Canon 35mm is it Sharp when VS the Canon 50mm?

Luga

Luga

Suspended / Banned
Messages
616
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
No
Hi All,

I'm wanting some advice on getting a lens as sharp as the canon 50mm. I have a small studio and the 50mm it too big for it so i'm looking for another which would give me the same result at a shorter focal length.

I'm on a budget so the L lens in the focal length i need is out i want of the question. :'(

I've been looking at the 35mm but i'm not sure how it compares to the 50mm.

I'm open to advice and other lens recommendations. :help:
 
Jayst84 said:
What 50mm are you using? The Canon 35mm f/2 gets pretty bad reviews whenever I've heard people talk about it.

If I was in a small studio, I'd probably get a decent mid range zoom over a prime. Far more options that way. Depends what you're shooting though.
Click to expand...

Ive got the 1.8 fantastic plastic. It seems there is only a couple of lens that can even come close to it.
The reason why I was thinking prime lens is because they are supposed to be the sharpest. Tbh I've owned a 17-40 L and when compare to the 50mm it's doesn't come close for sharpness.
When I say studio I actually mean a small garage that I've made in to a studio. So this is why I'm looking for a short sharp focal length lens.
 
Luga said:
Ive got the 1.8 fantastic plastic. It seems there is only a couple of lens that can even come close to it.
Click to expand...

There are an awful lot of lenses that will crush the 50 1.8 in all areas. It's nice for the price, but it's still a very cheaply put together lens. If you're shooting as a hobby though, there's little reason to spend more.

I think Sigma make a 30mm or something for crop sensors that's supposed to be half decent. I don't know much about them though.
 
The Canon 35mm f2 is a great lens for a crop. I've never seen a bad review regarding optics?

Yes the motor is not usm but if I got a crop again I would get one in an instant.
 
Jayst84 said:
There are an awful lot of lenses that will crush the 50 1.8 in all areas. It's nice for the price, but it's still a very cheaply put together lens. If you're shooting as a hobby though, there's little reason to spend more.

I think Sigma make a 30mm or something for crop sensors that's supposed to be half decent. I don't know much about them though.
Click to expand...

I have used the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and can confirm it is as sharp as anything I have used. Great lens.
 
Also I am not too sure your 50/1.8 would be sharper than the 17-40 lens

17-40 MTF chart
mtf.gif


50/1.8 MTF chart
mtf50.gif
 
DaveKing said:
Also I am not too sure your 50/1.8 would be sharper than the 17-40 lens
Click to expand...

My reading of those MTF charts, the 50mm resolves better than the 17-40 across the frame at any focal length where they have comparable apertures, especially at the edges.

:thinking:
 
I have both the 35mm f2 and the 50 f1.8 .. the 35mm f2 is one of my best lens and I would use it for anything I could...I love the 50m but would use the 35m over it..
 
The canon will be £200ish sigma £300ish, would changing your body to a 5D MKI be an option? then your 50mm would be significantly wider?
 
Luga said:
I've been looking at the 35mm but i'm not sure how it compares to the 50mm.
Click to expand...

I quite enjoy the EF 35/2. Definitely one of my go-to lenses for walk-around and street use.

My experience on full frame is that, focal length aside, they're very similar lenses. Same 5-blade aperture, similar construction. The 35mm has the edge in image quality IME, though.

The Photozone.de MTF chart (the same source as DaveKing) suggests it's sharper than the 50mm by a fair margin, which chimes with my experience.

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/157-canon_35_2_50d?start=1


edit: I did replace my EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, which is much better than the plastic fantastic - notably for less halation at wide apertures and better bokeh. I've kept the 35/2.

I recently acquired a 50mm f/1.8 Mk1 (found at a price I couldn't ignore) which has proven very nice stopped down although allegedly it's the same optical formula as the Mk2.
 
Last edited:
Jayst84 said:
There are an awful lot of lenses that will crush the 50 1.8 in all areas. It's nice for the price, but it's still a very cheaply put together lens. If you're shooting as a hobby though, there's little reason to spend more.

I think Sigma make a 30mm or something for crop sensors that's supposed to be half decent. I don't know much about them though.
Click to expand...

From what I've seen the sigma seems to be a bit of a lottery i've had 2 of them and i currently have the 10-22mm and for image sharpness it does not come close to the 50mm 1.8. I know it plastic but for a lens that performs as good as it does i'd just buy another if it gets broke.

DaveKing said:
I have used the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and can confirm it is as sharp as anything I have used. Great lens.
Click to expand...

It sounds that you may have won the sigma lottery or may not have used other sharper lens.


Musicman said:
My reading of those MTF charts, the 50mm resolves better than the 17-40 across the frame at any focal length where they have comparable apertures, especially at the edges.

:thinking:
Click to expand...

That just confirms my experience with both lens, I've had the 17-40 and unless i got a really bad copy (which i doubt because it was good) Just not as sharp as my 50mm.

KIPAX said:
I have both the 35mm f2 and the 50 f1.8 .. the 35mm f2 is one of my best lens and I would use it for anything I could...I love the 50m but would use the 35m over it..
Click to expand...
Do you have any pics so that i could compare the 35mm against the 50mm please?

puggie said:
The canon will be £200ish sigma £300ish, would changing your body to a 5D MKI be an option? then your 50mm would be significantly wider?
Click to expand...

I've just brought a 60D so changing the body again so soon may not be an option. But thanks for the idea because depending on what the outcome is i might have to go down that road. :thumbs:


Musicman said:
I quite enjoy the EF 35/2. Definitely one of my go-to lenses for walk-around and street use.

My experience on full frame is that, focal length aside, they're very similar lenses. Same 5-blade aperture, similar construction. The 35mm has the edge in image quality IME, though.

The Photozone.de MTF chart (the same source as DaveKing) suggests it's sharper than the 50mm by a fair margin, which chimes with my experience.

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/157-canon_35_2_50d?start=1


edit: I did replace my EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, which is much better than the plastic fantastic - notably for less halation at wide apertures and better bokeh. I've kept the 35/2.

I recently acquired a 50mm f/1.8 Mk1 (found at a price I couldn't ignore) which has proven very nice stopped down although allegedly it's the same optical formula as the Mk2.
Click to expand...

It does seem to be hard to find good information for the 35mm and good pics but, thanks for you input i would just like to see some pics before making the jump. :thumbs:
 
The thing what i can't understand is if the 35mm IQ is better than the 50mm why does the 50mm get so much praise and the 35mm don't get anything near the 50mm?? :shrug:
 
Luga said:
The thing what i can't understand is if the 35mm IQ is better than the 50mm why does the 50mm get so much praise and the 35mm don't get anything near the 50mm?? :shrug:
Click to expand...

Something to do with the 35mm being more than twice the price of the 50mm I expect.

The 50mm is superb value for image quality. But I really do love using my 35mm
 
Luga said:
Do you have any pics so that i could compare the 35mm against the 50mm please?
Click to expand...

As this was asked of me... for you to compare you would need pics taken on 35 and 50 at same subject wiht same lighting using a 40d same as yours... pics taken on my 1dmkIV are not going to help you IMHO
 
Musicman said:
It's only web resolution on Flickr and I'm not David Bailey :) but you're welcome to look at these, all taken on a 5D with the 35/2.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=74891768@N00&q=canon+ef+35mm&m=text
Click to expand...

Thanks you have some really good shots. :thumbs:

KIPAX said:
As this was asked of me... for you to compare you would need pics taken on 35 and 50 at same subject wiht same lighting using a 40d same as yours... pics taken on my 1dmkIV are not going to help you IMHO
Click to expand...

Yes a fair comparison would need to be done to give an true picture of how the lens performs.

But the pics i've seen so far from Musicman has given be a better idea. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top