I was researching Canon lenses, and after owning the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II (Nifty Fifty) and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 USM, I realized that I absolutely LOVE prime lenses. So now I was on the lookout for a ‘walk around’ prime lens. An 85mm is way too long for a Disneyland type Prime Lens and the 50mm, although a great walk around, still, not wide enough for my tastes. I mean, if you are at Disneyland and in line, and its possibly low light situation, you need a wider lens that does well in low light.
I was looking at 3 different lenses: The Canon 28mm f/1.8, The Canon 24mm f/2.8, and The Canon 35mm f/2.0. Each was within my budgeted price range: <$500.
All three lenses had great reviews, but after seeing the samples in the Photography on the Net forums for the Canon 35mm I was sold.
It’s fast, its wide, its a perfect walk around lens, and it is great for wider portraits if that’s what I chose to use it for!
You can get these lenses here:
This is where I get all my camera equipment.
Here are some samples shot with my Canon T1i Digital camera:
What do you think? (See original sizes here: HungryWriter Photos)
These were all shot with the 35mm at around f/2.8. I did a little flash photography and the last one, with the 3 girls in the pool, showed some nice depth of field as I focused on my daughter on the left. The flash I used is an old flash, the Canon Speedlite 420EX.
Other related posts:
“Beginning Photography – Sticking with my Nifty Fifty (canon 50mm 1.8)”
“Beginning Photography – How to be a better photographer Part 1”
“How to be a better iPhone photographer“
Glenn is a former financial analyst, close-up magician, and hockey player. He is now a writer, novelist, screenwriter, 
Sounds like a great lens to own. We have the 1.8 and 1.4 50mm’s and we love them. I’d really like to own a whole arsenal of primes.
TJ McDowell´s last blog ..Wedding Photography Tips To Get Amazing Images
The Canon 35mm is a nice walkaround lens most definitely. The 85mm and 50mm are my portrait lenses though.
But if you want to carry a lighter weight lens, and nothing too cumbersome, and capture everything at disneyland with decent DOF as well as clarity – the 35mm is perfect!
Christine is a taking photography classes and she wants to make good grades in it so she can receive her photography diploma. She just started classes and already has a digital camera. If you are the teacher, what would be some basic or adept photography tips would you tell to Christine?Thanks
wow !baby is so sweet ! i love these all..cute
Keep taking pictures, read as much as you can on photography, and invest in a decent DSLR. Adept tips? Always keep in mind composition and angles you shoot from: using an iPhone to a Digital camera – you can stand out with your photography just by being aware of composition and the positioining of the camera.