of IR-preventive coating on the lens that precludes me from using that lens to take near-infrared pics. The Sigma doesn't.

[nosquare2003]

I don't know other brands. For Canon, primes with aperture smaller than f/2.8 are expensive because they must be L. EF35/f2 is very good. Is it "wide" enough?

[Andy_T]

I've seen a lot of used Canon 2.8/28 for sale on eBay (Germany). Final prices are around EUR 150.

According to photozone.de it's supposed to be a decent lens - anybody have experience with this one?

Best regards,
Andy

[slin100]

The Canon trio of 2.8s, the 20, 24 and the 28, all get high marks at the usual review sites. I owned the 24/2.8 for a while (around $299) and found it a very useful focal length for candids. They all lack USM, so focusing is noisy but not really that bothersome.

Sigma also has the same three focal lengths, except that they are f/1.8. From the pictures I've seen, they are quite soft at that aperature.