gateway fast prime

Hi all.
As one of our fellow potn-ers has in his signature, i am a zoomer...
And i dont apologize about it
But
I am interested in exploring some options for fast primes. I tried the 50 f1.8, but i didn't like the FL or the lens very much.
So i was thinking of a wider fast prime like the 24 ii... but it is a bit pricey for an experiment. Many people like the sigma 30...which is about 1/3 the price in my neighborhood....but how many people just turn around and then go get the more expensive 24ii (or other similar comparison....)

Just wondering if i should try out the 30 first and potentially move on to the 24, but equally find out that it isnt my cup of tea...and therefore save the added expense...

Try out the EF 28/1.8, solid OEM USM AF, sharp and contrasty images....I think overall a better lens on your 7D than the Sigma 30mm, which can be quirky and might need to be adjusted at the factory. The Sigma is a solid lens if you get a good one and you can get hold of the AF.

which focal length works for you more?...i'd go for the sigma, and not really worry about selling it for the 24L/35L

thatkatmat wrote in post #14785764
Try out the EF 28/1.8, solid OEM USM AF, sharp and contrasty images....I think overall a better lens on your 7D than the Sigma 30mm, which can be quirky and might need to be adjusted at the factory. The Sigma is a solid lens if you get a good one and you can get hold of the AF.

I agree with this. Go the 28 unless you can find a Sigma that is working perfect from the start.

If you can find that perfect working Sigma and don't use film, or plan to go FF soon, then I suggest the Sigma.

The Sigma 30 and 50 seem quirky (more so than other Sigmas), but if you get a great copy to start with they seem to be great.

I just bought a used siggy 20mm 1.8. Can't wait to play with. People bash it all the time but I think I'll make it work just fine.

28 1.8 or sigma 30 1.4 is only way to go.

I perfer the sigma

I bought a Canon 28 1.8 (along with an 85 1.8) and thought it was great - nice shallow DoF, good focal length for my T3i (cropper like your 7D), excellent image quality.

Then a few weeks later I saw a 24L II for sale on the classifieds, and took the plunge.

It's a lot of money to invest in a single FL lens, but it's a great lens. A little bit wider than the 28 - equivalent-ish to the AoV of a 35mm on a FF, so good for group shots or close-ups of flora, landscapes, sunsets. And the extra half-stop or so lets me use it without a flash in dimly lit situations, or to get a super-shallow DoF when I want it.

If cash was a bit tighter (or I was a little smarter with my money, maybe), I would have been content with the 28mm 1.8, though. It's a great "gateway" lens to fast primes on a crop body.

Just remember, like gateway drugs, this will be just the beginning...and you will lust after 135Ls and 85Ls and all the other new things your local "dealer" can offer...for a price, of course.

shinksma

Talley wrote in post #14785949
28 1.8 or sigma 30 1.4 is only way to go.

I perfer the sigma

Not for me. I like the Canon 35f2.

shinksma wrote in post #14785988
I bought a Canon 28 1.8 (along with an 85 1.8) and thought it was great - nice shallow DoF, good focal length for my T3i (cropper like your 7D), excellent image quality.

Then a few weeks later I saw a 24L II for sale on the classifieds, and took the plunge.

It's a lot of money to invest in a single FL lens, but it's a great lens. A little bit wider than the 28 - equivalent-ish to the AoV of a 35mm on a FF, so good for group shots or close-ups of flora, landscapes, sunsets. And the extra half-stop or so lets me use it without a flash in dimly lit situations, or to get a super-shallow DoF when I want it.

If cash was a bit tighter (or I was a little smarter with my money, maybe), I would have been content with the 28mm 1.8, though. It's a great "gateway" lens to fast primes on a crop body.

Just remember, like gateway drugs, this will be just the beginning...and you will lust after 135Ls and 85Ls and all the other new things your local "dealer" can offer...for a price, of course.

shinksma

Thanks all for all the replies.
I had forgotten about the 28 1.8 with all the hoo ha of the 24 and 28 2.8 IS

anyway, the abovementioned is exactly what i don't want...to buy a lens and then poof...buy the lens that i really wanted in the first place because I realize that the first lens was just a gateway...In that case...I prefer to saving a bit longer and getting the 24ii.

So let me ask you Shinksma, now that you have both the 28 and the 24ii, do you use both? I think that if the situation was on my end, I would not.

In regards to goal FL - I really wanted a 35mm (which is approx 21mm on a crop), and if the zeiss 21 was AF, I would have aimed for that...but it isn't, so I'm not. The next one on the list then is the 24ii, which I also really like. My second choice is the 50mm (which is 30mm on a crop) which indeed gives me the sigma and the canon 28 (which is close enough).

BTW - i am not sure if I would go for the other lengths listed (85 and 135), but maybe. At least the 135 f2 is more reasonably priced and the 85 1.4 of sigma is as well. I don't see myself going for the 85 1.2 II.

thanks for all the input folks. it helped me

If I had bought the 24L II first, I probably would not have bought the 28 1.8.

However, since I have the 28 1.8, I find that it works well for shots that are a little more isolated/intimate - the slightly narrower FL means less background, if you frame the subject the same.

And it is much smaller profile, which means you don't look like "that guy with the big lens".

If you can save up and wait (both can be really hard!), get the 24L II. You can always frame such that a little cropping will get you the 28mm FoV, and you can stop down from 1.4 to 1.8. You can't do the opposite on the 28 1.8.

If you want to try a prime "now" without investing too much, get the 28 1.8. If you really end up lusting after the 24L II, you can always sell the 28 1.8 for a minor loss. If you get it used from the Classifieds, you may only lose on shipping/paypal costs (say $20).

IMHO, YMMV,

shinksma

thanks for that. i am debating that exact question right now. since I know that i suck at selling (and i hate it too) i won't sell any lens that i buy....and hence my back and forth...
thanks though for your opinion and your experiences