35mm Lens at DVinfo.net

Michael Simons · April 23rd, 2010, 11:44 AM

I have the 35mm 2.0 lens which costs around $300. I was thinking of purchasing the 35mm 1.4 which is about $1,400. Is this lens worth the extra $1,100? I shoot weddings. Thank you.

Jeremy Pevar · April 23rd, 2010, 12:18 PM

The 35mm f1.4 L series is a spectacular lens, but may not be worth the extra scratch if you aren't shooting in low light situations. For an example of what this lens is capable of check out Philip Bloom's "Dublin's People." This short film was shot on a 7D with the L series 35mm lens AT NIGHT ON THE STREETS OF DUBLIN!

Jon Fairhurst · April 23rd, 2010, 12:46 PM

Unfortunately, the 35mm range gets squashed by the relative low cost of high volume 50mm lenses. Though the glass is clean, and the designs tend to have close focus distances, there are limitations.

The EF 35/2 is dated and has a poor focus ring. It's a stop faster than a zoom, but a stop slower than the 50/1.4, which costs about the same.

I haven't used the EF 35/1.4 L, but I hear that it's an older design. I suspect that the focus ring has the usual limitations for video.

I have access to the Zeiss ZE 35/2. Like the Canon 35/2, it has a very nice minimum focal length. The image is nice and straight. Unfortunately, it's not all that fast, and the focus ring throw is only about 110 degrees, and it costs well over $1k new(!) I like the lens, but it's a poor value compared to, say, the 85/1.4 (220 degree travel, nice glass, very fast.)

Maybe there are other options for high-value 35mm focal length lenses, but I haven't looked.

Michael Simons · April 23rd, 2010, 12:50 PM

Will the focus ring be much different?

Bill Pryor · April 23rd, 2010, 01:57 PM

A friend got the 35 recently and I played with it for awhile. Beautiful lens, nice 180 degree focus throw and very smooth. The f1.4 is awesome, sharp throughout as far as I could tell.

Josh Verbone · April 23rd, 2010, 06:31 PM

The 35mm f/1.4 L is one of Canon's best lenses in terms of IQ. It's sharp with controlled contrast and good color throughout the aperture range. However, it does vignette a little when wide open. I'm not sure CA's are a problem with video, but the lens also has some CA problems. (Easily corrected in ACR or DPP, but again I'm not sure about video.)

35 seems a strange range for weddings, though. I'd rather have the 28-70 L, the 24-105 L, or the 85mm f/1.8.

Liam Hall · April 23rd, 2010, 11:53 PM

The 35 f/1.4 is quite simply awesome. But, you really need a full frame body to get full value out of the lens.

Michael Simons · April 24th, 2010, 08:14 AM

I already have the 24-70, 24-105 and the 85mm. I use the 35mm for prep and the dance floor. I was thinking the 50mm would be too tight on the 7D? What lens do most of you use for Prep and the dancing?

Sylus Harrington · April 24th, 2010, 11:05 AM

Have used this for the past year or so and have no complaints. Though it is dated, from 99' i believe. They may be discontinuing it. EF 35 f/1.4L Discontinued? Canon Rumors

Check out the 24mm L. Have heard great things and its a very recent release.

Don Miller · April 24th, 2010, 11:27 AM

On a 1.6 crop 35mm is a standard lens. Do you see that way? 24mm is a gentle wide on a 7D.

A 50 1.4 is cheap. For the price difference between a 50 1.4 and a 35 1.4 you could have bought a 5DII. Not saying that a 5DII is necessarily better, just that choosing lenses and cameras is......complicated. The use of wides is a reason to not buy a 7D. The use of long lenses is a reason to not buy a 5DII.

David W. Taylor · April 24th, 2010, 02:57 PM

Go 'manual' ....and how about the beautiful Olympus 35mm f2.0?
Olympus lenses appear on eBay at pretty low prices. With a suitable adaptor, also from eBay, they make superb add on lenses for the 5D2 and 7D. They also happen to be all much smaller than any other manufacturers lenses. I've 're-cycled' all my old OM1 lenses and I love them all!

April 23rd, 2010, 11:44 AM	#1
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	35mm Lens I have the 35mm 2.0 lens which costs around $300. I was thinking of purchasing the 35mm 1.4 which is about $1,400. Is this lens worth the extra $1,100? I shoot weddings. Thank you.

April 23rd, 2010, 12:46 PM	#3
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Unfortunately, the 35mm range gets squashed by the relative low cost of high volume 50mm lenses. Though the glass is clean, and the designs tend to have close focus distances, there are limitations. The EF 35/2 is dated and has a poor focus ring. It's a stop faster than a zoom, but a stop slower than the 50/1.4, which costs about the same. I haven't used the EF 35/1.4 L, but I hear that it's an older design. I suspect that the focus ring has the usual limitations for video. I have access to the Zeiss ZE 35/2. Like the Canon 35/2, it has a very nice minimum focal length. The image is nice and straight. Unfortunately, it's not all that fast, and the focus ring throw is only about 110 degrees, and it costs well over $1k new(!) I like the lens, but it's a poor value compared to, say, the 85/1.4 (220 degree travel, nice glass, very fast.) Maybe there are other options for high-value 35mm focal length lenses, but I haven't looked. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

April 23rd, 2010, 11:53 PM	#7
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	The 35 f/1.4 is quite simply awesome. But, you really need a full frame body to get full value out of the lens. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

April 23rd, 2010, 12:18 PM	#2
Jeremy Pevar Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 48	The 35mm f1.4 L series is a spectacular lens, but may not be worth the extra scratch if you aren't shooting in low light situations. For an example of what this lens is capable of check out Philip Bloom's "Dublin's People." This short film was shot on a 7D with the L series 35mm lens AT NIGHT ON THE STREETS OF DUBLIN!

April 23rd, 2010, 12:50 PM	#4
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Will the focus ring be much different?

April 23rd, 2010, 01:57 PM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	A friend got the 35 recently and I played with it for awhile. Beautiful lens, nice 180 degree focus throw and very smooth. The f1.4 is awesome, sharp throughout as far as I could tell.

April 23rd, 2010, 06:31 PM	#6
Josh Verbone New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 16	The 35mm f/1.4 L is one of Canon's best lenses in terms of IQ. It's sharp with controlled contrast and good color throughout the aperture range. However, it does vignette a little when wide open. I'm not sure CA's are a problem with video, but the lens also has some CA problems. (Easily corrected in ACR or DPP, but again I'm not sure about video.) 35 seems a strange range for weddings, though. I'd rather have the 28-70 L, the 24-105 L, or the 85mm f/1.8.

April 24th, 2010, 08:14 AM	#8
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	I already have the 24-70, 24-105 and the 85mm. I use the 35mm for prep and the dance floor. I was thinking the 50mm would be too tight on the 7D? What lens do most of you use for Prep and the dancing?

April 24th, 2010, 11:05 AM	#9
Sylus Harrington Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 58	Have used this for the past year or so and have no complaints. Though it is dated, from 99' i believe. They may be discontinuing it. EF 35 f/1.4L Discontinued? Canon Rumors Check out the 24mm L. Have heard great things and its a very recent release.

April 24th, 2010, 11:27 AM	#10
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	On a 1.6 crop 35mm is a standard lens. Do you see that way? 24mm is a gentle wide on a 7D. A 50 1.4 is cheap. For the price difference between a 50 1.4 and a 35 1.4 you could have bought a 5DII. Not saying that a 5DII is necessarily better, just that choosing lenses and cameras is......complicated. The use of wides is a reason to not buy a 7D. The use of long lenses is a reason to not buy a 5DII.

April 24th, 2010, 02:57 PM	#11
David W. Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pinewood Film Studios, Bucks, United Kingdom Posts: 80	Go 'manual' ....and how about the beautiful Olympus 35mm f2.0? Olympus lenses appear on eBay at pretty low prices. With a suitable adaptor, also from eBay, they make superb add on lenses for the 5D2 and 7D. They also happen to be all much smaller than any other manufacturers lenses. I've 're-cycled' all my old OM1 lenses and I love them all!