Opinions or comparisons between 17-35mm and 20-35mm 2.8 AF lenses

[Benji Wade]

Hello all, I embarked upon finding some primes based on the excellent research/reviews provided by Evin in the sticky threads.

I found the 17-35mm F2.8 lens he raved about, but it was out of my price range. I did, however, find a 20-35mm F2.8 lens and from all reasonable expectations, it would be a very similar lens at one half the price ($499 in very good condition).

Anybody have this lens that can offer some perspective? I'd rather not invest in the 20-35mm if it's significantly inferior to the 17-35mm.

While I'm on the topic, here's the other lenses I'm looking at buying:

Wide Angle:
20-35mm F2.8 - $499 (I can't afford the 17-35mm, but is this one a good compromise?)

50mm:
F1.4 - $100 (Standard fare...bread and butter.)

Long Lens:
105mm F1.8 - $275 (This seemed like a good alternative to the 85mm 1.4, which I can't find.)

Macro Lens:
55mm F2.8 - $129 (I'm completely ignorant about macro lenses.)

[Evin Grant]

The 20-35 is a good lens, it's the foreruner to the 17-35, it is plenty sharp but not as well optimised for digital. If you can find the extra cash it's well worth the diffrence. Also once you factor in the Mysterium's size you only get an equivelent 32.5-57mm (35mm still format). That's not very wide Vs. the 17-35 which is an equivelent 27-57.

[J. Bernard Vallon]

Also, that 55mm f2.8 macro is a muscular macro lens. Some garbage lenses have 'macro' written on the side and focus kinda-close and call that macro. Thats a bunch of malarky. the 55mm f2.8 will focus on ants.

[jaadgy akanni]

The 20-35 is a good lens, it's the foreruner to the 17-35, it is plenty sharp but not as well optimised for digital. If you can find the extra cash it's well worth the diffrence. Also once you factor in the Mysterium's size you only get an equivelent 32.5-57mm (35mm still format). That's not very wide Vs. the 17-35 which is an equivelent 27-57.

Interesting. Evin, what other worthy option is there other than the 17-35? Anything wider to consider? I'm thinking I'm gonna get me a 14mm f/2.8 AF ED-RF if I can ever afford it.