I have good coverage of zooms (24-85 f3.5-f4.5, 28-135 IS, 100-300 f4.5-5.6) plus primes (20 f2.8, 28 f2.8, 50 f1.4, 85 f1.8, 200 f2.8). My problem is the gap between 28 and 50mm with the primes.

I cannot afford the 35mm F1.4 so am considering buying a secondhand 35mm f2.0. However all my other lens are USM and with FTM focusing, so not too sure about the limitations of the 35mm f2.0 and its image quality given its age. Shooting is combination of landscape and street/crowd scenes.

Any advice?

(Bodies are 5/A2E , 50E/ElanII, RT, 100/Elan)

-- Derek Linney (dlinney@aol.com), November 02, 2001

Answers

My experience is that the Canon EF 35mm f/2 is quite sharp. Probably the equal or near equal of any other prime you list. It is not a USM lens, but the focusing is quick, if a bit noisy compared to USM's. It does lack FTM, but you have no real choice since you cannot afford the L lens. I think FTM is more useful in longer senses anyway & find I don't really miss it with this one, but you might.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 02, 2001.

This is one of my fav lenses: super sharp, fast and light. In bright light, I often turn off AF, stop down and set it for the hyperfocal distance.

Recently the price has dropped on this lens, so it's a good deal. I wrote a short review on this lens if you're interested.

http://alaike.lcc.hawaii.edu/frary/toolbox3.htm

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

Here's another endorsement of the 35/2. I got one to fill the gap between my 24/2.8 and 50/1.4, and have no regrets. It has a filter size of 52mm, which means a new size for the origional poster, but a step-up ring could fix that.

-- Geoff Doane (geoff_doane@cbc.ca), November 05, 2001.

"However all my other lens are USM and with FTM focusing"

not if you have the 28/2.8. maybe you haven't used this lens for a while and forgot it was not USM. or maybe you really own the 28/1.8 USM and just typed it in wrong. anyways, the 35/2 is a sweet little lens. i still have mine even though i got a 28-70L. the 35 has really nice bokeh, good color, contrast, etc. its f2 makes it nice for astro photography and other low light uses. its cheap and lightweight. buy it and love it.

-- josh (aceofspades002@yahoo.com), November 08, 2001.

Thanks for your comments. Seems like a vote of confidence in the 35mm F2. Will start looking!

Thanks for last correspondent in pointing out my error in my list of lenses - it should have read 28mm F1.8.

Regards Derek

-- Derek Linney (dlinney@aol.com), November 12, 2001.