35L II 2016 Wedding lens to own?

I decided after much thought to upgrade by 35L I to the 35L II - I traded / sold a few lenses to do it (35L I, 50L 1.2 and 200 F2.8)

I am a 5DSR owner and I have been trying to figure out a lens strategy for this camera that gives me the results that I want hand holding the camera. As such, from a wedding lens perspective, this has meant using the camera with only IS lenses (Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS II, Sigma 24-105 F4 OS, and Canon 35F2)

I have moved using my long fast primes (85L and 135L) over to my Sony A7Rii because of IBIS and the ability to use much lower SS.

Picked up the 35L II today - all I can say is wow - I will say it again wow. 1/125, F1.4 on any AF point on the 5DSR and it is sharp - really sharp @ F1.4!

This may just be the lens that makes me try using a 35mm Prime instead of the 24-70 F2.8 II.

It is so much sharper than the 35L I it is crazy - and that was a lens that lived on my 5D3 during lower light situations.

I cannot possibly recommend this lens more highly.

I read the reviews and was so anxious to see the results - it is even better than the reviews say (especially on the 5DSR).

This lens' reviews were the reason I decided to part with my 50L - because you can see what will be coming in the next 2-3 years as Canon updates the 50, 85, 135 with newer technology.


If you have the means, go buy this lens

Nah... the ROI on new updated glass and bodies every time they come out simply isn't worth it. Sinking money into equipment just to have the newest version of things doesn't make business sense. They don't bring any additional financial returns. Having GAS only hurts the bottom line.

I might jump on this when the refurbs start hitting, I really enjoy the focal length.
That being said, I'm really enjoying my 35 f2 IS. Small and light, and incredibly sharp.

If I had your body I'd go for all new generation glass as well because I think the res really would benefit from it.

I don't know about weddings, but the new 35L-II is fantastic on both the 5DsR and the Sony A7RII. I've dropped my plan to buy a native 35mm E mount for the Sony.

I'm highly skeptical of a 50L replacement being a true replacement. The 50L is by and large a "character" lens as it is, for better or worse (I happen to fall in the "love it" camp).

With that said the 35L II looks like a hell of an optic if that is your FL.

Much prefer the 50L to the 35L and have zero plans to upgrade to V2 glass. Im still in wow factor with the V1 35L and 50L and the Sigma 35 fine art produced a lot of wow factor as well

Agree with pete x1000%

Gas will kill your business bottom line and clients have no clue

Im still using my 70-200 V1 and 24-105. All of my glass is V1 glass. Hated the 24-70 look

A simple +5 on the clarity and a +15 on sharpening and a little saturation increase +5 will get you where most version 2 glass will take you

sorry buy in once and be happy. Do see a need to upgrade the glass every time something new comes out

umphotography wrote in post #17824718
Much prefer the 50L to the 35L and have zero plans to upgrade to V2 glass. Im still in wow factor with the V1 35L and 50L and the Sigma 35 fine art produced a lot of wow factor as well

Agree with pete x1000%

Gas will kill your business bottom line and clients have no clue

Im still using my 70-200 V1 and 24-105. All of my glass is V1 glass. Hated the 24-70 look

A simple +5 on the clarity and a +15 on sharpening and a little saturation increase +5 will get you where most version 2 glass will take you

sorry buy in once and be happy. Do see a need to upgrade the glass every time something new comes out

Thank you for this. Exactly the pep talked I needed.

Not to jump on the bandwagon here, but I just recently acquired the 35mm 1.4 and it's extremely sharp. Other than pixel peepers (aka all of us) I'm not sure a client would ever be able to notice the difference between a photo taken with the I vs II.

I'm always glad when other photographers are happy with their equipment, but for others reading this thread, the 35mm 1.4 I is extremely sharp even at 1.4.

the 35L I at F1.4

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Ch3g​yJ

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Ch25​kd

All of which makes no difference whatsoever to a wedding client's perception of the value.

Charts and numbers are for obsessive photographers... clients buy emotion and happiness.

The real difference clients notice in lenses is when a lens has character. A unique flare or sunburst etc. Technically superior doesn't always equate to visually superior from their point of view.

I used to have GAS too... all it ever did though was take off the bottom line.

Agree with Peter. However anything that makes you happy or gives you confidence is a good thing, that will probably help your images more than the upgrade from a v1 to v2 lens, unless there are significant practical benefits like a higher focus hit rate.

No idea what this GAS you're talking about it, I thought that went into American cars (my car takes petrol).

Gear acquisition syndrome

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #17832951
Gear acquisition syndrome

Ah ok. I got over that the day I switched to Nikon, when everything Just Worked. Three standard zooms, one prime, and a bunch of lighting stuff.

i have GAS too.
haven't been using the 35L as much as i want to. so the mark 2 is a no no for now.
maybe the 200 2.0 is an option. lol

tim wrote in post #17833020
Ah ok. I got over that the day I switched to Nikon, when everything Just Worked. Three standard zooms, one prime, and a bunch of lighting stuff.

Read and learnt a lot from your posts so just intrigued to know what focal length is your prime of choice? Thank you