What Prime lense would you buy?

[Mary Rogers]

if price was not a concern?

right now dh and I are debating over which prime lense to buy next for our Canon 40D. We have 50mm and a macro.....

we shoot lots of sports (hockey, track) and family stuff (weddings, family reunions)

any suggestions would be appreciated : )

[anke]

while you are at it, through in Nikon stuff too, cause I have no idea!

[kb522]

I'd love to have a 2.8 telephoto, but those are super duper expensive. I've been looking at a 2.8 wide angle zoom or telephoto zoom. I'm a Nikon girl tho. :-)

[katrinak]

Since you have the 50 I think I'd move away from a prime and get something like the 70-200 which would work well for sports/hockey and weddings.

[KerryMac]

If you're set on a prime lens, take a look at an 85mm 1.8. It's a gorgeous piece of equipment for portraits. The clarity is amazing.
But I do agree that the 70-200 2.8 is really versatile if you're shooting sports. It's fast, clear, and has amazing bokeh. And it makes a really wonderful portrait lens, too.
One is small and lightweight, the other fairly large and heavy, so take that into consideration, too.

[kmartorina]

I agree with the above...I have the 70-200 2.8L IS and it is wonderful for a variety of events. It will be a lens you have forever.

[KerryMac]

Mary, you might also want to check out the 24-70 2.8. I find myself using that lens all the time. If you aren't set on a prime, that is

[LauraBean]

Prime lenses that sounds fabulous to me would be the Canon 135L (which I'm guessing would be good for your sports needs but a bit long for other uses) and the 85 f/1.8.

[Amy L]

Another vote for the 85 f/1.8. Not that I have one, but it sounds cool!

[maryannwise]

300mm L??? or some other lense in the $5000.00 range...! you said money was no object!

[audrey77]

My sister has the 70-200... L-O-V-E-S it.

[sam ellis]

Prime = 1 focal length -- is that what you want ? if so it would be the 85mm but for sports I would not go prime I would go zoom ---70-200 2.8 . $$ though

[Amikasmom]

I was looking over this thread, since I bought a new lense today, on a total whim. I guess thats whats to be expected when you go into a camera store
I have the canon 50d, and the 85-200 lense wich I love, but it for some reason is having trouble zooming in and out...it was never droped, but it wont go to either the lowest or highest zoom. I took it in today and they said they would have to send it away and it would be gone for a month!! I almost fell over!! I am just starting to get into photography and suddenly have about 4 families that want photos, so I thought maybe a new lense????
So I ended up buying the 85mm 1.4....it was $500...and the 1.8 was just over $100...so I thought I'd buy the good one...but when I got home and played with it, first it was weird not to have a zoom (LOL) and it was waaay lighter...BUT the background is SO blurry that it seems to blur the face on the side too? So I have a week to make a decision...should I exchange it for the 1.8 from what I read above everyone was talking about that one....
Thanks for any help (again LOL)

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by Amikasmom

So I ended up buying the 85mm 1.4....it was $500...and the 1.8 was just over $100...so I thought I'd buy the good one...but when I got home and played with it, first it was weird not to have a zoom (LOL) and it was waaay lighter...BUT the background is SO blurry that it seems to blur the face on the side too? So I have a week to make a decision...should I exchange it for the 1.8 from what I read above everyone was talking about that one....
Thanks for any help (again LOL)

If you are shooting below f/4.0 you are going to have a lot of blur in the area you are not focused on. If you want everything crystal clear then go to f/11 or above.

When I got my 50mm1.8 I thought geez, I can shoot at 1.8 so I shot EVERYTHING at 1.8 completely ignoring the fact that all but the smallest area was in focus back in my bokeh days

[SAHMom]

To get more in focus, either stop down like Katrina suggested, or back up. Distance from your subject plays a part in the whole DOF equation! I would not exchange it! And I sure wish Nikon lenses were the same price range as Canon lenses! :: pout::

[iUma]

I couldn't find any info on a Canon 85MM 1.4 but did find this about the 85mm 1.2

http://photo.net/equipment/canon/85L/

I'm happy to say my 5D Mark II is due on Monday!!

[Amikasmom]

Sorry the new lense it a 50mm 1.4. I took some studio pics and they sucked! Ugh I had it set to 250, 5.0 and they are so out of focus. I'm not sure what went wrong, but I do know that my first lense is in need of total repair. I put it back on to use it instead and now the zoo is completely unusable..so sucky photos for Easter it is..Now its gonna be gone for a *month* to get fixed? Ugh so frustrated!!!

[audrey77]

When you put it in auto everything and try to shoot do you get the same results?

[mel_b]

I'm surprised nobody suggested the 85mm 1.2 that's out now. Wicked prime lens. Not in my budget but I'd get this if it was in mine. I'm thinking about the 100mm prime lens lately too.

[mbdblue]

Money really not an option? I agree with the 85 mm f/1.2! ALSO, my dream lens right now is the 24mm f/1.4 L USM.

I have a 50 mm f/1.8 but sometimes inside (where I use it ALL the time), I can't get far enough away for framing the shot how I want it. I really want the 24mm.