Continuing my migration towards prime lenses, I recently purchased a Canon 35mm f/1.4L. It arrived today, and although it was raining on & off all day, I decided to go to Lake Harriet here in Minneapolis and try it out anyways.
Much of what I have to say about this lens was already said when I acquired Canon’s 135mm f/2L lens, but there are some things that are unique about it. Like the 135mm, it’s sharp. . . very sharp. My 16-35mm f.2.8L is a professional lens that can hold it’s own, especially when flexibility is a factor, but it can’t compete with the 35mm f/1.4L for sharpness. The 35mm prime is also very convenient to keep on a camera body as an all-around, default lens. It’s not nearly as heavy as a professional zoom lens, which means that you can carry it all day without feeling tired or bothered by it. In terms of the focal length, it’s perfect for indoor photography that typically involves wide shots or upper body portraits of multiple people. Last of course is the speed. A maximum aperture of f/1.4 is fast no matter how you slice it. Indoor photography at night isn’t a problem, even without flash. What more could you ask for?
I couldn’t rope anyone into being my subject this afternoon, so I had to get creative when looking for subjects! Later in the evening, I managed to convince my sister Beth to step outside for a quick portrait. I hope you like the images.
