I think I'm falling out of love with fast primes...

Yeah, it's true, though I still prefer a fixed FL lens. Sold my 28/1.8 for too little use. Still have the 50/1.4 (which is a main portrait lens because of FL not speed, my general purpose lens), 85/1.8(portraits and indoor sports) and 135/2 (indoor sports & some portraits) and will most likely not sell any of them any time soon. Outside of sports shooting, I don't often shoot them wide open. I just picked up the 40mm f/2.8 which looks like it is going to take a lot of business away from my 50mm. I'm not crazy about the "blur the snot" out of the BG type shots, so the pancake on FF should suit me for environmental portraits and general shooting. It's no longer about speed. It's about light and if I don't have enough of it I can always add it.

twoshadows wrote in post #14953691
Yeah, it's true, though I still prefer a fixed FL lens. Sold my 28/1.8 for too little use. Still have the 50/1.4 (which is a main portrait lens because of FL not speed, my general purpose lens), 85/1.8(portraits and indoor sports) and 135/2 (indoor sports & some portraits) and will most likely not sell any of them any time soon. Outside of sports shooting, I don't often shoot them wide open. I just picked up the 40mm f/2.8 which looks like it is going to take a lot of business away from my 50mm. I'm not crazy about the "blur the snot" out of the BG type shots, so the pancake on FF should suit me for environmental portraits and general shooting. It's no longer about speed. It's about light and if I don't have enough of it I can always add it.

Agreed. I have also moved on and over those 1.2 lenses which used to be my dream lens.

I too bought the 40mm pancake recently and loved the size and sharpness of that little thing. It's a lot of fun adding a 12cm tube for macro shots. You just have to be careful and not blocking too much lights

Here's a quick example -

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/kin2son/7913276​100/

There are plenty of good reasons for fast primes besides shooting wide open.

My 100 f/2 weighs much less than any of the zooms. Gives me a brighter viewfinder image and at F/4.0 is sharper than most any other lens at 4.0. I find it ideal for headshots at 4 to 5.6.

I own a couple of zooms, but they only get used when I HAVE to have a zoom.

I LOVE MY PRIMES

twoshadows wrote in post #14953691
Yeah, it's true, though I still prefer a fixed FL lens. Sold my 28/1.8 for too little use. Still have the 50/1.4 (which is a main portrait lens because of FL not speed, my general purpose lens), 85/1.8(portraits and indoor sports) and 135/2 (indoor sports & some portraits) and will most likely not sell any of them any time soon. Outside of sports shooting, I don't often shoot them wide open. I just picked up the 40mm f/2.8 which looks like it is going to take a lot of business away from my 50mm. I'm not crazy about the "blur the snot" out of the BG type shots, so the pancake on FF should suit me for environmental portraits and general shooting. It's no longer about speed. It's about light and if I don't have enough of it I can always add it.

about time Ian .

I just bought a 70-200 2.8 to replace my 100 2.8 (don't do macro), 135L and 200 2.8L. It is large and heavy but it is less to carry one lens than all 3. I still have the 28 2.8, 50 1.8 and 85 1.8 because they just blow away my short zoom, the 18-135, as far as IQ is concerned. I am thinking of upgrading my short zoom, but don't really know to what. 17-55 is too limited in range. 15-85 is EFs only. 24-105 is the most likely candidate. I am still wavering.

I am in the same boat. I have a 35/2 24/2.8 and the 50/1.4. I rarely use the first 2 and even the 50 is used sparingly. I just got a 17-50/2.8 so I am concidering duping the 35 and 24. I dont do portraits but they have come in handy for snaps at a wedding and not wanting to carry around a bunch of lenses. Maybe they can be good for macros with some tubes?

I Like mixing it up. I don't want to be without a fast lens option, but the fad of shooting EVERY picture at f1.4 is dead. At least for me. I joined the DSLR bandwagon in 2007-8 and like many, was wowed by the ability to control DOF. My compacts never let me do that. But it's been overused in place of real creativity and attention to detail.

kin2son, that's one heck of a beautiful shot.

I love all L's... ladies and L lenses.

tkbslc wrote in post #14955652
I Like mixing it up. I don't want to be without a fast lens option, but the fad of shooting EVERY picture at f1.4 is dead. At least for me. I joined the DSLR bandwagon in 2007-8 and like many, was wowed by the ability to control DOF. My compacts never let me do that. But it's been overused in place of real creativity and attention to detail.

I like this ^^^

bigVinnie wrote in post #14955438
There are plenty of good reasons for fast primes besides shooting wide open.

My 100 f/2 weighs much less than any of the zooms. Gives me a brighter viewfinder image and at F/4.0 is sharper than most any other lens at 4.0. I find it ideal for headshots at 4 to 5.6.

I own a couple of zooms, but they only get used when I HAVE to have a zoom.

You and I think alike...(Uh oh. That means one of us is redundant. )

Hmm, I love my primes also, in fact I want more - but hang on, I love my zooms too hahaha

ed rader wrote in post #14955592
about time Ian .

Lol, Ed. It's been coming on slowly for a year or more. Then, while viewing a hummingbird pic of mine, I told a colleague that I almost deleted the shot because of a shadow across one of the wings. He looked at me and said, "The shadow makes the shot.". That's when it finally clicked in my head for good.

The saying is true (at least for me) that "amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about skill and masters worry about light". I was very much into the gear when I started, then as it became a job I was always worried about technical skill and now that I'm mostly retired I'm finally able to step back and see the light, so to speak (though I'm no master).

I'm starting a new project where I'm documenting the artists in the local (but nationally recognized) art scene. I'm planning on using the 40mm on my 5Dc for a lot of the work. I'll also be using other lenses (16-35, 50/1.4, 85/1.8 and 100 usm macro)to mix things up, but I think starting with the pancake is smart, esp regarding those subjects who are camera shy. Of course I'll bring some auxiliary lighting since I'll be shooting on location and most of the locales I have not yet visited. So, just in case.

I think there's lot to be said for using smaller lenses for portraits, especially when one is working with non-models.

I like primes that are 50mm or bigger (85mm, 135mm) and will never get a wide prime again. I had 24L, 35L, 28mm and never really liked them. So my wide zoom, tele zoom, 40mm and 85mm is more than enough for the stuff I shoot!