Sigma 30mm f/1.4 outdoor question

Dave,

Here is a shot of Old Towne Alexandria, VA looking East. Shot was taken from the steps of the Masonic Temple. f/8, 1/400th, and ISO=200. I applied USM in PSCS.

I am delighted with my Sigma. I plan to use it this weekend to capture fall colors. I have made some very good portraits with it of my grandkids as well.

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unix04 wrote in post #2141641
how is the 24-70? do you end up using the 85mm less because of it? i have the 85mm, and was considering adding a decent walkaround.

i was initially considering getting the 17-40 L + 50mm 1.8 combo (~$600 after rebates) OR convincing myself i dont need wide angle and getting either the sigma 24-40/tamron 28-75.

the former would complement my 85mm well. the latter wouldn't necessarily be bad either, and a constant 2.8 across a good focal length is definitely a plus. but i have a feeling in case of the latter, i may not pick up the 85mm so often.

I love my 24-70. It's my workhorse! That being said though the wide end is not enough in some circumstances but just fine in others. I've got the 10-20 to cover that but I hardly use that much...
I don't know...My primes are really special lenses - I grab them when I want that extra DOF or I've got some low light to shoot in, or when I want some great potraits. Personally the 17-40 + 50 wouldn't do it for me. There's just not the need IMHO for the 50 except for the extra stops. Now the 17-40L + the Sigma 50-150 would be great. You need good all around zooms, which my 24-70 does really well for me, and I think you need two of three good primes. Both for different purposes. I purchased the 85 after I bought my 24-70...
Heh, I think I answered your question...In a roundabout way.

hmmm...i guess i'll just have to keep shooting to figure out what i really want/need. the 85mm should do well for me for the time being. i mostly took pictures of people anyways, and it offers a tad bit telephoto to take a few outdoor sports shots as well. perhaps a better pair for the 85 is the 35. (though if i ever decide to go FF, the 135 might be much more useable).

in any case, i need to figure out a good zoom for myself. 17~24 focal range...must decide if i need it. then i can decide accordingly on which range 18~50 or 24-70 i can take. decisions decisions... haha

side note: yes i have considered the sigma 17-70, but i'd prefer to get the 17-85 IS USM if that's the case. IS and USM are great IMO