What "normal" range lens made you say "Wow" on Day 1?

Hi everyone -

I just picked up a Zeiss 21 for my 5Dc and I can honestly say that when I looked at my images on the computer it was the first time I ever caught myself saying "Wow" out loud. I came close when I first used the 70-200 f4 IS, but not quite there.

Im almost exclusively a landscape photographer and have only the two lenses mentioned above, but my wife and I are expecting a baby in September and I want a lens in the "normal" range for "Mom and Baby" pics. But since I am also a landscape photographer, I sure would LOVE to have that "Wow" moment again when I open up a landscape photo from this lens.

I've considered the Canon/Zeiss/Sigma 50mm's and they all leave something to be desired - price, focus shift, manual focus (might not be an issue, havent decided yet), focus accuracy, bokeh, the wondering if I would have been happier if I had spent more/less, etc.

Ive also owned a 24-70 and 24-105 in the past and they are fantastic work horse lenses, but I don't think they are really capable of the "Wow" I'm looking for.

Ive considered the following but am open to any suggestions:

1. Add Canon 50 1.4, swap 70-200 f4 IS + cash for Zeiss 100. I get my "Wow" from yet another Zeiss and cover the mid-range with what I believe to be the best cost/benefit 50mm.

2. Swap 70-200 f4 IS for Zeiss 35-70 3.4 C/Y with adapter and Samyang 14. I really like the idea of the 35-70, but I heard TTL metering doesnt work and that would be a downer, plus Im not thrilled about manual focus on a normal range lens for people pictures. Its easy on my 21 because I always want to maximize DOF, but on this lens I probably wont want that all the time.

3. Add Canon 50 1.4 or Tamron 28-75, leave all else alone. Save pennies for Zeiss 100 (likely going to be a year or more with a new baby, but I just got the 21 so I should be OK for some time if I dont let gear lust take over). This is the cheap solution and probably the most reasonable - but what fun is that?

Im actually leaning towards #3 in an attempt to be the responsible new parent, but thought I would turn to this forum to come up with something I may not have yet.

What do you guys think - anything interesting Ive overlooked?

17-55mm f/2.8 IS

WOW! to the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens!

The absolute least "WOWable" was the 17-40mm f/4L IS on a 1.6x camera (fine on full-frame - boo to 1.6x crop)! It is really a mid-range zoom, rather than a wide angle lens for a cropper. It is far too slow at f/4 without IS and the 40mm end is too short.

However, in answer to your question. I would not trade a good A/F lens for any M/F lens. I personally don't like manual focus lenses on DSLR cameras. I used manual focus lenses on my canon A-1 and AE-1P cameras and was glad to get autofocus on my DSLR cameras!

But, sometimes the "Wow!" that is lacking may be the fault of the Indian rather than the arrow!

its easier to get wow images with you family secondary to emotional investment. also things such as sharpness and microcontrast are fall less important in taking picture of family. I dont own the zeiss 21, but own a few good lenses, and shoot landscape and family. these included the 70-200 2.8 IS II, 24tseII nikon 14-24, canon 85 1.2 II, and the 35 1.4. I shot with the 28-75 tamron when my baby was first born, and rally liked the close focusing distance, and image quality was great for the way I was using it (center portion sharpness throughout zoom range at f 2.8). my canon 28-70 though has awesome color and contrast. However, my recommendation is the 35 1.4. it will give you more of a PJ style family photography, and allows you to do more available light photography, and I think has the wow factor. I would personally never pay the outragous price for the zeiss 100, and as you can see, I dont have a problem paying the same amount for the 24 tse. I would choose the 85 1.2II, a truly magical lens, and even the sigma 85 1.4 over the zeiss any day. but hey, thats me.

My 17-55IS made me say "wow". Good luck finding a FF equivalent.

Before I ramble on about lenses, a Zacuto Pro 3x loupe and live view focusing will probably do more for your images than anything else.... getting them in focus really matters.

Three lenses live in my bag

Normal
Zuiko 55/1.2 on a Fotodiox Pro adapter.... amazing 30-odd year old glass. For $600 you would be lucky to get anywhere close.

Sub normal....
I had a play with the ZE 35/1.4 when it was still a prototype. I had to have one. Just like the ZE 21, it's a "wow!" lens, but be aware that it's a horror to focus critically when it's wide open. Stopping down to f/2 makes it far easier.

My absolute stunner is the TS-E 17mm. It is versatile beyond all imagining. I made a 5380x6342 pixel (!) image yesterday using it as shift lens and it's pixel-sharp to the corners.

anything zeiss + ff sensor and i say "wow".

I've always liked a slightly wider than normal. 35L wow'ed me the first time i took a picture. I love that lens so much that I can survive with just that lens for my own personal photography. For gigs though, I do like to complement it with an 85mm.

I think the lens to wow me the most when I first put it on was my 85mm 1.4 ... but its not really a normal range lens.

My first wow moment was when I got the 50mm 1.8. It was the first lens I got after my kit lens many years ago. The large aperture was night and day difference for me. Although nowadays if I had to choose 2 lenses that give me the wow factor it would be the 85mm and 35mm on FF. Any large aperture variation of those lenses will wow me(i.e. f1.2 or f1.4). Funny thing is I own neither of those primes.

For me it was the EF 100 f2.0 using it for portrait shots of my grandson outside on our deck, so sharp and great contrast and colour, made allmy zoom lenses look ho hum even made my 24-70L look soft.

Sigma 50mm F/1.4

That would be my siggy 30mm 1.4 on crop of course.

I've had a few that have made me say "wow! What a piece of junk..." most recently, that was the Canon 50mm f/1.4...

My wow factor lenses are the 35L, 85 f/1.4, and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II... All for different reasons...

well....when the bill for my 70-200 L IS showed up..it made my wife say WOW

Ken

My 70-200 f4L IS & 17-55 f2.8, two fantastic lenses.