50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

Hi All,

I rented the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 on my first DSLR wedding and was very happy with the results, however I did feel that at 50mm on my t3i did not give me much of a field of view and left me constantly taking steps backwards. I would love to own both but I can't so I am now looking to purchase a used 35mm 1.4 under £400, am I being realistic with that price? I film in super low light and I don't want to keep renting as I have to leave a £1000 deposit and it eats into any profit I make.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

You might find the EF 28mm f1.8 USM more flexible. I have one and find perspective (just about "normal") and low light performance to be very manageable.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

The Samyang 35mm 1.4 is supposed to be really good.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

I have changed my mind and gone with the Sigma 30mm 1.4. Paying the extra for auto focus will help me for any photography which I use the camera for and its a third of the price of the Canon 35mm.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

How about the Canon L 24mm?

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

Good choice Tariq, I bought the same lens and used it for the first time about a week ago at an outdoor evening event. I was looking forward to trying it in low light. I used the "focus peaking" feature of Magic Lantern to help me focus manually. Thought I better get some experience before I relied on it for payed work. Used it on a 60D and internal microphone with no additional lighting other than what was on the street.

You can have a look at my results here if you're interested.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

35 is more versatile, but it depends on what you like. I like candid portraits so I like 50 more.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

great quality

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

And it is - sharpest glass I've ever used. Amazing value really for the sharpness. And the build quality is quite good as well, although not the all-steel construction of a Zeiss.

Ken Rockwell gave it 5 out of 5 for optics:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/samyang/35mm-f14.htm

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

I would love to see a comparison between the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

The Samyang fits your price range - even a used Canon 35mm L will go for 3 times what the Samy goes for. Remember that you're paying for a lot of things most narrative video shooters don't need in Canon glass - namely quiet, fast, auto-focus - none of which are likely to be used.

One other big factor is manual aperture - if you think you'll ever shoot with a non-Canon camera, then using fully manual glass (like the Samyang or Zeiss) is a big positive, not a negative.

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

My main use is for video and I can rent the Canon 1.4 each time I go out on a shoot, however what I am trying to discover is in terms of video quality.Would you be able to tell the difference in video footage between the two?

Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual
 

Well, the common saying is that any good lens out resolves the camera. So, that being the case, whatever minor difference there might be (say in tonality) would be so small that they're not worth mentioning.

The Samyang is super sharp at all F stops, and has a nice, clean color rendition. Phil Bloom recently shot a promo for the FS100, and despite having several lens costing much more, used the Samyang:

"Gear wise, obviously the FS100 and Zeiss ZF macro lenses 50mm and 100mm. The Zeiss ZF 50mm and 85mm F1.4 too. I widest lens I used was the Samyang 35mm F1.4. So no wide angles in this piece! "

“Sugared Art”, a new short film on the Sony FS100 | Philip Bloom