Recommend me a lens that's better/more useful than a 50mm lens

[scottsdaleriots]

i assume WA lenses are meant for landscapes, well generally. never heard using a WA lens is better for close portraits rather than shooting lanscapes. i just realised that canon have discontinued making the 35L.

There is a LOT of glass to move in the 85L... and glass is not light

ah ok. but its obviously better than its non-L counterpart in everything right? besides weight, speed and price of course.

[mihazero]

If you want perfect portrait lens get EF 200 2.8 L II lens. If you own (and i saw that you do) 70-200 2.8 IS II then you already have most amazing concert and portrait lens.

I personaly dont like wide lenses so i wont recommend those. Just matter of personal preference.

[rpt]

In humans the nose grows throughout your life so large noses are associated with older people.

keeps growing! damn i am doomed... I wonder if they make eye piece extensions for people that are geometrically nasally challenged

Ha Ha Ha!!! Not really. That is why they have live view and some cameras have the flip out lcd screen!

turning your dSLR into an overpriced and glorified point and shoot

I get your drift. But, (and it is a BIG but) {notice that that word ended with a single 't' and not two...} if a vital part of your anatomy interfered with the ability to shoot with an SLR in the way you would prefer to, would you not want to shoot at all? I would, even if I had to point...

Now that was all banter... However, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. So a larger screen and reading glasses help me. An angled LED screen helps frame a picture when there is a wall of photographers in front of me having "Press" passes. I don't have any such privileges. So the flip-out screen helps. Now if I were 8 foot something I probably would not care; but I am not, so that is where my preference comes from.

[kdsand]

In humans the nose grows throughout your life so large noses are associated with older people.

keeps growing! damn i am doomed... I wonder if they make eye piece extensions for people that are geometrically nasally challenged

Ha Ha Ha!!! Not really. That is why they have live view and some cameras have the flip out lcd screen!

turning your dSLR into an overpriced and glorified point and shoot

I get your drift. But, (and it is a BIG but) {notice that that word ended with a single 't' and not two...} if a vital part of your anatomy interfered with the ability to shoot with an SLR in the way you would prefer to, would you not want to shoot at all? I would, even if I had to point...

Now that was all banter... However, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. So a larger screen and reading glasses help me. An angled LED screen helps frame a picture when there is a wall of photographers in front of me having "Press" passes. I don't have any such privileges. So the flip-out screen helps. Now if I were 8 foot something I probably would not care; but I am not, so that is where my preference comes from.

Now I could have sworn Canon did have some sort of extension. I think it may have also magnified the image a tad. I'll have try & remember where I saw it. I think it was OEM and an on their website.....

[BL]

I'd prefer a 40mm f/2 pancake lens to a 50.  Just a bit wider than a standard lens, with a much smaller form factor.

[wickidwombat]

In humans the nose grows throughout your life so large noses are associated with older people.

keeps growing! damn i am doomed... I wonder if they make eye piece extensions for people that are geometrically nasally challenged

Ha Ha Ha!!! Not really. That is why they have live view and some cameras have the flip out lcd screen!

turning your dSLR into an overpriced and glorified point and shoot

I get your drift. But, (and it is a BIG but) {notice that that word ended with a single 't' and not two...} if a vital part of your anatomy interfered with the ability to shoot with an SLR in the way you would prefer to, would you not want to shoot at all? I would, even if I had to point...

Now that was all banter... However, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. So a larger screen and reading glasses help me. An angled LED screen helps frame a picture when there is a wall of photographers in front of me having "Press" passes. I don't have any such privileges. So the flip-out screen helps. Now if I were 8 foot something I probably would not care; but I am not, so that is where my preference comes from.

Now I could have sworn Canon did have some sort of extension. I think it may have also magnified the image a tad. I'll have try & remember where I saw it. I think it was OEM and an on their website.....

Really while I was joking i would totally buy that for my 5Dmk2, 1D bodys have it further out by default so they are more comfortable

[dougfrommar]

I own the Canon 50mmf1.2L, Canon 70-200f2.8L IS II and Canon 24-105L IS lenses..... each one has it's own advantages and depends on the type of shot you are trying to get at that time. For family/wedding/portrait or trying to get great depth of field I love the 50f1.2. For wildlife, hiking or wanting a tac sharp photo the 70-200 is my favourite. It probably has the best IS of any lens.
However for a great USEFUL zoom range as a walkabout lens - the 24-105 probably is the best. Mainly because it gives quite a wide angle right up to a decent telephoto for most needs. It also has IS and for me has been a very consistant lens - always giving sharp results.
So my recommendation would be the 24-105L IS lens as a "more useful" lens for you.

[scottsdaleriots]

If you want perfect portrait lens get EF 200 2.8 L II lens. If you own (and i saw that you do) 70-200 2.8 IS II then you already have most amazing concert and portrait lens.

I personaly dont like wide lenses so i wont recommend those. Just matter of personal preference.

the 70-200 is way too long. i want to be right up the front. if i was on the sides and safe (from getting bumped against so i dont drop my camera) that'd be ok i suppose. But i want to try and get to the front of the stage and im thinking the a prime is probably my best option

[rpt]

In humans the nose grows throughout your life so large noses are associated with older people.

keeps growing! damn i am doomed... I wonder if they make eye piece extensions for people that are geometrically nasally challenged

Ha Ha Ha!!! Not really. That is why they have live view and some cameras have the flip out lcd screen!

turning your dSLR into an overpriced and glorified point and shoot

I get your drift. But, (and it is a BIG but) {notice that that word ended with a single 't' and not two...} if a vital part of your anatomy interfered with the ability to shoot with an SLR in the way you would prefer to, would you not want to shoot at all? I would, even if I had to point...

Now that was all banter... However, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. So a larger screen and reading glasses help me. An angled LED screen helps frame a picture when there is a wall of photographers in front of me having "Press" passes. I don't have any such privileges. So the flip-out screen helps. Now if I were 8 foot something I probably would not care; but I am not, so that is where my preference comes from.

Now I could have sworn Canon did have some sort of extension. I think it may have also magnified the image a tad. I'll have try & remember where I saw it. I think it was OEM and an on their website.....

Really while I was joking i would totally buy that for my 5Dmk2, 1D bodys have it further out by default so they are more comfortable

I was looking for them too at one time when I wanted to use my FD lenses with my 300D.
Here are some links...
http://www.amazon.com/Seagull-Magnification-Viewfinder-Minolta-Olympus/dp/B0028ZST1C
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1227397
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_itemId=230351055745&_nkw=TENPA%201%2036x%20eyecup%20eyepiece%20magnifier%20Nikon%20Canon%20More

Is that what you were looking for?

[wickidwombat]

cool thanks did you actually get it and use it any feedback on how it works? might be really handy for using my FD600

[rpt]

cool thanks did you actually get it and use it any feedback on how it works? might be really handy for using my FD600

No I did not. I had given my 80-200 FD for repair and was told that it had a bad case of fungus and so it was not usable. My 28-80 Soligor (also FD mount) shot yellow pictures and that left me with my 50mm 1.8 FD so I did not bother.

[wickidwombat]

bummer, I was lucky to snag a mint condition 600 f4.5 FD off ebay for $1400, such a nice lens and the glass is crystal clear and not a spec of paint missing from it might grab one of those to try out on the 5D2 thanks again

[scottsdaleriots]

Im sorta ruling out the 35mm (L, im undecided on the non-L) and the 50's (canon and sigma) since I cant decide which brand is better.

which one out of 85L and 135L on a 7d? So 136mm v.s 216mm. Too tight? I think so.

[wickidwombat]

on a 7D for what you want get the sigma 30mm f1.4 (this is a crop only lens) gives close to the 50mm on FF and the sigma 85mm f1.4 (the 85 will be about 120mm on ff) great for tighter shots
you can sort out focus issues with AFMA

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sigma-30mm-30-F1-4-EX-DC-HSM-Lens-Canon-7D-60D-0198-/300581191160?pt=AU_Lenses&hash=item45fc08fdf8

[briansquibb]

Im sorta ruling out the 35mm (L, im undecided on the non-L) and the 50's (canon and sigma) since I cant decide which brand is better.

which one out of 85L and 135L on a 7d? So 136mm v.s 216mm. Too tight? I think so.

The 135 f/2 is a great lens - but on a crop it becomes a short telephoto - a great sports combo