Is the EF 35mm f/2 a good buy?

[NE clicks clicks]

I am thinking of buying the Canon EF 35mm f/2 prime lens as a fast standard lens for my 20D,
wonder is it a lens worth purchasing for this pupose? Has anyone out there use or own this lens before give me some pointers. Thanks in advance.

I do not intend to spend too much as I have other lenses in mind to purchase down the pipeline

Was actually quite undecided should I buy this or the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM cos the price is almost double.

The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM is way too expensive for me to consider, so please do not recomend this to me.

[Belle&Sebastain]

Originally Posted by NE clicks clicks I am thinking of buying the Canon EF 35mm f/2 prime lens as a fast standard lens for my 20D, wonder is it a lens worth purchasing for this pupose? Has anyone out there use or own this lens before give me some pointers. Thanks in advance. I do not intend to spend too much as I have other lenses in mind to purchase down the pipeline Was actually quite undecided should I buy this or the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM cos the price is almost double. The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM is way too expensive for me to consider, so please do not recomend this to me.

i'm selling one! its great light, cheap, the works, only downside is the buzzing motor and optically its great wide open f2, and its only 1 stop slower than 1.4 brother which will cost you 5 times the cost.

another great stuff is you can focus down to 25cm on this one, great to create effects, up from 30cm from the 1.4 brother and if you decide to sell it, can't sell it at a loss as you be getting it 2nd hand.

[loki]

Originally Posted by Belle&Sebastain i'm selling one! its great light, cheap, the works, only downside is the buzzing motor and optically its great wide open f2, and its only 1 stop slower than 1.4 brother which will cost you 5 times the cost. another great stuff is you can focus down to 25cm on this one, great to create effects, up from 30cm from the 1.4 brother and if you decide to sell it, can't sell it at a loss as you be getting it 2nd hand.

Hi,


Agree he post above. I have one too!!
Its a great little lens that you can carry around, fast and sharp!!
You will not regret owning one!

Cheers!
Loki

[Moonstone]

The 35mm f2 is a better buy compare to 28mm f1.8 USM.

The 28mm f1.8 USM optical performance isn't that great; if you want 28mm, consider the 28mm f2.8.

[Terence]

The 35/2 is a pretty good buy for its $. I do however think the 24/2.8 is worth considering too. I find the images a little bit crispier on the 24 over the 35. It does cost a bit more than the 35.

[kiwi2]

The 35 f/2 is a good buy if you want extreme ligthweight and compactness, and you want to walk around shooting the equivalent of about 50mm standard focal length in 35mm frame.

Focusing can be slow and noisy especially if u are so used to USM and all that. But it didn't really bother me.

Optically I find it only starts to perform at f/2.8 onwards. Anything below that, it's soft, especially if you shoot close-ups. f/4 onwards it's is very good and on par with my zoom.

Used to own one, but has sold it cos I find I hardly shoot much at f/2.8 or below and frankly, I prefer zooms over primes now for its convenience. I must say some of the higher end Canon zooms are easily as good as, if not better than the 35mm at f/2.8 onwards. Moreover when I owned the 35 f/2, I found I tend to avoid anything below f/2.8 which defeats the purpose of owning it!

[Stoned]

The 35/2 is not as contrasty as some of the other popular Canon primes such as the 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 but it's image output in terms of resolution is rather good nonetheless. Since you're using a Canon 20d, you could try the Sigma 30/1.4 which IMO looks really great in terms of contrast and sharpness wide open. It's also pretty cheap. I read some good reviews on it and decided to pick up one to try since I also recently picked up a 1.6x body, it's really as good as they say. With the price you pay for the 35/1.4L you could actually pick up the Sigma and a 1.6x body to use it.

[thw]

Originally Posted by kiwi2 The 35 f/2 is a good buy if you want extreme ligthweight and compactness, and you want to walk around shooting the equivalent of about 50mm standard focal length in 35mm frame. Focusing can be slow and noisy especially if u are so used to USM and all that. But it didn't really bother me. Optically I find it only starts to perform at f/2.8 onwards. Anything below that, it's soft, especially if you shoot close-ups. f/4 onwards it's is very good and on par with my zoom. Used to own one, but has sold it cos I find I hardly shoot much at f/2.8 or below and frankly, I prefer zooms over primes now for its convenience. I must say some of the higher end Canon zooms are easily as good as, if not better than the 35mm at f/2.8 onwards. Moreover when I owned the 35 f/2, I found I tend to avoid anything below f/2.8 which defeats the purpose of owning it!

This is PRECISELY my experience. But the slow focusing killed the deal for me.

What's the point of owning a low-light (f/2) lens if you miss shots in low-light because of the slow AF???

The Sigma 30 f/1.4 may be better... if only its AF motors are made by Canon.

[megaweb]

I use it for macro (reverse lens) :P

[denniskee]

ya, i was shock to see your macro set up! would have never guess a compact with a reverse lens can produce such beautifull photos.

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by thw This is PRECISELY my experience. But the slow focusing killed the deal for me. What's the point of owning a low-light (f/2) lens if you miss shots in low-light because of the slow AF??? The Sigma 30 f/1.4 may be better... if only its AF motors are made by Canon.

What are you shooting with it? Birds in flight? Race cars? The focus is instantaneous, even on my 350d.

[thw]

Originally Posted by Stoned What are you shooting with it? Birds in flight? Race cars? The focus is instantaneous, even on my 350d.

Errrr... did you try shooting in low light?

[Belle&Sebastain]

Originally Posted by thw Errrr... did you try shooting in low light?

i use my for low light all the time, the focus is instantanous, focus lock better and faster than the 50 f1.4, just that its a buzzing motor noise. D30, 10D,20D, whatever D, the results are similar.

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by thw Errrr... did you try shooting in low light?

Yes i did, why? No problems locking focus.

[Garion]

Have one. Nice little lens for street or portraits or low light shooting. Mine is "useable" wide open...starts to improve at f2.8 and gets better above f2.8, very sharp once you hit f4 and above. Agree the contrast is not as great as say 85mm f1.8, but the resolution/sharpness when you stop down a bit is pretty good. Buzzing motor noise may be a bit annoying but you'll get used to it after some time.

A good buy if you can get it ard $300-350 2nd hand.

[thw]

Originally Posted by Stoned Yes i did, why? No problems locking focus.

Well, mine would hunt back and forth before it locks. I got sick of the hunting, took out a slow zoom lens and reshot the scene without hunting.

Guess I must have a bad copy.

Anyway, now the 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens is sharper than this prime lens, has more range and IS & USM. So, there's no need to keep the 35 f/2 anymore.

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by thw Well, mine would hunt back and forth before it locks. I got sick of the hunting, took out a slow zoom lens and reshot the scene without hunting. Guess I must have a bad copy. Anyway, now the 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM lens is sharper than this prime lens, has more range and IS & USM. So, there's no need to keep the 35 f/2 anymore.

Generally a F1.4 lens should have no problems locking focus. Well maybe I just got a good copy.

[NE clicks clicks]

Thanks for all the inputs and advices, So it seems that the Canon EF 35mm f/2 is quite a good lens if I am not really concerned with the buzzing noise of the motor.
I am using it mainly for shooting inside dimly lit place, hence would prefer lens with aperture f/2 , f/1.8 or f/1.4 without breaking the bank. (As I uses EF17 - 40mm f/4 L for most of my general usage)

Do anyone have any idea of how it measured up to EF 28mm f/1.8 USM ? (Moonstone, mind giving me more insight on that)

Any other alternative lenses in that price range that anyone would recomend? (preferably usable for both FF and 1.6X LF)

My apology for having so many question

[Terence]

Like I said before the EF 24/2.8 is another alternative. I think most of the posts have covered quite a wide variety of other lenses you can consider. Go back and read em.

[An drew]

Originally Posted by Terence Like I said before the EF 24/2.8 is another alternative. I think most of the posts have covered quite a wide variety of other lenses you can consider. Go back and read em.

Agree. The 24/2.8 makes more sense than the 35/2 although it is a good lens. What good is the f2 if it is only sharp at 2.8? 24mm might also be better with a 1.6 camera. But actually no harm buying a 2nd hand to try for fun as people often sell theirs after a while.