Lens Recommendation (prime) - Bokeh, Indoor, Low Light

FckShoes · 11-25-2008, 09:07 PM

I've been shopping around for a new lens, budget is around the $250-$350 range. I have a fa50 1.4, but is much too close for my indoor shots. Will be having the holidays at my house and would much like to be able to capture the moments. I guess I'm looking for a lens similar to the 50mm in terms of picture quality, but able to work in tighter spaces. I'm very much a newb, so any recommendations would be great. I've been looking at the fa35 f/2 and it has quite a few good reviews as well as in my budget. If possible, post pictures with your lens recommendation

K100Dave · 11-25-2008, 09:18 PM

Not b/c I own one, but I would highly recommend looking at the DA35LTD. Not only will you get a lens that can work in tight spaces, it's nice and sharp as well.

FckShoes · 11-25-2008, 09:39 PM

Beautiful pictures, but I think the da35 ltd is out of my budget.

jsherman999 · 11-25-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally posted by FckShoes

Beautiful pictures, but I think the da35 ltd is out of my budget.

Prodigital2000 can send you one for less than $350 USD.

But the FA 35 f/2 is faster/cheaper.

FckShoes · 11-25-2008, 10:08 PM

If that is the case, which would you choose? Would you mind posting pics used with your 35 2.8?

Thanks

jsherman999 · 11-25-2008, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by FckShoes

If that is the case, which would you choose? Would you mind posting pics used with your 35 2.8?

Thanks

I went crazy with the DA 35ltd this summer, there was a period of about 3 weeks
when I was shooting with it every other day. It's something special - I would
choose it, because it's a true 1:1 macro, and it's only one stop slower than the
FA 35 f/2, but sometimes that one stop means everything when shooting indoors.

Take a look at these threads for DA 35ltd shots:

Greatest ever?

Does not suck.

FckShoes · 11-25-2008, 10:41 PM

Thank you very much for the links, your shots are crazy good.

Damn Brit · 11-26-2008, 03:38 AM

What about the Fa 35 to pair up with your 50?

pingflood · 11-26-2008, 05:23 AM

Didn't we just have a thread like this?

Either way, my recommendation is the same: Sigma 30/1.4. The DA 35 is a great lens, but two stops difference can be a killer when shooting in low light.

The Sigma's fast, sharp even wide open, and has excellent bokeh.

barbosas · 11-26-2008, 07:24 AM

Check my sig...

FA50 and FA35 should always be bundled together, they are twins

I didn't had the courage to split them when i was planning to buy the FA31 (to match with the FA77)

dlacouture · 11-26-2008, 07:49 AM

Well, I'm looking for the same kind of lens as you, so I considered the FA 35mm f/2, then the sigma 30mm f/1.4...

But I saw that Tamron still has the 28-75 f/2.8 for about the same price (as does sigma with the 28-70 f/2.8, and to a lesser degree the 24-70 f/2.8), and I think this would fit the bill...

Okay, you lose 1 stop, but you gain in versatility...

Good point is that they are full-frame lenses, but enhanced for APS-C digital bodies, so image quality is quite good.

soccerjoe5 · 11-26-2008, 12:34 PM

I heartily recommend the FA35

Affordable, small, light, fast f/2, and boy is it sharp. Great focal length too.

Class A · 11-26-2008, 05:50 PM

Don't forget the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Specifications (do not confuse it with an older version). Not quite fast as the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and not quite as insanely sharp in the centre, but full frame (you never know

) and better corner performance (if you need this at all) and not as expensive.

From my experience (just got it a few weeks ago) it is very, very sharp and I love the close focusing ability (Macro).

Let me know if you consider it at all and I'll try to find a good shot to upload.

pingflood · 11-26-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by Class A

Don't forget the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Specifications (do not confuse it with an older version). Not quite fast as the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and not quite as insanely sharp in the centre, but full frame (you never know

) and better corner performance (if you need this at all) and not as expensive.

From my experience (just got it a few weeks ago) it is very, very sharp and I love the close focusing ability (Macro).

Let me know if you consider it at all and I'll try to find a good shot to upload.

The close focusing is one thing I really miss with the 30. Other than that, it is a wonderful piece of glass. I considered the 28 but got a really really sweet deal on the 30 ($240) and couldn't turn it down.

**Kerrowdown** · 11-27-2008, 04:37 AM

Don't forget there's some fast manual glass out there on a well known auction site.

11-25-2008, 09:07 PM	#1
FckShoes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 41	Lens Recommendation (prime) - Bokeh, Indoor, Low Light I've been shopping around for a new lens, budget is around the $250-$350 range. I have a fa50 1.4, but is much too close for my indoor shots. Will be having the holidays at my house and would much like to be able to capture the moments. I guess I'm looking for a lens similar to the 50mm in terms of picture quality, but able to work in tighter spaces. I'm very much a newb, so any recommendations would be great. I've been looking at the fa35 f/2 and it has quite a few good reviews as well as in my budget. If possible, post pictures with your lens recommendation

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11-25-2008, 09:18 PM	#2
K100Dave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 111	Not b/c I own one, but I would highly recommend looking at the DA35LTD. Not only will you get a lens that can work in tight spaces, it's nice and sharp as well.

11-25-2008, 09:39 PM	#3
FckShoes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 41 Original Poster	Beautiful pictures, but I think the da35 ltd is out of my budget.

11-25-2008, 10:03 PM	#4
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,240	Originally posted by FckShoes Beautiful pictures, but I think the da35 ltd is out of my budget. Prodigital2000 can send you one for less than $350 USD. But the FA 35 f/2 is faster/cheaper.

11-25-2008, 10:08 PM	#5
FckShoes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 41 Original Poster	If that is the case, which would you choose? Would you mind posting pics used with your 35 2.8? Thanks

11-25-2008, 10:34 PM	#6
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,240	Originally posted by FckShoes If that is the case, which would you choose? Would you mind posting pics used with your 35 2.8? Thanks I went crazy with the DA 35ltd this summer, there was a period of about 3 weeks when I was shooting with it every other day. It's something special - I would choose it, because it's a true 1:1 macro, and it's only one stop slower than the FA 35 f/2, but sometimes that one stop means everything when shooting indoors. Take a look at these threads for DA 35ltd shots: Greatest ever? Does not suck.

11-25-2008, 10:41 PM	#7
FckShoes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 41 Original Poster	Thank you very much for the links, your shots are crazy good.

11-26-2008, 03:38 AM	#8
Damn Brit Guest	What about the Fa 35 to pair up with your 50?

11-26-2008, 05:23 AM	#9
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Didn't we just have a thread like this? Either way, my recommendation is the same: Sigma 30/1.4. The DA 35 is a great lens, but two stops difference can be a killer when shooting in low light. The Sigma's fast, sharp even wide open, and has excellent bokeh.

11-26-2008, 07:24 AM	#10
barbosas Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lisbon Photos: Gallery Posts: 683	Check my sig... FA50 and FA35 should always be bundled together, they are twins I didn't had the courage to split them when i was planning to buy the FA31 (to match with the FA77)

11-26-2008, 07:49 AM	#11
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Well, I'm looking for the same kind of lens as you, so I considered the FA 35mm f/2, then the sigma 30mm f/1.4... But I saw that Tamron still has the 28-75 f/2.8 for about the same price (as does sigma with the 28-70 f/2.8, and to a lesser degree the 24-70 f/2.8), and I think this would fit the bill... Okay, you lose 1 stop, but you gain in versatility... Good point is that they are full-frame lenses, but enhanced for APS-C digital bodies, so image quality is quite good.

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11-26-2008, 12:34 PM	#12
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	I heartily recommend the FA35 Affordable, small, light, fast f/2, and boy is it sharp. Great focal length too.

11-26-2008, 05:50 PM	#13
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 10,994	Don't forget the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Specifications (do not confuse it with an older version). Not quite fast as the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and not quite as insanely sharp in the centre, but full frame (you never know ) and better corner performance (if you need this at all) and not as expensive. From my experience (just got it a few weeks ago) it is very, very sharp and I love the close focusing ability (Macro). Let me know if you consider it at all and I'll try to find a good shot to upload.

11-26-2008, 06:07 PM	#14
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by Class A Don't forget the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Specifications (do not confuse it with an older version). Not quite fast as the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and not quite as insanely sharp in the centre, but full frame (you never know ) and better corner performance (if you need this at all) and not as expensive. From my experience (just got it a few weeks ago) it is very, very sharp and I love the close focusing ability (Macro). Let me know if you consider it at all and I'll try to find a good shot to upload. The close focusing is one thing I really miss with the 30. Other than that, it is a wonderful piece of glass. I considered the 28 but got a really really sweet deal on the 30 ($240) and couldn't turn it down.

11-27-2008, 04:37 AM	#15
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hielands o' Scootlund Photos: Gallery Posts: 51,783	Don't forget there's some fast manual glass out there on a well known auction site.