Canon zoom or inexpensive primes - contax, Samyang etc?

[Ben Scott]

I've pretty much run out of budget now until the next big job.

Currently have a Samyang 35mm f1.4, a Tokina 11-16mm and a backup Nikkor AI 35-105 f3.5.

Wondering whether I would be better served either

a) Buying a Canon 24-70mmL

b) Buying Samyang 24mm f1.4, Samyang 85mm f1.4, Zeiss Contax 50mm f1.4

c) Buying a Canon 24-105L f4 and getting the fast 50mm or the fast 24mm.


Wondered if anyone fancied chiming in their opinion. The longer focus throws on the Samyangs and their speed/sharpness makes them seem attractive for me, and I love the 35mm I already have. But having used the 24-70, it's a very handy lens to have, especially when run & gunning.

[brian leisring]

a or b depending on your needs. I would think the IQ of the prime set would look better, though matching the zeiss and the samyangs may cause minor additional post grading. The 24-70 is nice, but its always nice to have faster wides in your kit. in my experience with the 24-105, it certainly doesn't deserve the L branding.

[Ben Scott]

Ooh, good to hear someone say that re the 24-105 because I've heard a lot of people talk about it as though it's a perfect walkaround lens and it's one of the few I haven't had a chance to use. Thanks for posting your opinion :)

[Nick Morrison]

I agree with Brian, I think the IQ of primes is always greater, and if you can, try and get a matching set of primes - whether they all be Samyang, Nikkor, Leica, Contax, or what have you.

KEH.com has some very affordable sales right now, fyi.

I noticed that the Contax glass is selling at pretty steep discounts....at least 20% off...they are below ebay prices right now, and they generally have better inventory.

I imagine they are rebating other brands similarly....

[Ben Scott]

Recently offloaded my Nikkor AIs because I wanted to have a set of lenses al focusing in the correct cine direction. I think Contax will be the way to go but I'm in the UK and prices here are never quite as nice as they are elsewhere in the world, but the Samyangs offer some pretty serious bang for buck in the meantime. Thanks Nick. I think I'll keep hold of the Nikkor Zoom for an all-in-one and concentrate on the primes.

[Nick Morrison]

Recently offloaded my Nikkor AIs because I wanted to have a set of lenses al focusing in the correct cine direction. I think Contax will be the way to go but I'm in the UK and prices here are never quite as nice as they are elsewhere in the world, but the Samyangs offer some pretty serious bang for buck in the meantime. Thanks Nick. I think I'll keep hold of the Nikkor Zoom for an all-in-one and concentrate on the primes.

You could buy a set of Contax on KEH and have them ship them all to you at once. American prices.

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

I've been shooting the Samyang/Rokinon 85mm a bit recently and pretty damn happy with it. The big gap is no 50mm as yet; as soon as they release one I'll pull the trigger on the whole set. Poor mans Superspeeds. Well... not really; totally different looks. But you know what I mean. I don't like mixing and matching, not at all sure how well Contax/Zeiss would cut with Rokinon.

Mike

[Ben Scott]

I've cut my old Zeiss ZFs (which I also offloaded) with the Samyang 35mm in the past so not anticipating any surprises on that front. But yeah, if Samyang do a 50mm, especially it has the declicked iris like my 35mm, I'll be all over it :)

[Ben Scott]

You could buy a set of Contax on KEH and have them ship them all to you at once. American prices.

Plus import duty.
Plus 20% VAT

:(