What Short Prime for 80D?

I just ordered a refurbed 80 from Canon.

I've got a basic set of lenses:

• Canon 18-55 STM
  
• Canon 55-250 STM
  
• Tokina 100mm macro
  
• Soligor 500mm mirror
  
• Opteka 500mm mirror
  
• Amscope 4x finite objective
  
• Amscope10x finite objective.
  

There is the EF-S 28mm f/2.8 STM or the EF 40mm STM or the EF 50mm STM.

If I were you, I would review the performance of the different prime options carefully before buying. I was pondering getting a sharp prime in the normal range a couple of weeks ago. My answer after due research was to just stick with my 18-135mm USM zoom. The zoom is plenty sharp and is so versatile. I found little advantage in sharpness reported for the primes.

Your 18-55mm STM is probably slightly sharper than the 18-135mm.

You could go with the 28 and/or 50 if you need speed. They are not that expensive.

I have the 50mm II and it never gets used.

Archibald wrote in post #18968824
There is the EF-S 28mm f/2.8 STM or the EF 40mm STM or the EF 50mm STM.

If I were you, I would review the performance of the different prime options carefully before buying. I was pondering getting a sharp prime in the normal range a couple of weeks ago. My answer after due research was to just stick with my 18-135mm USM zoom. The zoom is plenty sharp and is so versatile. I found little advantage in sharpness reported for the primes.

Your 18-55mm STM is probably slightly sharper than the 18-135mm.

You could go with the 28 and/or 50 if you need speed. They are not that expensive.

I have the 50mm II and it never gets used.

I'm very happy with the my two STM lenses. The only drawback to them is that like most reasonably priced zooms, they're not as fast or quite as sharp as a prime.

What I'm looking for is a prime that's:

• Equivalent on my APS-C camera to a 50mm on a full frame
  
• Better in low light than my 18-55mm
  
• Better bokeh than the 18-55mm
  
• Reasonably priced
  

Temma wrote in post #18968885
I'm very happy with the my two STM lenses. The only drawback to them is that like most reasonably priced zooms, they're not as fast or quite as sharp as a prime.

What I'm looking for is a prime that's:

• Equivalent on my APS-C camera to a 50mm on a full frame
  
• Better in low light than my 18-55mm
  
• Better bokeh than the 18-55mm
  
• Reasonably priced
  

In practical terms, I'm not sure which one that equates to. I've got a lot of experience with 35mm film SLRs, and APS-C DSLRs, but none with full frame DSLRs.

I guess I'm looking for something that I can afford that would behave similarly to the 50mms on my Minolta XG-1 and my Vivitar.

I have an 80D and most of the STM lenses. My favourite is the 24mm pancake. I must have lucked into a good copy because it's very sharp. OTOH my 40mm pancake seems a bit soft. Other than that you might want to look at the EF 35mm f/2 IS. People say it's a great lens and has a FOV similar to a 56mm on full frame.

Temma wrote in post #18968885
I'm very happy with the my two STM lenses. The only drawback to them is that like most reasonably priced zooms, they're not as fast or quite as sharp as a prime.

What I'm looking for is a prime that's:

• Equivalent on my APS-C camera to a 50mm on a full frame
  
• Better in low light than my 18-55mm
  
• Better bokeh than the 18-55mm
  
• Reasonably priced
  

In practical terms, I'm not sure which one that equates to. I've got a lot of experience with 35mm film SLRs, and APS-C DSLRs, but none with full frame DSLRs.

I guess I'm looking for something that I can afford that would behave similarly to the 50mms on my Minolta XG-1 and my Vivitar.

As far as equivalence is concerned, there is no mystery about that. For a crop factor of 1.6, you want a focal length of 31 mm to give the same angle of view as a 50mm on FF.

I have the 24mm STM f2.8 pancake for use on my APS-C cameras. I have found it to be a really nice and sharp lens for the money. Not a super fast AF however.

Pippan wrote in post #18968907
I have an 80D and most of the STM lenses. My favourite is the 24mm pancake. I must have lucked into a good copy because it's very sharp. OTOH my 40mm pancake seems a bit soft. Other than that you might want to look at the EF 35mm f/2 IS. People say it's a great lens and has a FOV similar to a 56mm on full frame.

I'll probably grab the 35mm around summer of next year.

Thanks for the recommendation.

If you want something starkly different, prime-like, on an APS-C for your upcoming 80D that is significantly different than your 18-55 STM (which is quite a sharp lens too), Canon doesn't really have much for you other than a 35 F2 or 28 F1.8.

This is where Sigma comes in with 30mm F1.4 ART at $350.

https://www.amazon.com …-Lens-Canon/dp/B00BQXL8BU

Very best,

Temma wrote in post #18968885
I'm very happy with the my two STM lenses. The only drawback to them is that like most reasonably priced zooms, they're not as fast or quite as sharp as a prime.

Lots of people think you need a prime for sharpness and that kit lenses are not very good. What I was suggesting was to do some research to see if the primes of interest really are sharper. Below is a chart that I compiled from opticallimits.com comparing the 24mm STM and the 18-55mm STM at 24mm. You can see that the sharpness is roughly the same. The prime does not have an advantage in sharpness. This is why I suggested checking before buying.

https://www.opticallim​its.com/Reviews/overvi​ew#canon_aps

MalVeauX wrote in post #18969037
If you want something starkly different, prime-like, on an APS-C for your upcoming 80D that is significantly different than your 18-55 STM (which is quite a sharp lens too), Canon doesn't really have much for you other than a 35 F2 or 28 F1.8.

This is where Sigma comes in with 30mm F1.4 ART at $350.

https://www.amazon.com …-Lens-Canon/dp/B00BQXL8BU

Very best,

As I said I'm not averse to other brands, so I'll definitely consider the Sigma.

Thanks.

Also consider the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. It'll give you a full frame equivalent framing of 29-56mm, is nice and sharp, and has a "near prime" maximum aperture.

sploo wrote in post #18969095
Also consider the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. It'll give you a full frame equivalent framing of 29-56mm, is nice and sharp, and has a "near prime" maximum aperture.

The place to get that lens is at Adorama. The lens comes up as a “Base” offering which is just the lens at $639. But if you toggle from “Base” to “With Accessories” the price won’t change and although you get a bunch of so-so items, if you scroll down on the “details” you will see that you also get the Sigma dock.

The link is https://www.adorama.co​m/sg1835dceosa.html

I ended up with the 28 f/1.8 USM when I wanted a normal walkaround prime for my original 7D. It's never been optically the best, but it's smaller and lighter than a zoom, and definitely faster. Still have it and use it occasionally, though I really should ditch it- the 35 f/2 IS is better in every measure. There's also the Tamron 35 f/1.8 VC, which hasn't been mentioned yet. I have the 45mm version and love that lens, but it's a bit longer than "normal" on a crop camera. The 45mm can be had for a song (I've seen under $300), the 35 is usually a bit more expensive, but not much...

I do think the EF-S 24mm STM is a great little lens, but I don't grab it for most of the reasons you mention wanting a prime- I grab it when I want the smallest, lightest least-obtrusive camera possible. It pretty much lives on a Rebel SL2, but I will occasionally throw it on the 7D2. And I find it maddening that the EF-M pancake is f/2 and the EF-S is f/2.8, but that's a different rant...

Anyway, my first choice would be the 35 f/2 IS, followed by the Tamron f/1.8 VC, followed by the Canon 28 f/1.8, followed by the EF-S 24.

I love the 50mm f1.8 STM on my crop sensor cameras as a walk around lens but it is not as wide as you mentioned. I probably use the 17-55 F2.8 EF-S lens the most as a "all purpose" lens

sploo wrote in post #18969095
Also consider the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. It'll give you a full frame equivalent framing of 29-56mm, is nice and sharp, and has a "near prime" maximum aperture.

This is what I would suggest also. Mine is glued to one of my bodies.