if only one prime lens for D60?

[timbo]

one all purpose prime lens for d60 could be L or non-L
what is best choice?

[jmublueduck]

IMO,

for all-around use, the 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.4.

moderate telephoto: 135mm f/2L or 100mm f/2.

value: 50mm f/1.8 (definitely a best buy).

[dbarthel]

If you can go with two: 28-135is and 50 f1.8

[DVWarrior]

I would plum for the 50mm f1.4 having had this lens in the past is one of the sharpest lens Canon produce... plus the f1.4 is a dream...depth of field of a nanometer but used in the correct fashion will give great pics.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

I just lerve my 135/2 L.

:)

[jd_D60]

If we're talking Prime lenses go for the EF100mm Macro - not only do you get a sharp telephoto but the world of Marco is a hugh bonus.

If I had to pick one lens again it would be this, even go for the cheaper non-USM version cos it don't make much difference for macro.

[GenEOS]

I don't have one, but since my zoom stays around the 35mm setting for most my indoor shots, I would say a 35mm F2.8...

[timbo]

Thanks for all the great advice. Sounds like 35, 50 or 100 marco would be very good choices. I think 35mm (D60 = 56mm) and 100 marco (D60 = 160mm macro) I'm gonna dig deep in my pockets and get both.

thanks everyone

[Hawkeye12]

i like the 50 f/1.4 i have, but i just bought the 24 f/1.4L and even though it is designed as a wide angle, it works really well on the D60. super crisp images.

[Jade14]

A lot of people seem to endorse the 35 mm/50 mm route. I hesitate to do so since these lenses turn into 56/80 mm angle-of-view equivalents. This is fine if you mostly intend to photograph close-up details, single portraiture or outdoor scenery. If you have even the smallest interest in indoor group photography or environmental portraiture, both theses lenses might be a bit too long and likely to exclude important information from your photos.

I have four lenses for my D60: a 50mm 1.4, a 28-70 2.8 L, a 20 mm 2.8 and a 14 mm 2.8 Sigma EX. When I shoot documentary style weddings the 20 mm (32 mm angle-of-view equivalent) seems to spend the most time mounted in camera. Sometimes I wish the 20 mm had a larger maximum aperture. I have had a surprisingly positive experience with the Sigma 14 mm lens image quality and construction, so I suggest you read some Sigma 20 mm 1.8 users reviews at:
http://www.photographyreview.com/PRD_85099_3111crx.aspx#reviews

The Sigma 20 1.8 full frame corner sharpness is not so good, but since corners are not used with the 1.6X crop factor, it turns out to be an excellent performer in the D60 ( if somewhat flary at maximum aperture, but so is my Canon 50mm). THe Sigma can be bought for US$360 from B&H, a great price for such a fast and versatile lens. Just make sure you get it from a store with good return policy, since Sigma is less stringent than Canon in quality control issues, so will want to check if any corner is unacceptably unsharp in Photoshop at 100%. My 14mm EX was a keeper on the first try.

Jorge Alban
http://public.fotki.com/JorgeAD/bodas_y_retratos/

[Yeti Man]

What do you shoot ?

Without this info, no response matters.

Do you mean in addition to some zoom(s) ?

If i were to keep only one of my primes it would be the 300 2.8, as it is the hardest to match with a zoom.

If it were to be your only lens ever, i guess a 35 or a 50 f1.4

[kellylipp]

If I may re-open this discussion a bit:

Why wouldn't one choose a lens like the Tamron AF 28-300 mm?

I'm thinking the pros would suggest that a general purpose lens like this isn't particularly good at anything.

But what about for us amateurs (read not being paid but trying to do a nice job)?

I guess for my application, a lens like this seems a good idea.

Now I would like to have a very wide angle to help compensate for the 1.6 thing.

Thanks,

First Poster
Kelly

[D60wannabe]

Kelly,

I had to laugh when I read your post. I just had a D60 home for a couple of days (Camera store friend's) and he loaned me a Tamron 28-300 lens. I had the camera home to test it's "problems" in low light. The camera and lens worked just fine. My son litterly is on the go non stop and I took more photos of him that night than I have in 3 months with my G2!!:) I've opted to wait for the new camera (March?) but would go back to the D60 if the next one is not for me in a heartbeat. Now, having said all that I will put some nice primes and L glass on it but the Tamron 28-300 did a pretty nice job for the price.

Paul

[Jouni]

d60wannabe wrote:
Kelly,

Now, having said all that I will put some nice primes and L glass on it but the Tamron 28-300 did a pretty nice job for the price.

Paul

Hi !

I'm waiting PMA and I have that same Tamron in my current EOS. Can you inform what was "weakness" of that lens with D60.

Jouni

[D60wannabe]

Jouni wrote:
d60wannabe wrote:
Kelly,

Now, having said all that I will put some nice primes and L glass on it but the Tamron 28-300 did a pretty nice job for the price.

Paul

Hi !

I'm waiting PMA and I have that same Tamron in my current EOS. Can you inform what was "weakness" of that lens with D60.

Jouni

Sure!

I felt the optics produced dark results. I was able to fix them in Photoshop but the out of the camera photos were dark and plain. I don't know how to post photos sorry. I wasn't unhappy it just took some processing to get the results I wanted (So will shooting with "L" glass but if you see an awesome lens compared to a mediocre lens there is quite the differance.) On the MTF scales the Tamron scores a 2.6 compared to the 70-200 2.8L's score of 4.1 out of 5 (4.8 being perfect really!). I guess what I'm saying is with money out of the equation the Canon lens just makes mincemeat of the Tamron. Considering money...well, that's another story. I think the Tamron should be considered because the results are quite a good value.

Paul

[Yavor75]

Timbo-
If you read through all the postings above, I think you'll land up with my lens line-up.
Buy in this order:

50mm F1.8 ($65 new) Wow!
28-135IS ($350 Ebay)
20mm Sigma F1.8 ($250 Ebay)
100mm F2 Macro ($350 Ebay)

This is for the non-rich. Got Cash? Go "L" series.

The 50mm and the 100mm are tied for sharpness, the 20mm Sigma produces nice sharpness with even better color than the Canons. The 28-135IS is the workhorse zoom with good sharpness and the stabilizer for low-light candids.

Have fun!
Bob

PS: All the primes shoot at about a half stop under, and the 28-135 is about a stop under. Hopefully Canon will address this in the next firmware revision.

[photography By Evangelos]

Try the EF 85 f1.8 USM it is a really shap lens and often most people over look this lens. It is great for portrait work and will not break the bank. One other great lens is the EF 28-135 IS the image stabilizer is a wonderful and a must have. This is my canon bargain lens picks if you do not wat to spend $$ on "L" Glass. Have a great day.

[Jouni]

Thanks Paul,

With my EOS 600 that lens has been mostly worked relatively well. I really needed that 300 mm while visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Most likely my next lens is 100-400 mm IS from Canon but I have to check carefully by savings account to buy one. This was anyway good news that I can start with my Tamron.

Jouni

[kellylipp]

Thanks folks, confirmed what I thought with the added bonus of beginning the long learning process.

I've shot my film EOS for years with two Canon EF lenses: 35-135 and 100-300 USM so that's what I've started with on the D60. I convinced myself and my wife that this was the camera for me since I wouldn't have to buy new lenses.

So much for that. I guess that's a pretty common camera buff affliction: wanting more, more, more.

I think I may go the route of buying a short/bright lens and sticking with what I have for long work. I was really trying to get away from having to change lenses for different types of shots, but that is certainly a newbie approach to photography. I do lots of outdoor backpacking/beach type stuff and carrying/changing lenses is a hassle.

The Tamron looks to be a great value: $360 with a $60 rebate. Can hardly go wrong.

I'll start poking around for a 20mm something. That will definitely give me the wide angle I need/want.

Other threads in here are a bit disconcerting: D90 so soon after I bought my D60? Isnt' that always the way it is.

BTW, great forum guys.

Kelly

[lziering]

If I had to choose just one lens it would be my 50mm f/1.4. Great in low light, sharp as a tack, small & compact, and has a fairly precise manual focus. That said, a very tempting lens is the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8.

[Marley]

is anyone familiar with this lens?

Quantaray - 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 High Speed Auto Focus Zoom for EOS Canon


they have it at Wolf camera for $199 seems like a decent price.

[thewhitenite007]

I would get the 85 1.8. Its a nice portrait lens on that camera and gives a general all round focal distance.