im going to virginia ( sorry dear people of this magnificent state ). going to visit Luray Caverns ( its dark down there ) and try riding along Skyline Drive.
was thinking of getting a new lens ( im also going to Hawaii in the Spring ).....
what do you think about the canon 35 f/1.4 ( on a 20D ) for these sights..
and is anybody selling one?
troy

Originally Posted by windoze im going to virginia ( sorry dear people of this magnificent state ). going to visit Luray Caverns ( its dark down there ) and try riding along Skyline Drive. was thinking of getting a new lens ( im also going to Hawaii in the Spring )..... what do you think about the canon 35 f/1.4 ( on a 20D ) for these sights.. and is anybody selling one? troy

If you don't need the 1.4 then its imo absoutely too expensive.
35mm isn't that wide an angle and with your 20D you can
bump up the ISO two stops or use an IS lens with that focal
length in its range.

The 35mm/1.4 isnt all that spectacular @ 1.4 and the shallow
DOF becomes very unattractive when you start shooting anything
else thats not a flat wall and perpendicular to your focalplane.

A review of the 35mm/1.4 can be found here:
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...5_14/index.htm

IS alternatives could be:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...5_28/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...6_is/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...4_is/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...6_is/index.htm

all priced below the 35mm/1.4.
just my 2 cents

Originally Posted by Manfr3d If you don't need the 1.4 then its imo absoutely too expensive. 35mm isn't that wide an angle and with your 20D you can bump up the ISO two stops or use an IS lens with that focal length in its range. The 35mm/1.4 isnt all that spectacular @ 1.4 and the shallow DOF becomes very unattractive when you start shooting anything else thats not a flat wall and perpendicular to your focalplane. A review of the 35mm/1.4 can be found here: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...5_14/index.htm IS alternatives could be: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...5_28/index.htm http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...6_is/index.htm http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...4_is/index.htm http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/len...6_is/index.htm all priced below the 35mm/1.4. just my 2 cents

THANX FOR THE QUICK REPLY!!! i do have an unused ( i forgot about it ) canon 24-105 so maybe ( with regard to your advice ) i should skip a new lens right now and use the 24-105......


troy

Troy the 35 f/1.4 is a super lens. Sharp at f/1.4 and scalpel-like at all smaller apertures :)

Troy,

The only experience I have had with caverens was in Death Valley. The majority of the shots were between 17 mm, and 31 mm, with two at 40 mm. Exposure time was between 4, and 8 seconds, with two at 20 / 30 seconds. ISO was 100.

This was on a 1.6X Rebel. I was able to use a tripod, but I don't think caverns generally allow tripods. You might want to call ahead and see.

According to some charts I have, (if I am reading them right) you might be able to get to 1/30 or 1/60 with ISO 800 / 1600 at f2, so maybe that 35 f1.4 L will do it, depending on how big the caves are.

Good luck.

Troy,

I have been to the LC and I believe that the 35 would handle it. The caverns are brighter than my dinning room:-) Also at f1.4 you are nicely stopped down at say f2.8.

Yes it is expensive, but the wow factor is worth it even in my unskilled hands.

This shot would have never happened w/o the speed and resolution of the 35 L and this is a huge crop

Originally Posted by Thusie Yes it is expensive, but the wow factor is worth it even in my unskilled hands.

I wish one day i could buy lenses based on wow factor

Originally Posted by Manfr3d I wish one day i could buy lenses based on wow factor

I hope you didn't take that the wrong way, please? For me it suits well and I didn't just buy it on a whim to have 'that' lens. However the shots still amaze me right out of the camera..Good thing since my PP skills are about zip.

Originally Posted by Thusie I hope you didn't take that the wrong way, please? For me it suits well andI didn't just buy it on a whim to have 'that' lens. However the shots still amaze me right out of the camera..Good thing since my PP skills are about zip.

No not at all!! For me this lens would be a dream to own. And if
money wasnt an issue I would probably buy it myself - there isn't
a better lens with this configuation in the canon world. Being an
university student, it's not exactly what I can affort every day,
hence the comment.