35L or 50L..help me decide please....

I don't know which one to get! I just started my photography business. I'm getting alot of interest for newborn sessions. I shoot with a 7D. I know for outside sessions with families etc. I'd probably prefer the 50L but for newborn sessions the 35L is best.

I plan on switching to fullframe once the 5D mark III comes out....i don't know what to do.....i'm going to die if i don't get something with a red ring soon! Of course i'm open to other suggestions as well..

If you go to full frame I'd suggest the 35L. It's a great lens with no issues. Then work towards getting the 85L. That makes a fantastic pair. I had an 85 1.8 before going to the 85L. The 85 1.8 was a good lens but the L version is so much better. The only thing the 1.8 beats it on is focus speed. The 50L is another great lens but it can be a bit tricky to use if you don't get a good copy. I've been looking to get one for about 2 years and may get one soon (the 50 1.4 is my only non-L lens) as I hear production quality has improved. Good luck with your decision.

hahaha the red ring hype uh ?
I have the 7D and the 50L and I am very satisfied with it.
Somehow I don't want to be biased on one side as I have not tried the 35L yet and I'm not planning to go full-frame for a while.
I didn't get a good copy of the 50L because it has back focusing issues, I didn't care much because 7D can micro-adjust. After MA, the lens was perfect.

If you're planning to go full-frame, you can try the 35L, 85L and 135L combo as suggested by cristphoto.

I exclusively use my 40D for newborn sessions, and probably use my Sigma 30mm and Canon 50mm the most, so both of them won't be a bad idea. Though I'll tell you now you most certainly do not need full frame to be a high end portrait photographer. The next lens I use after those two is the 60mm macro. If you want closeups of tiny toes and fingers, you'll need a macro. The 50mm compact macro will also do the job well as you don't actually need 1:1 for newborn photography, though it isn't an ideal length to do that job on full frame.

Thanks for putting the 60 macro back in my mind...i'd pushed it out for a bit....

I'm actually looking at the Sigma 50 1.4 as well.....all this while a 35L is on hold for me at Henry's....sigh.....

If you want to wait for 5DMKIII like what I'm doing as well..sit & wait. I'm using a 7D now with 24L MKII and 50L. Both are excellent on 7D. I've never use the 35L before. I was also in the same boat like you. Decided to go for 24L MK II because the 35L might get a MKII eventually. Nobody knows when its gonna happen. However, 24L on a 7D is close to 35mm. I suggest you rent both 24L MKII & 35L and see which lens you prefer.

Hope this help.

I have the 35L with my 7D and I adore it. The fact that another version of the 35L may come out at some point doesn't bother me one bit because the lens is flawless as is! '

Seeing how the 5D MKIII pans out, I'm very interested in going full frame. The 35L on the 7D is fantastic, and I can't wait to utilize it on full frame.

I've used the 50L before, and it's great, but for what I shoot I really like to go wider, especially on the crop frame. Never had experience with the 24L but I only hear fantastic things, and I really think you can't go wrong here.

Best of luck!

The 35L, well I may be a bit biased because I also want one(just for a goof though) and I already have three other 50s'.

I love the 35mm focal length on full frame.

Both are equally excellent and if you consider others like the 24L II then your headache will only get worse. Strictly speaking between the two and on a crop then the 35L has the edge in terms of field of view and more usage. As already mentioned the 35L and 60 2.8 macro makes a really good combo.

Everyone has their preferred combo you just have to find yours. Honestly, unless you need extreme DOF your 7D is already an excellent camera. Enjoy shooting!

forevercha wrote in post #11150620
Thanks for putting the 60 macro back in my mind...i'd pushed it out for a bit....

I'm actually looking at the Sigma 50 1.4 as well.....all this while a 35L is on hold for me at Henry's....sigh.....

Unless your intending to keep one of your croppers as a back up, I'd push it right back out with it being an EF-S. That's how I ended up with the 50CM, it's no MP-E 65 but it should get the job done for your intended purpose, plus a set of tubes is cheap enough.

35L. Awesome focal length on FF.

35L FTW.

Have you guys read the original post? 35L on FF for newborn photography? Or 24L on crop? From my experience, that is a terrible length for newborn photos.

My best newborn portrait photos were 1D/24-70mm at around 40-70mm. I just looked at all of them and the best ones were more toward the 70mm range.

I have to agree with Lloyd here, FF wide newborn is tricky.