Looking to Primes now...

[nickmak]

After shooting with my 17-40L, I'm thinking of selling this lens and getting a 20mm prime... I believe its the Sigma 20mm f1.8 I'm looking at... I really like the L, but sometimes it is heavy (Some of you who know me please don't go '1DMKII not heavy meh?' ) I'm thinking of carrying a Sigma 20mm, my good ol' faithful 50mm and my 100mm Macro when I go trekking for 5-7 days in Thailand and Mongolia with my school. I think the setup would be light 'enough' with my cam. body and three lenses... maybe a flash, remote shutter release and a small tripod.

Anyways, I've been meandering everywhere except my main question. How's this Sigma 20mm f1.8? I know marcwang has it and have seen pictures from it but really how is this lens? In terms of weight and sharpness (I usually use f8 - f16 with my wide angles...)? Hope you guys can help me...

Cheers,
Nick

[Stoned]

If you're talking about weight the sigma is not for you. It's probably heavier than the zoom. Well, at least it felt that way when i used it... Plus 82mm filter size is not fun when you want to get a CPL for it.
Image quality wise is another matter altogether. One of the best wides i've ever used. colour rendition and sharpness.

[Tzuen]

I think you'll shed more weight getting a 20D and using the 17-40mm on it. It will also make a nice backup camera.

[akdwivedi]

Originally Posted by nickmak (I usually use f8 - f16 with my wide angles...)?

Hi Nick, if you need f9-f16.. I would suggest you to go with Canon 20mm f/2.8.. its very light (405gm) and performance pretty good from f/4 onwards.. Its known to be soft wide open.. Unless, you really need f/1.8, Canon 20mm makes a better choice..

my $0.02..
All the best for your trekking.. besides the primes you may need a zoom like 28-135 or 24-135.. it's handy in some situations..

Good luck.. Enjoy ur trip

[AReality]

Is the Sigma f/1.8 sharp wide open?

[agape01]

what about the sigma 12-24? I know that someone said that the images are a little too soft of his/her liking, but I feel that it is a good range if you are looking for Wide Angle lenses to work well with the 1D Mk II.

[Stoned]

The sigma 20/1.8 to me was usable wide open. It wasnt soft but it wasnt tack sharp either.

Judge for yourself.
Wide open


Stopped down to F2.8

[zhangyb]

OT: actually i was thinking since you would be going overseas and want to travel light, y dun you use zooms instead of primes?

[Stoned]

erm i think thats why he's using primes

[Bernard Ong]

If weight is the really issue, u can consider using film SLR or even rangefinders

[blurblock]

Originally Posted by nickmak After shooting with my 17-40L, I'm thinking of selling this lens and getting a 20mm prime... I believe its the Sigma 20mm f1.8 I'm looking at... I really like the L, but sometimes it is heavy (Some of you who know me please don't go '1DMKII not heavy meh?' ) I'm thinking of carrying a Sigma 20mm, my good ol' faithful 50mm and my 100mm Macro when I go trekking for 5-7 days in Thailand and Mongolia with my school. I think the setup would be light 'enough' with my cam. body and three lenses... maybe a flash, remote shutter release and a small tripod. Anyways, I've been meandering everywhere except my main question. How's this Sigma 20mm f1.8? I know marcwang has it and have seen pictures from it but really how is this lens? In terms of weight and sharpness (I usually use f8 - f16 with my wide angles...)? Hope you guys can help me... Cheers, Nick

17-40L lens is one of the lightest lens around .... alternatively, you can try those tamron 17-35 lens which is even lighter ;D

[David]

Huh... 17-40 heavy? I don't think a 20mm of whatever brand is any much lighter.

Personally, I find a wide angle prime to be quite a pain to use in terms of the fixed focal length. I won't use it very often, whether on film or DSLR with 1.3 or 1.6 FLM. But it depends on you lar... My guess is that you can get many more shots with good compositions with a wide angle zoom than just a wide angle prime. Unless you're a true blue wide angle junkie.

For a trekking trip where you're always on the go, I find zooms are just the the way to go compared to primes. Just me...!

[nickmak]

Originally Posted by Stoned If you're talking about weight the sigma is not for you. It's probably heavier than the zoom. Well, at least it felt that way when i used it... Plus 82mm filter size is not fun when you want to get a CPL for it. Image quality wise is another matter altogether. One of the best wides i've ever used. colour rendition and sharpness.

Thanks for your input, Stoned... If the 20mm is heavier than my zoom then I'm keeping my zoom... (Always thought primes would be relatively lighter than their zoom counterparts... )

[sequitur]

the 20mm weighs heavier, if not the same, as the 17-40. in fact i think the 20mm weighs heavier. 20mm on a 1.6x looks pretty sharp, on a 1.3x i dunno.


why don't you just get a 24-70 and solve all your problems ?


i'm a prime person so i got primes from 20mm-85mm. as for weight.. i'm still going to say it. my 10D weighs about 700g. your 1dm2 weights 1+kg. why don't you just get a film camera ? it solves a lot of problems. or use your 300d.. it's still around isn't it ?

[nickmak]

Originally Posted by sequitur the 20mm weighs heavier, if not the same, as the 17-40. in fact i think the 20mm weighs heavier. 20mm on a 1.6x looks pretty sharp, on a 1.3x i dunno. why don't you just get a 24-70 and solve all your problems ? i'm a prime person so i got primes from 20mm-85mm. as for weight.. i'm still going to say it. my 10D weighs about 700g. your 1dm2 weights 1+kg. why don't you just get a film camera ? it solves a lot of problems. or use your 300d.. it's still around isn't it ?

Hi,

Initally I was thinking: 17-40L and 70-200 f2.8L with me on the trekking... but then come to think about it, I'll also have to carry 6-7 days worth of clothes, food and water for the trek. So I thought, why not get a Sigma 20mm f1.8 prime and my 50mm f1.8 and my 100mm Macro... These are light lenses compared to the 70-200 f2.8L especially... But then, thinking about it, might as well stick to a 17-40L and a 100mm, maybe the 50mm too... Still have to think...

Maybe the Sigma 20mm is not for me...

Also was thinking of a rangefinder. 24mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses to go with it... But then, no money! So maybe I'll look at a cheap rangefinder with a 50mm lens that's it... then can use the rest of the money on film!

[Wai]

hmm..change to 1Ds and get the cheap EF28-105 or 24-70L?

one lens will be all you need, no need to waste time and energy to dig out the prime lenses from your bag, and change lens in jungle environment

[Wolfgang]

Nick...

Come, we trade. I'll thinking of selling my 20mm prime. You can send me the 17-40

[mpenza]

can I trade also? I can buy a brandnew 20mm prime and exchange with the 17-40

[nickmak]

Originally Posted by mpenza can I trade also? I can buy a brandnew 20mm prime and exchange with the 17-40

[sequitur]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang Nick... Come, we trade. I'll thinking of selling my 20mm prime. You can send me the 17-40

i sold my 17-40 without regrets...

in other words.. don't make a switch that you will regret..