going to primes, suggestions?

hello POTN'ers,
Been away from the photo scene for a while, but i'm looking to sell my zooms off for primes. I shoot a wide range of things, but I shoot mainly automotive.

I currently have a FF camera, and I would like to pair it with a low aperture lens to switch things up.

Right now my lens selection consists of:
Canon 70-200L 2.8 non-IS
Canon 17-40L f4
Canon 50mm 1.8

I'm thinking if I sell those lenses, I would have around ~1400 give or take to play with. As much as I would love to buy just one 50mm 1.2, I think I would lose too much versatility

I would like to have a wide and a zoom still without breaking the bank. When I use the 17-40, it is mostly at 17mm. I can sacrafice the 200mm end for the time being.

Could you guys recommend me some primes without breaking the bank? I'm not brand specific, so I am willing to try other lenses out, just as long as I dont have to go through 30 copies to find a sharp one

Thanks!

Primes, 24L (price) but you might aswell keep the 17-40L since its plenty wide on a FF'er.

But the main ones which I love to death on my 5D for virtually everything.

Either the 85mm 1.8 and the 135L. You could go for the 135L then throw in a 1.4TC giving you a 135L and a 200L (virtually).

Then save for a 50L perhaps or since you own a 50mm already, I would say just either go for the 135L and 1.4TC or stop at the 85mm 1.8.

The 85mm is what made me sell my 24-70L

hmm, that may work. i really love the 17-40, but i just want some bokeh :P

any primes from sigma worth lookin at?

i am considering the 135 though!

True, only thing which I can recommend is the holy 35L or a 24L but both are pricey. I would say if you go down that road, leave the 135L for now and grab the 85mm then crop away when processing.

Do these new lenses have to be AF? Why not an EF 50/1.4?

elysium wrote in post #9432554
True, only thing which I can recommend is the holy 35L or a 24L but both are pricey. I would say if you go down that road, leave the 135L for now and grab the 85mm then crop away when processing.

Well if i stopped shooting automotive I would just settle with a 35L / 24L, but I do need a telephoto for some shots. However I guess I could rent it when needed.

I wonder how I would survive with just one lens lol.

gasrocks wrote in post #9432564
Do these new lenses have to be AF? Why not an EF 50/1.4?

I would prefer them to be AF, esp when shooting in low light. I also have a Zeiss 135mm, but MF is a pain for me. I rather just point focus and click :P

I guess I could go for the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8, but part of me wants L's.

To be honest, saying automotive, I always use the 85mm. I have done a few shoots with nothing but that. When you start with primes, you will find quickly that you find new ways to shoot even in tight conditions.

Keep the 17-40L for now and consider your long end. Shooting shallow DOF on cars gets tricky anyways.

Canon 85mm f/1.8 works well for something slightly telephoto.

For some off-brand suggestions, you could upgrade your 50mm to a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 which is a viable alternative to the 50L, and better than the Canon 50mm f/1.4. There is the Tamron 90mm Macro which is a fantastic lens, with the downside of slower focus and max. aperture vs. the 85 f/1.8.

I would suggest keeping the 17-40L as well. I sold my 70-200 4.0 and replaced it with the 135L plus the 1.4 converter. All the posts that praise the lens are spot on. Even with the converter you're at 2.8 at almost 200mm. If you can fill the gap with the 85 1.8, you'll be a happy person.

im just afraid to lose flexibility with the zooms -.- gah i wish i had more money to play with.

Nothing wrong with working your way up to L's. 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 are great and maybe all you ever need. Besides, you cannot lose much money trading them in later.

e r y k wrote in post #9432465
hello POTN'ers,
Been away from the photo scene for a while, but i'm looking to sell my zooms off for primes. I shoot a wide range of things, but I shoot mainly automotive.

I currently have a FF camera, and I would like to pair it with a low aperture lens to switch things up.

Right now my lens selection consists of:
Canon 70-200L 2.8 non-IS
Canon 17-40L f4
Canon 50mm 1.8

I'm thinking if I sell those lenses, I would have around ~1400 give or take to play with. As much as I would love to buy just one 50mm 1.2, I think I would lose too much versatility

I would like to have a wide and a zoom still without breaking the bank. When I use the 17-40, it is mostly at 17mm. I can sacrafice the 200mm end for the time being.

Could you guys recommend me some primes without breaking the bank? I'm not brand specific, so I am willing to try other lenses out, just as long as I dont have to go through 30 copies to find a sharp one

Thanks!

What about the 28mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8? Great combo and that would still leave you $600 to play with. I presently own the 35L, but I had the 28mm before that and I loved it. It's essentially the same as the 85mm f/1.8 in it's characteristics. Fast AF, very good IQ, very good build, compact and light, etc, etc.

I think you will need to keep the 17-40, there just isn't much wide and cheap. I think you could get away with the 17-40 and the 85, it would be a nice kit. I tried to get by with the 35/2 as my only lens wider than 50, and it just didn't work. The 35 is a nice lens for the price, but just not wide enough.

The 85/1.8 is a really great lens. Sharp, fast, built well. People jump up and down about that lens already, and the only reason they don't more is because the 85L is one of the best lenses ever made.

The 135 sounds like a great option if you hang on to the 50. But I hate the 50/1.8, it is high on my list to dump.

If by automotive you mean car show type shots, then 24L.

The 35L I have gets alot of use. That perspective on FF is ideal for how I shoot and it is an unbelievable lens. Color, sharpness, low light capability cannot be beat. The choice, however, boils down to a personal preference.