50mm vs 35mm Manual at DVinfo.net

Tariq Peter · November 30th, 2011, 06:07 PM

Hi All,

I rented the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 on my first DSLR wedding and was very happy with the results, however I did feel that at 50mm on my t3i did not give me much of a field of view and left me constantly taking steps backwards. I would love to own both but I can't so I am now looking to purchase a used 35mm 1.4 under £400, am I being realistic with that price? I film in super low light and I don't want to keep renting as I have to leave a £1000 deposit and it eats into any profit I make.

Bruce Foreman · November 30th, 2011, 09:54 PM

You might find the EF 28mm f1.8 USM more flexible. I have one and find perspective (just about "normal") and low light performance to be very manageable.

Matt Thomas · December 1st, 2011, 08:25 AM

The Samyang 35mm 1.4 is supposed to be really good.

Tariq Peter · December 1st, 2011, 03:59 PM

I have changed my mind and gone with the Sigma 30mm 1.4. Paying the extra for auto focus will help me for any photography which I use the camera for and its a third of the price of the Canon 35mm.

Tim Bakland · December 1st, 2011, 09:41 PM

How about the Canon L 24mm?

Jordan Hooper · December 2nd, 2011, 10:02 PM

Good choice Tariq, I bought the same lens and used it for the first time about a week ago at an outdoor evening event. I was looking forward to trying it in low light. I used the "focus peaking" feature of Magic Lantern to help me focus manually. Thought I better get some experience before I relied on it for payed work. Used it on a 60D and internal microphone with no additional lighting other than what was on the street.

You can have a look at my results here if you're interested.

Charlton Chars · December 31st, 2011, 01:02 AM

35 is more versatile, but it depends on what you like. I like candid portraits so I like 50 more.

Matija Petrovic · December 31st, 2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan Hooper

Good choice Tariq, I bought the same lens and used it for the first time about a week ago at an outdoor evening event. I was looking forward to trying it in low light. I used the "focus peaking" feature of Magic Lantern to help me focus manually. Thought I better get some experience before I relied on it for payed work. Used it on a 60D and internal microphone with no additional lighting other than what was on the street.

You can have a look at my results here if you're interested.
Downtown Vernon Light-Up Event on Vimeo

great quality

John Vincent · January 2nd, 2012, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Thomas

The Samyang 35mm 1.4 is supposed to be really good.

And it is - sharpest glass I've ever used. Amazing value really for the sharpness. And the build quality is quite good as well, although not the all-steel construction of a Zeiss.

Ken Rockwell gave it 5 out of 5 for optics:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/samyang/35mm-f14.htm

Tariq Peter · January 2nd, 2012, 03:47 PM

I would love to see a comparison between the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

John Vincent · January 2nd, 2012, 05:27 PM

The Samyang fits your price range - even a used Canon 35mm L will go for 3 times what the Samy goes for. Remember that you're paying for a lot of things most narrative video shooters don't need in Canon glass - namely quiet, fast, auto-focus - none of which are likely to be used.

One other big factor is manual aperture - if you think you'll ever shoot with a non-Canon camera, then using fully manual glass (like the Samyang or Zeiss) is a big positive, not a negative.

Tariq Peter · January 2nd, 2012, 07:12 PM

My main use is for video and I can rent the Canon 1.4 each time I go out on a shoot, however what I am trying to discover is in terms of video quality.Would you be able to tell the difference in video footage between the two?

John Vincent · January 2nd, 2012, 09:21 PM

Well, the common saying is that any good lens out resolves the camera. So, that being the case, whatever minor difference there might be (say in tonality) would be so small that they're not worth mentioning.

The Samyang is super sharp at all F stops, and has a nice, clean color rendition. Phil Bloom recently shot a promo for the FS100, and despite having several lens costing much more, used the Samyang:

"Gear wise, obviously the FS100 and Zeiss ZF macro lenses 50mm and 100mm. The Zeiss ZF 50mm and 85mm F1.4 too. I widest lens I used was the Samyang 35mm F1.4. So no wide angles in this piece! "

“Sugared Art”, a new short film on the Sony FS100 | Philip Bloom

November 30th, 2011, 06:07 PM	#1
Tariq Peter Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 435	50mm vs 35mm Manual Hi All, I rented the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 on my first DSLR wedding and was very happy with the results, however I did feel that at 50mm on my t3i did not give me much of a field of view and left me constantly taking steps backwards. I would love to own both but I can't so I am now looking to purchase a used 35mm 1.4 under £400, am I being realistic with that price? I film in super low light and I don't want to keep renting as I have to leave a £1000 deposit and it eats into any profit I make.

November 30th, 2011, 09:54 PM	#2
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual You might find the EF 28mm f1.8 USM more flexible. I have one and find perspective (just about "normal") and low light performance to be very manageable.

December 1st, 2011, 08:25 AM	#3
Matt Thomas Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 232	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual The Samyang 35mm 1.4 is supposed to be really good. __________________ http://www.MatthewThomasFilm.com / https://www.facebook.com/MatthewThomasFilm / https://www.instagram.com/matthewthomasfilmuk/

December 1st, 2011, 03:59 PM	#4
Tariq Peter Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 435	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual I have changed my mind and gone with the Sigma 30mm 1.4. Paying the extra for auto focus will help me for any photography which I use the camera for and its a third of the price of the Canon 35mm.

December 1st, 2011, 09:41 PM	#5
Tim Bakland Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beverly, MA Posts: 512	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual How about the Canon L 24mm? __________________ Event Videography, New England www.timothybakland.com

December 2nd, 2011, 10:02 PM	#6
Jordan Hooper Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vernon, BC. Canada Posts: 111	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual Good choice Tariq, I bought the same lens and used it for the first time about a week ago at an outdoor evening event. I was looking forward to trying it in low light. I used the "focus peaking" feature of Magic Lantern to help me focus manually. Thought I better get some experience before I relied on it for payed work. Used it on a 60D and internal microphone with no additional lighting other than what was on the street. You can have a look at my results here if you're interested. Downtown Vernon Light-Up Event on Vimeo

December 31st, 2011, 01:02 AM	#7
Charlton Chars New Boot Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 23	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual 35 is more versatile, but it depends on what you like. I like candid portraits so I like 50 more.

January 2nd, 2012, 03:47 PM	#10
Tariq Peter Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 435	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual I would love to see a comparison between the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

January 2nd, 2012, 05:27 PM	#11
John Vincent Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,065	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual The Samyang fits your price range - even a used Canon 35mm L will go for 3 times what the Samy goes for. Remember that you're paying for a lot of things most narrative video shooters don't need in Canon glass - namely quiet, fast, auto-focus - none of which are likely to be used. One other big factor is manual aperture - if you think you'll ever shoot with a non-Canon camera, then using fully manual glass (like the Samyang or Zeiss) is a big positive, not a negative.

January 2nd, 2012, 07:12 PM	#12
Tariq Peter Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 435	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual My main use is for video and I can rent the Canon 1.4 each time I go out on a shoot, however what I am trying to discover is in terms of video quality.Would you be able to tell the difference in video footage between the two?

January 2nd, 2012, 09:21 PM	#13
John Vincent Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,065	Re: 50mm vs 35mm Manual Well, the common saying is that any good lens out resolves the camera. So, that being the case, whatever minor difference there might be (say in tonality) would be so small that they're not worth mentioning. The Samyang is super sharp at all F stops, and has a nice, clean color rendition. Phil Bloom recently shot a promo for the FS100, and despite having several lens costing much more, used the Samyang: "Gear wise, obviously the FS100 and Zeiss ZF macro lenses 50mm and 100mm. The Zeiss ZF 50mm and 85mm F1.4 too. I widest lens I used was the Samyang 35mm F1.4. So no wide angles in this piece! " “Sugared Art”, a new short film on the Sony FS100 \| Philip Bloom