Camera Labs

The first lens I bought was the Sony 50mm f/1.4, and of all my mid range lenses it has probably seen the least action. Until the past weekend that is. I was indoors, in the evening, and I didn't have my flash unit with me. This was the only choice to get enough light for hand holding. It took me a little time to get used to using the DoF but then I started getting addicted. Even when I had more light available the next day, I found myself going for the f/1.4 even over the Zeiss zoom.

The biggest "problem" I had was simply 50mm being too long. I just didn't have the space to move around to get the shots I wanted. Second to that I wish the minimum focus distance was a little shorter, but doesn't have to be macro close.

So once again I'm looking at expanding my lens options to areas I don't have, which is the big aperture.

My personal fav of the weekend is this pic. I'm currently at work and don't have it uploaded elsewhere.

But I'm wondering how to go ahead? One option is a 24-70 f/2.8 zoom, but the biggest concern there is the aperture might not be big enough. Other option would be a prime around 30mm to 35mm, but there isn't exactly a big choice there. I think I'd prefer Sony fit for body stabilisation, and they only have one high priced prime in that region. Sigma are the nearest to affordable with a 30mm f/1.4. Canon do a cheap f/2 but again I'm not sure that's quite bright enough.

I'd even sacrafice native fit and go manual, but on a quick scan of ebay there doesn't seem to be anything bright at the length.

Any other ideas I might have overlooked? Going full frame to effectively widen the 50mm might be going too far...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

lol, I came (back) to photography through amateur astronomy. I thought that was the only place where aperture (albeit of a slightly different type) lust existed!

I have that type of aperture lust too! Been attacking saturn recently but so hard to get any resolution with what I have.

Back to the original post, I did get the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 in the end as I found a used one at a decent price. Not used it much yet beyond some initial testing...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I'd have suggested the Sigma 35/1.4 or full-frame. Why?
With FF you gain one stop effective dof. So my nice old Nikkor 35/2.0 will
(1) work like real 35mm on FF
(2) have a dof equivalent to a f/1.4 on DX

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

The Sigma is still on the maybe list for the future. Will see how far I get with the 28-75 before deciding.

Full frame is a long term option. The only compelling reason to get one at the moment is for the DoF as I'm happy enough with crop bodies for everything else I do. For the cost I'd rather get a 300 f/2.8 instead. Also it will give time for more interesting models to appear. I'd really like one with body based stabilisation, and I don't like the A900.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Yep, same to me...
But there (again) are rumours that Can+Nik are already testing in-body IS

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Realistically I wont be going FF any time soon. There is plenty of time for the next generation or even the one after that to get really interesting.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

You still enjoying the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8?

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PhilipGoh.com

Haven't used it much yet, maybe this weekend. Main problem with it is my sample has slight front focus at f/2.8 when close focusing, which is where I want to use it... putting aside focus issues, even when it is set perfectly it's a bit softer than I'd like at 2.8 than even the 50mm at f/1.4. Longer term I'm still going for a wide prime although still undecided which one.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.