sturdiva said:
I'm looking to get a few primes, and wondered if others could provide some info on why they chose the focal lengths they own.
For example, I'm considering the two following combinations: 24, 50, 135 or 35, 85.
Anyone with preferences of one of these combinations over the other? (I'm less interested in specific lenses (E.g. 24 f/1.4 vs. 24 f/2.8 IS), but the focal lengths themselves.
I'm shotting with a 5d3, and mostly interested in the primes for portraiture and events.
If those are the two main purposes, there are still many variables - for portraits: head-shot portraits, half body, full body, individuals vs groups, how close do you like to get, etc. For events, are you trying to capture the overall scene - e.g. a concert in a church - or a close-up of a basketball going through a hoop, how big is the event, etc.? Depending on what you're trying to capture, you might want to expand the range of lenses you're considering to include the excellent 200mm 2.8 (unless your 70-200 is 2.8).
At present I have 28mm IS, 50 1.4, 85 1.8 (may want to replace this with 85L), 100L and 135L (plus some excellent M43 primes); have also owned, but no longer do 20mm 2.8, 28mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 50mm 1.5 and 200mm 2.8. Would like to add a very wide fast prime (or zoom) for large interiors.
You may want to surprise yourself too - some of what I own is by fortunate accident (e.g. the short-lived ridiculous Adorama discount on the 28mm IS) rather to meet some perceived need; I've sometimes ended up with a lens I've liked enough to experiment with to see what I can do with it and whether I can adapt myself to it - a rather enjoyable adventure of sorts, and one reason why primes, while more limiting in some ways, expand your horizons in others, altering how you see the world. You may want buy, or at least rent, a lens outside your "comfort zone" and see what happens....