Help me ! 35mm f1.4L or 50mm f1.2L or 24-70mm f2.8?

Hey everyone,

I'm having trouble deciding between three lenses.
I originally wasn't going to buy a "more general" focal length lens, but I'm finding that I keep wishing I had one.

I have had the 50mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 (the 50mm 1.8 were all on crop bodies though). For some reason I quickly dismissed them due to clunky sounding AF and my 50mm 1.4 having a defect ( I ended up returning it and getting my money back).

Anyways, I do Engagements and Weddings mostly and I tend to use Primes mostly.

My gear:
2 5D Mark II's
17-40mm f4
70-200mm f2.8 II
Sigma 85mm f1.4
100mm f2.8 Macro L IS

Now I know that the 17-40mm has the 35mm focal length but I rarely use the 17mm over 24mm, I bought it as a kit lens and have a lot of fun with quirky pics with it, and group shots.

But it does nothing for low light and if I want any type of separation between the subject and frame.

I tried the 35mm f1.4 and it seems to be a totally different monster then the 17-40mm @ 35mm. Way sharper, way better bokeh, and when stopped down to even f1.8 not much distortion. Of course it's FOV is still considered "Wide-Angle" vs the 50mm Normal view.

The problem being that I have the 85mm which I love and it's almost always on my camera with the 70-200mm being on the other one. I usually go with the procedure of having a Zoom lens on one body and a Prime on the other.

I've included the 24-70 in the mix, but I've heard good and bad things about the lens and even f2.8 isn't fast enough for some low light situations that we all come into.
The 50mm sounds delightful simply because of the speed @ f1.2 but I know I can get carried away simply because of Aperture speed.

The problem being that 50mm is pretty close to 85mm and is a focal length that I do not have, and the 35mm being a focal length I do, but then again, I just don't use the 17-40mm indoors and on very rare occasions have took the time to set up flash so that I could use it.

Sorry for going on and on.

I have no idea how you do weddings not really using the range between 24mm~70mm, I took this from roughly what you said? Everyone has different habits I guess but for me that is the most used range. I would have to say that for me 35mm or 50mm get about equal use from my 24-70 with a little 24mm and a little 70mm. I almost always am using flash it seems.

For weddings, don't you need to have flashes at all time? I've never met anyone who does weddings without a flash even if they are using primes. But it all depends on your style and clients I suppose.

As for the 50 1.2, it's a great lens but weddings are usually fast moving and if you are using the 1.2, that's less room for errors. For creativity though, it's a great lens.

cassidyphuey wrote in post #13448292
For weddings, don't you need to have flashes at all time? I've never met anyone who does weddings without a flash even if they are using primes. But it all depends on your style and clients I suppose.

As for the 50 1.2, it's a great lens but weddings are usually fast moving and if you are using the 1.2, that's less room for errors. For creativity though, it's a great lens.

Haha to answer the above. Of course I have flash lol but I only use it when it's needed or for fill. I use 2 580 ex iis but didn't thnk it was relevant for me to state every piece of gear that I have !

To answer the first question, my original set up up until just a week ago was a 5d mark II and a t2i. The 17-40 became a 27-70 on the t2i. And no I still rarely used that focal length. I ended up using my 17-40 on the 5d mark II instead and kept the 70-200 on the t2i only. So as you can see I need something better in the wide angle/normal focal length and I don't want to use the crummy 50mm 1.8 haha

35L will fit in the OP lineup just perfectly. Excellent for brides getting ready, dark receptions, normal/wide fast prime which is great on both full frame and crop bodies.

For the range you're looking at, and low light desires, I'd pick the middle 50 1.2. It's SO much nicer than the 1.4 sandbox version. I had the 24-70 and it was rarely wide enough and never long enough. All my haters might have read that I think the 35/85mm combination of most photoguys (me included for 30+ years) is boring. I have a 35 ZE ƒ2 which is stellar, but I've taken 1 shot with it. The field of view compared to a 50mm is very similar and I find the 50 better for me.

Digressing, our gear isn't all that different. Instead of the 17-40, I have a 16-36II for WA emergencies. But since Canon can't make a stellar wide angle (Ts-E's excluded), I have he Zeiss 21, 28, 50MP. Again I find 85mm damn close to a 100, so I also have the 100 ZE having sold my 85L and 135L.

But what do I know. I hate flashes (bounced, diffused, etc) and have sold any I've had (but love studio strobes) and I don't do weddings. Actually I did 2 for friends -- which is why I sold those 85L and 135L's (too close or too far away). Available light all the way.

50 1.2

Mid-range zoom = yawn

For weddings, considering that you already have the 85mm, I would go with the 24-70L. That combo rocks for weddings. I almost never shoot above 100mm when doing wedding stuff. YMMV. The 35 1.4 is also a good option, especially if you have to shoot the party/reception in a dark cave, but I would feel limited by only 35 + 85 primes (for that focal range). OTOH, there are some great wedding photogs who use just that. Get a few speedlights too.

gintasr wrote in post #13449015
Mid-range zoom = yawn

Anyone can make any focal range look boring.

I have the 24-70 2.8L and it is great for weddings. BUT with your lens line up I would be very tempted to get the 35 1.4. Just thought about it more I would get the 35 1.4!

Hey guys,

Well My local retailer didn't have a 50mm 1.2 in stock but tried the 24-70 and 35mm today and really loved the 35mm.

I hear everyone stating the 24-70 is a classic for weddings but it came off a bit soft, not much improvement vs the 17-40 @ 24 or 35mm (I guess It's one stop faster).

I think I'll wait for a 50mm 1.2 to pop in and test those two out.

35L and don't look back I've been happy since I sold my 24-70

Funny enough, I was looking at that same exact lineup not long ago, I went 35L and love it more every day.

I was thinking that if you love the 85mm so much then keep it as your ' longer reach ' lens. For weddings and events, the 50L is great to have which is why I'm reacquainting myself with another one. I had sold my original despite the wise counsel on this board. The 24-70 has been a mainstay in all my events shoots. I think you may find this to be a very useful lens too. The 35 is not vastly different from the 50 in terms of coverage and the 24-70 would easily see to your needs and offer a wide range of focal lengths. If however you wanted to stay with primes then in time you could acquire the 24L and successfully shoot with it, the 50L and your 85mm. Never sell your 70-200L II.