best prime lens combination?

smorter wrote in post #16240004
I own:

14, 24, 35, 50, 85

I started out with 35 and 85 but found that 35 was often too long/not wide enough and 85 was often too long

So then I got a 24 and 50

But instead of those 2 replacing the 35 and 85, now I just carry all of them and curse

So personally I think the "Grass is always greener on the other side" - no matter what combo you get, you'll wanted what you don't have

^^^ Very true.
I got all the zoom I need/want: 17-35, 24-70 & 70-200 beside the 50mm then added 85 & 100 and now still thinking if I need 24/35 .

Hi,

personally on a full frame i would go for just the 35 and 85 for short primes. but that's just me.

cheers!

Depends on what you shoot, of course. I like street, travel, and portraits. So I rarely need wider than 24mm or longer than 85mm. Which is exactly what my gear is set up for.

My ideal 3 prime lens setup on fullframe: 35mm, 50mm, 85mm
My ideal 4 prime lens setup on fullframe: 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm

Lenses I would use for specific situation:
For street: 50mm
For travel: 24mm/35mm, 50mm, 85mm
For portraits: 35mm, 85mm

What about
24 TSE, 40, 85, 135, 300, and a 1.4... I'm covered! Shooting Full Frame

Thanks to everyone for your reply.

I've decided to go with 35-50-100. To me 35 and 50 are actually very different tools with different looks and it makes sense to me to have them both. 24mm is a bit too wide for me to use on regular basis.

Thanks again.

seanlancaster wrote in post #16239608
I just sold the 50/1.2L because it was just too close to my Sigma 35/1.4

I'm tempted to do the same move, but in reality I'm worried I will regret it in the end, i love that lens, lol. I can rent a Sigma locally for $50 to see if I would like it (I also have a Zeiss 50 1.4 - so one 50 needs to go either way)

Any regrets on selling the 50, thanks?

Bilderknipser wrote in post #16243965
I'm tempted to do the same move, but in reality I'm worried I will regret it in the end, i love that lens, lol. I can rent a Sigma locally for $50 to see if I would like it (I also have a Zeiss 50 1.4 - so one 50 needs to go either way)

Any regrets on selling the 50, thanks?

I don't have any regrets. I do think about how much I loved the 50/1.2L rendering. But I don't feel let down by going with the Sigma 35. And the 50/1.2L was turning into my 2nd choice for the types of shots I shoot while I kept grabbing the Sigma 35. I realized the 50/1.2L was turning into lens that I didn't need (not that I NEED any lens as a hobbyist). Sure, I miss the bokeh I could get with it, but c'est la vie, eh? I have other focal lengths I can now consider with that $$$ (e.g., a used Zeiss 21).

I started with the 35/85 for modelshoots, great combo, but then I realised I used the 35mm too much and I had too much environment on the pictures and less model...
So I sold the 35 Art for the 50 Art, for halbody fashionshoots and 85mm for headshots.

The 35mm is more for environmental portraits (or commercial like a doctor in his cabinet)
For the wider I use a 24-70 2.8.

renaissance_myth wrote in post #16242954
Hi,

personally on a full frame i would go for just the 35 and 85 for short primes. but that's just me.

cheers!

You OP got many good suggestions here. I believe you should decide what is your baseline first, 35mm or 50mm.

These two are close to each other to the extent that stepping back/forth is generally preferred to a lens change, nonetheless the "look" is different and will drive your choice.

The general approach that applies is to be around 2x apart, i.e. 17/35/85/135 or 24/50/100/200.

The thought process should also be dictated by other factors:
1. primes may be used to complement your zooms
2. how many lenses you want to carry at the same time and their size for portability
3. what you shoot

For daily walkaround I generally bring two lenses and a flash
35 + 85 or 135
24-105 + 85 or
35 + 70-200

If you want to have both 35 & 50 to have the option of which one to carry with your 100, then I suggest you get the 35 IS or the 35 Art and replace your Sigma 50 with the 50 STM which is a very good lens and so cheap.

My collection: 12mm FE, 15mm FE, 28, 35, 50, 85, 135, 200. Wish I could afford a 300 f/4 IS.

Currently I have the 50L, 85L and 135L and they work for me. My next prime will be the 35L giving me the focal lengths that I need. I currently can fill any gaps with a zoom but I love the look of the primes.

fplstudio wrote in post #18300186
You OP got many good suggestions here. I believe you should decide what is your baseline first, 35mm or 50mm.

This is a resurrected topic from the fall of 2013. Your advice may help others, but I imagine the OP has already made his decision.

The op probaly decided bought, sold and bought again.

Nogo wrote in post #18300361
This is a resurrected topic from the fall of 2013. Your advice may help others, but I imagine the OP has already made his decision.

WTF! CanonYouCan you revived a 4 years old thread.

bjbsav wrote in post #18300379
The op probaly decided bought, sold and bought again.

or is now playing with a mirrorless...

I have a Sigma 50 1.4 Art & a Canon 85 1.2L, I could also say they are too close
In fact I sold the Sigma 35 Art as it was too close to the 50 Art and bought the 24-70 2.8L MKI in place of it to have something wider in case of a sporadic event/wedding.

But when I see 35 1.4 Art pics, sometimes I wish I would have kept it.
Standaardzoom pics simply cannot produce the look of the 35 1.4
And the 24-70 zoomrange isn't that big in fact (1 step behind with 35mm = 24mm and 2 steps forward = 70mm).
Maybe i'll rebuy the 35 Art again.

Then I'll have 35A -50A - 85L - 135A ,all too close but unique tools.
Don't know if I'll ever do weddings or events again to keep the 24-70 2.8, i'm more into modelphotography and creative non commercial stuff...