5D and Canon consumer primes...

I have read time and again that the 5D needs good glass to function well. I have the 50mm f/1.4 lens and the 70-200mm 2.8L, along with the standard 28-105 and my old 28-80mm lens from my Rebel2000. I also have the 20D body. I am in the market for a new backup body right now.

Here is my question: could I go ahead and buy a 24, 28, or 35 mm prime lens on the way to buying the 5D, eventually? Or am I going to have to buy the 24-70 f/2.8 lens and then the 5D?

I hope this does not start an enormous debate. I just want to know if the primes will work well on the 5D (like the 50mm I already have), or do I have to go and buy the L glass.
Thanks!

While it is true that the 5D is discriminating in terms of good glass, my 50mm 1.4 shines on it.

I'm not sure about the zooms you mentioned other than the 70-200L which would also shine on the 5D.

As for primes, I have a feeling that most of them would be fine...however I don't speak from experience other than my 50mm.

patricdj wrote in post #2704954
I have read time and again that the 5D needs good glass to function well. I have the 50mm f/1.4 lens and the 70-200mm 2.8L, along with the standard 28-105 and my old 28-80mm lens from my Rebel2000. I also have the 20D body. I am in the market for a new backup body right now.

Here is my question: could I go ahead and buy a 24, 28, or 35 mm prime lens on the way to buying the 5D, eventually? Or am I going to have to buy the 24-70 f/2.8 lens and then the 5D?

I hope this does not start an enormous debate. I just want to know if the primes will work well on the 5D (like the 50mm I already have), or do I have to go and buy the L glass.
Thanks!

The 85mm 1.8 is amazing on a 5D; thats the only personal experience I've had with primes on my 5D.

Many of the non-L primes are great optically...what some of them lack in build they make up in image quality...the better ones are:

28mm F1.8
35mm F2
50mm F1.4
50mm macro
85mm F1.8
100mm F2.8 macro

If you want to save $$ but want great glass, the non-L primes are the best way to go.

In fact, don't waste your $$ on non-L zooms as they are mostly BS glass, all horrible wide open, and are the worse lenses Canon makes.

If you want zooms, save your $$ for the L zooms...they are the only ones worth having in regard to zooms. I can't think of one single non-L zoom I like.

Forgot to mention, the 15mm fisheye prime is very good too! By the way the DO zooms are better then the non-L zooms but not by much.

Primes are easier to make and its easier to get higher quality out of them. Canon has some great valued primes.

The non-L primes are an excellent value. The best, IMHO, are the 50 f1.4, the 85 f1.8, the 100 f2.8 macro, and although the SF function isn't for everyone, the 135mm f2.8 SF is sharp when not in SF mode.

Mark

Thank you guys very much for the advice. The information you have given me is what I had REALLY hoped for! I don't mind moving my feet to focus if it will give me better images. In the long run, I hope to purchase a 24-70mm 2.8L, put it on a 5D, and put the 70-200 I already own on my 20D. That is a ways down the road. Thank you again!

patricdj wrote in post #2705599
Thank you guys very much for the advice. The information you have given me is what I had REALLY hoped for! I don't mind moving my feet to focus if it will give me better images. In the long run, I hope to purchase a 24-70mm 2.8L, put it on a 5D, and put the 70-200 I already own on my 20D. That is a ways down the road. Thank you again!

Feet to ZOOM not focus, they all have AF

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #2705213
The non-L primes are an excellent value. The best, IMHO, are the 50 f1.4, the 85 f1.8, the 100 f2.8 macro, and although the SF function isn't for everyone, the 135mm f2.8 SF is sharp when not in SF mode.

Mark

You forgot the 100 f/2. 35 f/2 as well(aside from the motor)

grego wrote in post #2706168
You forgot the 100 f/2. 35 f/2 as well(aside from the motor)

No, I didn't forget them. I've never owned them, and I don't give recommendations on lenses I haven't owned or used. I'm sure they're quite good - or that at least they have a good rep - but when it comes to lenses, I won't recommend anything with which I don't have personal experience.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #2706188
No, I didn't forget them. I've never owned them, and I don't give recommendations on lenses I haven't owned or used. I'm sure they're quite good - or that at least they have a good rep - but when it comes to lenses, I won't recommend anything with which I don't have personal experience.

Pretty much my policy as well.

However I'll mention the 28/1.8 is not bad. I have a good one, and while it benefits a little bit from stopping down, it is quite decent.

grego wrote in post #2706168
You forgot the 100 f/2. 35 f/2 as well(aside from the motor)

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #2706188
No, I didn't forget them. I've never owned them, and I don't give recommendations on lenses I haven't owned or used. I'm sure they're quite good - or that at least they have a good rep - but when it comes to lenses, I won't recommend anything with which I don't have personal experience.

I can personally vouch for the 100 f/2. It's an excellent lens.

patricdj,
The primes are excellent on the 5D but so are the economy lenses ex. the Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 works excellent on my 5D. In fact even my cheap Canon 75-300 shines very good on my 5D also

I have the 35 f/2 and 85 f/1.8 and both are great.