Why do you need 24mm f/1.4L lens?

[Kit]

Your point about shallow DOF is not disputed.
But i certainly wont recommend my close friend to buy the lens bcos it can give him distortion, not taking into account whether he like it or not, but by just discussing the merits about this lens that justify its cost and why someone want to buy it? if it is only $200, man, we wouldnt even be starting this thread to talk about why it is so good this and tath Anyway, lets not get out of point here. Peace!

Why you kept harping on the distortion part is beyond me or for the matter, beyond everybody here I believe. I don't really care what you would recommend to your friends. TS asked a question and I answered. Period. Just who are you to start judging if distortions are a merit or not anyway. Like I said, I can buy a $2000 lens to correct distortion. Like wise, I can buy a $2000 lens to accentuate distortions. Bite me.

 

[TYM]

dude. none of the lenses you mentioned above has anything CLOSE to a 1.4 aperture. REMEMBER that bokeh is caused by 3 factors, namely FOCAL LENGTH, DISTANCE FROM OBJECT and APERTURE VALUE.

You can still get crazy bokeh from a 24mm F1.4, even more than the pic Kit just posted up, simply because the aperture is 2 stops wider, and it has a longer focal length. A 24mm lens can be used in more ways than just a landscape lens.

and just for the record, I don't think even the 24mm is a wide enough for my wide-angle needs. Moreoever, a 1.4 aperture combined with 24mm makes it an ideal event photography lens, even with the use of flash. If this lens has a good magnification factor, you CAN use it for close up half body portraits.

Lastly, don't compare zoom lenses with primes. They are in a different league altogether when it comes to all factors concerning lenses, be it distortion, CA, IQ, etc etc.

I am not comparing the zooms and primes for IQ CA etc. I am using it as an analogy to talk about the NATURE of the focal length. No more than that. And that pertains to the focal length issue.

Your discussion on the nature of the aperture F1.4 is sound and I agree.

 

[TYM]

Why you kept harping on the distortion part is beyond me or for the matter, beyond everybody here I believe. I don't really care what you would recommend to your friends. TS asked a question and I answered. Period. Just who are you to start judging if distortions are a merit or not anyway. Like I said, I can buy a $2000 lens to correct distortion. Like wise, I can buy a $2000 lens to accentuate distortions. Bite me.

Why are you so often aggressive around here, Kit?

 

[Kit]

No apologies for being aggressive to people who insists on blabbering without knowing better.....

 

[calebk]

Sorry i don't get you, there is not much isolation of this photo at F2.8, the background is still so clear, perhaps not a good example?
...
A wide angle lens tends to take in more of the environment than a tele, so proper composition not to take in too much background clutter.
If you intend to get a 24mm just for background isolation, might be better off getting a more tele lens.

A wide angle can cause distortion for portraits shots when come too close. (Just a little observation, the pic seems a little "distorted" or "stretched" perhaps it is too close?) Environmental portaits would prob be fine. Background isolation is so-so.

For landscapes/ scenery, need a smaller aperture. even a 17-40 will do.

With prime lens, the design usu can give slightly better lens characteristics eg, better sharpness, saturation, color and distortion control etc.

I agree it could be good for journalistic shoot, without too worry about light availabillity.
So i believe the 24mm is those who need that focal length and want a higher shutter speed in lowlight, eg in photojournalistic or lowlight shoot and (usually) better IQ (sharpness, colour, saturation etc)

Er...clearly the false ceiling dividers, and all the detail of the noticeboard is smudged. Given the fact that I am shooting at 16mm f/2.8, OF COURSE i won't get anywhere as much isolation as I would with a longer lens, but that is my shooting style for events - journalistic, getting close.

The fact is with a 24mm, you will still get a lot in frame, but more for the purpose of environmental portraiture and journalistic applications. Here I have attached a photojourn-style photo so people see a practical application of a fast wide angle lens.

...Thats not what the 24mm is usu meant for. I am sure i wont buy the 24mm for a killer background isolation, my 85mm 1.2 would be more adequate for this aspect....

yes u r rite, i am talking things barrel distortion. Yes a 70mm at F2.8 will give a better background isolation than 24mm F2.8...

Give me a 70mm or 85mm lens and put me in the room where I took that shot. I would be able to take a shot of the forehead and eyes of either person, definitely not even headshots of both; the room is that small.

Why are you ALWAYS so agressive around here, Kit?

He is making sense. You are just not reading and understanding all his points fully; that is the difference.

 

[TYM]

Er...clearly the false ceiling dividers, and all the detail of the noticeboard is smudged. Given the fact that I am shooting at 16mm f/2.8, OF COURSE i won't get anywhere as much isolation as I would with a longer lens, but that is my shooting style for events - journalistic, getting close.

The fact is with a 24mm, you will still get a lot in frame, but more for the purpose of environmental portraiture and journalistic applications. Here I have attached a photojourn-style photo so people see a practical application of a fast wide angle lens.





Give me a 70mm or 85mm lens and put me in the room where I took that shot. I would be able to take a shot of the forehead and eyes of either person, definitely not even headshots of both; the room is that small.



He is making sense. You are just not reading his words fully; that is the difference.

Its cool, but he is pretty aggressive. Are people here in CS often like this? Anyway this is a rather fun discussion, peace!

 

[fWord]

Its cool, but he is pretty aggressive. Are people here in CS often like this?

:bsmilie: Eventually you'll see all sorts of things. This is a tame discussion. Still remember that big 'discussion' I had with a bundle of others last time over another topic. My point was completely misconstrued and it became terribly heated. Only once some 'old bird' stepped in to restate my original point then things calmed down.

At another forum I remember reading what somebody else said, and I agree:

'Can't say anything intelligent around here without getting flamed.'

Same goes for anything stupid, however. Anyway, all is good. Everybody has an opinion, but there's a number of folks here I'm glad to never have met in real life.

*dons flame-repellant coat and runs away*

 

[Electrin]

The 24/1.4 is my favourite walk about lens. It isn't overly clumsy, and I've become accustomed to its perspective. So much so that I just lift the camera and shoot, pretty much knowing how much of what is before me falls within the frame. I do not have to worry about the flash - the 1.4 can handle most natural light situations.

The 24L is great because I've to be close to my kids when I look after them. They won't let me wander far enough to use an 85. And I need to be able to freeze their constant movement.

 

[Will03]

u will need a 24 mm f1.4 cos you might need to shoot at low light situations and you still want nice bokeh at wide angle..

distortion ? frankly.. i find distortion very well controlled.. cos prob I am very used to using wide angle ( 12mm ) .. so no issue.. I am usig a full frame by the way..

I use it for portraits, weddings etc.. it is one of my fav lenses.. basically.. u have to see wats yur shooting style to know y u need the lens...
its the same for all lenses..

some shots with the 24 mm wide open..

http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/83405893
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/99796274
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/97017799
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/98946913

 

[playlens]

u will need a 24 mm f1.4 cos you might need to shoot at low light situations and you still want nice bokeh at wide angle..

distortion ? frankly.. i find distortion very well controlled.. cos prob I am very used to using wide angle ( 12mm ) .. so no issue.. I am usig a full frame by the way..

I use it for portraits, weddings etc.. it is one of my fav lenses.. basically.. u have to see wats yur shooting style to know y u need the lens...
its the same for all lenses..

some shots with the 24 mm wide open..

http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/83405893
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/99796274
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/97017799
http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/98946913

Hi Will03,
Nice Photos! Thanks a lot for your post. That is why "a picture is worth a thousand words". I am shock to see the clarity on the model at f/1.4. I always think that the DOF at f/1.4 with the short distance will be very sallow! By the way, do you recall what was your distance between the lens and the model?

Thanks once again!

 

[Will03]

Hi Will03,
Nice Photos! Thanks a lot for your post. That is why "a picture is worth a thousand words". I am shock to see the clarity on the model at f/1.4. I always think that the DOF at f/1.4 with the short distance will be very sallow! By the way, do you recall what was your distance between the lens and the model?

Thanks once again!

I am quite near to the models.. since its a 24 mm lens.. but boken is easily achieved.. if yur subject is far from the background.. coupled with the 1.4 aperture.. bokeh is quite nice.. if you dun need such a wide lens, but still like to have nice bokeh and low light shooting, can try the 35 f1.4.. beautiful lens.. also my fav...

anyway.. it really depends on what you want.. a tele lens can shoot landscape as well. .. and a very wide angle lens 12mm can shoot portraits too..

 

[frostyfrostysnowman]

well given the fact that it's a prime, you can certainly expect better Image Quality, better Bokeh (from the 1.4), better control over Chromatic Aberration and flaring.

However, be prepared to lose some versatility over a normal 'zoom lens' as this is a fixed focal length. look up some threads on clubsnap for discussions between primes / zoom lenses.. I'm sure you'll find sufficient info regarding this.

Personally, I've been officially converted to primes. Yes, you lose the versatility of the zooms, but when you see the pictures that the primes take, it really takes everything away. This is just a personal opinion though..

At the end of the day, remember the fact that when you purchase lenses, purchase the focal length you would actually use. The extremely wide aperture will open the doors to many possibilities like 'available light photography', 'flash photography' (wide apertures allow more background light to be taken in which usually results in a more natural picure) and not forgetting creative shots

As mentioned earlier, I would most certainly use this lens for indoor event shoots, as i usually carry a 17-35 f2.8 and a 24-105 f4 (in 2 camera bodies). The 24mm would fit into my requirements just fine. how would yours fit in?

 

[frostyfrostysnowman]

I am quite near to the models.. since its a 24 mm lens.. but boken is easily achieved.. if yur subject is far from the background.. coupled with the 1.4 aperture.. bokeh is quite nice.. if you dun need such a wide lens, but still like to have nice bokeh and low light shooting, can try the 35 f1.4.. beautiful lens.. also my fav...

anyway.. it really depends on what you want.. a tele lens can shoot landscape as well. .. and a very wide angle lens 12mm can shoot portraits too..

wahh where could you find a 12mm lens? lol

 

[frostyfrostysnowman]

I am not comparing the zooms and primes for IQ CA etc. I am using it as an analogy to talk about the NATURE of the focal length. No more than that. And that pertains to the focal length issue.

Your discussion on the nature of the aperture F1.4 is sound and I agree.

haha totally agree. Well at the end of the day it may just be a discussion, but if the TS decides to purchase the lens, it is entirely his perogative.

 

[calebk]

wahh where could you find a 12mm lens? lol

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM

Check it out. Then check out Flickr for images from this paired to a 5D. Your mouth will water...

 

[Will03]

wahh where could you find a 12mm lens? lol

hee. yup.. as calebk mentioned.. its the sigma 12-24

 

[frostyfrostysnowman]

hee. yup.. as calebk mentioned.. its the sigma 12-24

wah die. I'm using a 5d now. >_<

 

[calebk]

wah die. I'm using a 5d now. >_<

I know.

That's why I asked you to search for those with it mated to a FF sensor...that's all the fun in it.

 

[frostyfrostysnowman]

roaarrr.. i'm not going to. I won't give in to temptations!!! hahaha.

but from what I've read (I haven't found any images yet) the 12-24 is allegedly quite soft. hmmm.

 

[calebk]

roaarrr.. i'm not going to. I won't give in to temptations!!! hahaha.

but from what I've read (I haven't found any images yet) the 12-24 is allegedly quite soft. hmmm.

You just need to read more reviews and find more pictures. Can't run away...hahaha.