What to pair with a 35mm?

Lenses lenses and more lenses. I know, I know. Seriously, the only thing this girl ever posts about is lens questions. I apologize for that, I am a terribly indecisive procrastinator.

I did finally take the plunge on one new lens! I bought a Canon 35mm f/2 IS USM, it's due to arrive on Wednesday and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Now I'm just wondering what would be a good pairing with that (the 35)? I will have zero other lenses soon, as I am selling my 50mm f/1.8 and my 18-55mm.

Looking for around $600 or less but if it is something -exceptional- I could probably shell out a little more. However I don't really need anything immediately, so if saving more and getting something ideal (I.e. more expensive) is the better route I can go that way too. am a little bit iffy on third party lenses, don't ask me why I'm just weird like that. Those little warnings always get me worked up and even when I strongly consider one I almost always change my mind or talk myself out of it.

My main subjects are my kids. (ages 6 years, 21 months and 4 months.) i rarely shoot anything else, except for maybe my dog (a border collie) and the rare adult, or inanimate object. I'm not particular on whether it's a zoom or a prime, I'm just not really sure where else I should go with focal length, or where else is considered "normal" to go along with a 35mm length.

Oh and I'm shooting with a T3i body.

Thank you for any tips or suggestions!

add Sigma 50-150 or one of Canon 70-200 and you are set.

I'm thinking a Canon 70-200/4L. Probably not the IS version as it's likely to be too pricey, and if you are wanting to freeze kid/dog action, your shutter speed will likely arrest camera movement too. If f/4 is too slow, and your 35/2 too wide, you may need to think about adding a flash, like a 430 EX or a Yongnuo equivalent for less dosh.

I would shoot with the three lenses you have for a year. Or with just the 35mm and nothing else.

I'd wait for the 35mm to arrive. Maybe you'll find it to be too soft and too slow and you'll have to get the 35L

Canon 17-55 2.8 is a great lens

35mm on crop is 56mm

do you want wider, or longer?

Given you have no other lenses I question why you got the 35 at all. I'd rather have a 17-50 2.8 IS. there are many great performing 17-5x lenses at 2.8 with IS. pair that lens with a nice 50-150 lens and you have great performing zoom to cover most situations. if you want a fast prime, add the well regarded sigma 30 1.4.

Thanks guys.

Jerobean, I do have two other lenses right now I'm just selling them. I hated my 18-55, and loved my 50 but it was too long for indoor shooting which is why I got the 35, and I really wanted a Canon so that is why I didn't get the Sigma. I literally never had my 50 lower than 2.8 so I figured a max aperture of 2.0 would work fine for me.

A great prime would be an 85mm, there.

Yep, 85/1.8 pairs well with the 35 for longer ranges outside, or head shots inside.

If you want to stick with primes, I would suggest the 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2 or even the 100mm f/2.8 macro....

OTOH, I think you might have been better of with the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens instead of your 35mm and expected second lens. The price differential between the 17-55mm and the 35mm + second lens would not have been too great!

You would not have the f/2 but, you would have the IS capability. You would have a 17-55mm focal range which is really quite useful. Even for portraits, the 55mm (88mm equivalent) is very decent.

I pair my 17-55mm with a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and can shoot 9-95% of my imagery with these two lenses...

what did you hate about your 18-55mm?

i'd keep the 18-55mm and buy a flash...

KareBear wrote in post #16463409
Thanks guys.

Jerobean, I do have two other lenses right now I'm just selling them. I hated my 18-55, and loved my 50 but it was too long for indoor shooting which is why I got the 35, and I really wanted a Canon so that is why I didn't get the Sigma. I literally never had my 50 lower than 2.8 so I figured a max aperture of 2.0 would work fine for me.

Is most of your shooting indoors? you say 50 was often too long for you inside, but do you shoot much outside?

I'm still really thinking you should return then 35mm and just get a 17-55 2.8 IS because:
1: having zoom flexibility for kids
2: you say 2.8 is fast enough for you, also has IS
3: isn't much more than the 35mm
4: should be the only lens you need indoors
5: you can add a longer prime for cheap (85 1.8) since "foot zooming" is usually easier outdoors

In order of what I pair with a 35mm (or 28mm in my case) on a 1.6 crop:
1) 15-85. give you a nice range standard zoom. color rendition will be similar to the 35IS. add a flash, and you have most everything covered, except for length and isolation, and by itself, it is a great outdoor walkaround lens.
2) 17-55. only when I need f/2.8, as I like the wider and longer range of the 15-85.
3) 135L. when appropriate and I do not need a zoom
4) 70-200. when I am looking mostly at longer range, i.e. small field sports, and want something that gives me an easy wider option, in case I might need it, random kids that want their pic taken.

If I were in your shoes, I would also consider returning the 35IS, and use that money with what you have now to pick up a refurbished on sale 17-55 (gives you 2.8, IS, but also has the 17-34 and 36-55mm ranges covered) and a 85/100/135 prime lens.

PS. Nice to see someone from my hometown! Ridgewood Elementary class of 83.

^ I'm actually from Moline, we just recently moved to EM, but regardless I was homeschooled. My stepson went to Ridgewood though! Small world.

Thanks for the opinions everyone!

Ok, so if a (used) 24-105 f/4L was on the table, would you get that, or still get the 17-55mm (which if I do get it probably won't be new either)?

It is lacking on the wide end, but since you seem to be more focused on the kids and you were able to work with a 50mm, it might work for you. Only you will know if you need <23mm. I would find it limiting having a 24-105 and 35 prime.

In terms of buying used lenses, consider Canon refurbished. The few used lemons I had came without warranty (CL and POTN). They just had a sale where the 17-55 was like 580 + tax, which inlcuded a 1 year warranty. Historically they have a black friday/cyber monday sale, but you have to be on the ball, set up notifications, and/or be up at 3:00 AM

Jerobean wrote in post #16463386
35mm on crop is 56mm.

No, it's 35mm. Focal length is not affected by format. Nobody is comparing formats here, so introducing a measure of the comparative captured fields of view of different formats by way of the awful and misleading term 'effective focal length" is at best confusing.