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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    19,203

    Prime Time, Baby!

    What are your favorite prime lenses of any generation?

    I've currently been shooting just primes. Can't ever seeing myself going zoom, or flash.

    Current setup:

    Holga 60mm f/8-11;
    Nikkor 50mm f/1.4;
    Nikkor 105mm f/2.5;
    Nikkor 135mm f/2.8;
    Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8.

    Obviously I don't shoot skiing, but these above are amazing for street/portraiture/funky.

    Don't really like wide or 35mm for some reason. Just doesn't speak to me.

    These are on a full frame analog SLR, a plastic 6x6 piece of shit, and a hasselblad. All of which I love.

    Whatcha' got and love?

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    This thread is worthless without pics.

    I'm the opposite, mostly shooting skiing/biking/etc so only have one prime lens. However my Samyang 12mm F2.0 lens has proven to be a great purchase for my a6000






  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
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    694
    My favorites are the ones I currently use:

    Zeiss Batis 25 f 2.0
    Zeiss Batis 85 f 1.8
    Sony Zeiss Distagon T FE 35 1.4 ZA

    I love all of these, particularly the 35 1.4, it just renders soo pretty.


    The pictures from that Samyang in the post above looks great BTW. I kind of want to add a super wide like that to my kit.

    Batis 25:
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    Distagon 35 1.4:
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  4. #4
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    Taken a few years ago, but some of my favorite portraits were taken with the Canon 50mm f/1.4. I'm tempted to grab it again, since you can find them pretty easily under $200 these days.


  5. #5
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    Sony E 35 f 1.8 is my go to on the a6000 for river gorges and forests. Makes for a nice lightweight kit and takes some killer shots if the focal length is right. Basically, if I can use this lens, I do.












  6. #6
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    This thread is giving me some serious Sony FOMO.

    Personal favorite Nikon prime is the 35mm f/1.4G. Heavy AF but man the images look great and the speed is key for low light.


    I have a 50mm 1.8 on a D3100 that I use if there is a high risk of destroying my gear which produces surprisingly good quality for under $200.


    I also have a manual 24mm f/1.8 that’s I think like 30 years old. I rarely use it but play around with it occasionally for free lensing or other weird experiments.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by adrenalated View Post

    I'm the opposite, mostly shooting skiing/biking/etc so only have one prime lens. However my Samyang 12mm F2.0 lens has proven to be a great purchase for my a6000
    Whoah, how's the AF on that thing for action shots? I've been looking for a wider angle prime.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ridinshockgun View Post
    Whoah, how's the AF on that thing for action shots? I've been looking for a wider angle prime.
    Manual focus only on the Samyang. If you want AF I think you have to stick with Sony lenses.
    (FYI it's the exact same lens as the Rokinon version. Just different branding).

    Since I've basically just shot landscapes with it, I can set the focus to infinity most of the time and have plenty of time to get the focus right.

    (Killer shots BTW)

  9. #9
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    This guy kills it with Canon primes... looks like he's doing most of the shooting for the Pinkbike bike reviews:

    https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/16623642/

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
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    Quote Originally Posted by smmokan View Post
    This guy kills it with Canon primes... looks like he's doing most of the shooting for the Pinkbike bike reviews:

    https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/16623642/
    Wow focusing with f1.2 for action...manually set a focus point and time it just right?

  11. #11
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    I'm not sure... can you pull the focus "type" out of EXIF data? You'd be able to see if it was AI-Focus or AI-Servo, methinks.

    Either way, there are some great shots in there. I've picked up a Canon 50mm f/1.4 to experiment at some point, too.

  12. #12
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    I picked up a Sony 35mm 2.8 off ebay for a few hundred bucks and currently it's my favorite and most used lens.








  13. #13
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    Handheld at 1/60s with the Canon 50mm f/1.4. Ridiculously sharp.

    Click image for larger version. 

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