Wide angle or full frame?

Hi all, I've been browsing this forum for a while now and thought I might join in the conversations. I'm a new enthusiast, slowly learning the art whenever I have free time. I currently have a crop body and use my 50mm alot. However, there are many times that a wider lens would be very nice. I love the IQ from my 50mm and have about $500 to spend. I hear good things about the Canon 28mm 1.8. I also hear good things about the 5D classic.

What your thoughts? Spend the cash on a new lens for my crop body or on another body (keeping the 40D as well)? Thanks in advance

As an enthusiast, I think you're better off sticking to one body for the time being.

If you sell the 40D for a 5D, then your Tokina 11-16 becomes useless, so might as well sell that too. Which leaves you with only more expensive options for an ultra wide zoom, or the 17-40L. Your 50mm becomes a "true" fifty though, and your other lenses should work fine although they all become a slightly wider FOV.

If you keep the 40D, I'd suggest the newish Canon 35mm f/2 IS. This gives you an equivalent 56mm full frame FOV which is much closer to the "normal" perspective I think you're looking for.

I can see pros & cons to either decision. I say it should boil down to if you intend on printing, especially printing large. That is where the real advantage of full frame is. If not, the. stick with the crop.

I think it is depend on how far u wanna go. I started with a T1i then wanted a wide lens. I jumped into a 17-40L as in my head, i will upgrade to ff. Never gonna down grade So it is still depend on what you have in plan for the future

Perhaps you should clarify what you intend on shooting at 28mm. I see you already have the 11-16 and 28-135. So it seems you already have this focal range covered, indicating that you just want a "faster" lens at 28mm for portraits(??). Honestly, if you're looking to take portraits on a crop body, I wouldn't go much wider than 30-35mm. You start to get too much distortion. Sigma makes a 30mm f/1.4 (non art) that I really loved. You should be able to pick one up used for around $350 give or take.

Thanks for the input. I would definitely do family portraits (candids and whatnot) with the wider lens. Like I said, I'm fairly new (not planning on printing anything larger than 8x10 anytime soon), and as such I am still finding my niche, so in the future I may use it for more. I've never really liked the 28-135 (kit lens), probably because of it's aperture. It sounds to me that a new lens is the general consensus.

The Sigma 30mm doesn't have generally good reviews, but maybe I should go try one. It's a good price!

Thanks again!

Tyguy wrote in post #17176817
Hi all, I've been browsing this forum for a while now and thought I might join in the conversations. I'm a new enthusiast, slowly learning the art whenever I have free time. I currently have a crop body and use my 50mm alot. However, there are many times that a wider lens would be very nice. I love the IQ from my 50mm and have about $500 to spend. I hear good things about the Canon 28mm 1.8. I also hear good things about the 5D classic.

What your thoughts? Spend the cash on a new lens for my crop body or on another body (keeping the 40D as well)? Thanks in advance

Get a new lens, not a new body.

Try 24mm to 35mm.

Or, my real advise, go wider.

Consider:

Tokina 11-16 F2.8 II
Canon EF-S 10-18 STM
Canon EF-S 10-22
Tamron 17-35
Tamron 28-75 F2.8
Canon 17-40 F4L
Rokinon 14 F2.8
EF-S 24 F2.8 pancake (because it's wide and cheap)
EF 24 F2.8 IS
EF 28 F1.8

Very best,

I have the Tokina 11-16 already. It's fun, but I would like something longer for portraits. Basically a fast ~30mm lens (~50mm on a FF).

The Canon 28/1.8, Canon 35/2, and Sigma 30/1.4 are grabbing my attention...

Think about a quality zoom like the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8. There was one yesterday on Simga's refurb site for $499.

I can see the advantages of a good zoom. I use them at work regularly and it is nice. But primes are the most fun

Tyguy wrote in post #17177770
I can see the advantages of a good zoom. I use them at work regularly and it is nice. But primes are the most fun

Sell the 28-135 and buy the Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art. Trust me. You won't regret it.

EF 30mm f/2 IS is the lens I'd buy. However depending on what you want to shoot a flash and a couple of light modifiers, while intimidating, can really take your photography up a notch.

Decisions, decisions... Ah well the FF idea is gone (for now).

Personally, based on your lenses and the fact that you're happy with your 40D, I'd get the 5D.

I would go for the lens.
I was compared the Canon 28mm f1.8 and the Sigma 30mm f1.4 Art for my crop 70D and ended up purchased the Sigma, its still on the brown truck.

Update - I found a smokin' deal on a 5Dc ($350). Haven't had time to try it out much, but so far no regrets.