Weeks ago was my first in a series, Gear Guide & Recommendations {Part 1: Camera Bodies}. Yet, today’s post may be even more fitting as I hope to recommend lenses for any level photographer, from Beginning to Amateur, Advanced Amateur to Professional.
It used to be the case that I’d recommend investing most of your money into lenses & still, in some cases, I’d say the same. However with the advancement of camera body sensors, autofocus & more, you have to consider the body too. That stated, buy as nice of lenses as you can afford; it makes a big difference. Most of the questions I receive from other photographers has to do more with the lens & it’s capabilities than it does the camera body. And, depending on what you want the image to look like, often depends primarily upon the robustness of the lens.
Today I want to offer recommendations on a variety of fixed focal length lenses. Most, with the exception of just a few, I’ve used numerous times & feel confident recommending. All have limits to their abilities, however, there are a few that seem to do everything I ask them to. I don’t own all of these lenses but I will differentiate the ones that I do (*) & regularly use. As well, I’ll try to offer a less expensive alternative when possible. As a note, about 1.5 years ago I made a decision to shoot primarily fixed length (prime) lenses. I found myself desiring to grow as a photographer & was eager for the extra image clarity when shooting with fixed glass. Although it requires more effort, it’s worth the labor. As I often say, I zoom with my feet! It’s proved a tremendous decision. I’ll begin this 3-part series with Part 1: Fixed-focal length lenses, followed by Part 2: Zoom Lenses & Part 3: Specialty Lenses. Further, I’ll look to find the equivalent for those Nikon users out there.
Lenses Part 1: Fixed Focal Length Lenses
Canon 24mm f/1.4L II*
I love so much about this lens. It’s tremendously fast; probably the fastest focusing lens I own. And, it will allow you to photograph with almost two more stops of light than most zooms. Aside from the 35mm 1/4, it may be one of the most ideal photojournalism lenses. I use it often for photographing architecture & interiors, children & families when indoor & restricted by space, & wedding receptions. You’ll notice some slight distortion on the edges if you’re not careful but it is easily manageable for my preferences. If you’re a Nikon shooter, you’ll want to check out the Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED.
Description (from Canon USA): Professional wide-angle lens with an ultra-large maximum aperture of f/1.4. This is the first EF lens to employ both a replicated Aspherical lens element to suppress distortion and spherical aberration, and a UD lens element to correct lateral chromatic aberration. Thanks to the floating construction, excellent corner-to-corner delineation is attained from 10 in. (25 cm) to infinity.
A variety of pics I’ve taken with the 24mm f/1.4L II:
Canon 24mm f/2.8
A less expensive alternative. From Canon, the 24mm f/2.8 is a highly popular wide-angle lens featuring a large aperture. Good for casual snapshots as well as perspective shots. Floating rear focusing system corrects astigmatism and gives high contrast and sharp delineation. The Nikon equivalent is the Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D.
Canon 28mm f/1.8
I’ve found it appropriate to recommend this lens on several occasions. I prefer the build quality over the 24mm f/2.8 plus you get 2 extra stops of light… yes! And, it’s a little tighter than the 24mm, but not as much as the 35mm. If I were a beginner or amateur & could own three relatively inexpensive but robust lenses, it would include the 28mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4 & 85mm f/1.8. For the Nikon user, consider the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8.
From Canon, with the large maximum aperture, excellent background blur is possible with fast shutter speeds using the Canon 28mm f/1.8. The aspherical lens element makes the lens compact and corrects spherical aberrations. The image is sharp even at the edges.
Canon 35mm f/1.4
This is one desirable lens. As Henri Cartier Bresson stated, “The 35mm is THE CLASSIC Photojournalism lens.” The 35mm will likely be my next lens purchase. You could spend most of your career with this lens, coupled by the 50 f/1.2. I love the story-telling feel of this lens; I highly recommend it. In fact, if I had not bought the 24mm beforehand, I sometimes wonder if I would have ever purchased it. Nikon has an exceptional lens in their Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G.
Description (from Canon USA): L-series professional f/1.4 wide-angle lens with an Aspherical lens element to correct aberrations. The floating system enables high picture quality to be obtained over the entire focusing range. Autofocusing is quick and quiet with rear focusing and ring USM. Full-time manual focusing is also possible.
Canon 35mm f/2
A nice alternative to the Canon 35mm f/1.4. From Canon, this fast wide-angle lens with a minimum focusing distance of only 0.8′ allows you to approach the subject closer and still obtain a more natural wide-angle effect. Excellent background blur for portraits is obtainable. The Nikon equivalent is the Nikkor 35mm f/2D.
Canon 50mm f/1.2*
Let’s just say that I shoot with this lens 75% of the time; it’s my favorite. Until I recently purchased the 85mm f/1/2, the percentage would’ve been even higher. There are some things that I wish would improve with this lens, such as faster focusing & sharper images wide-open. However, when shooting at f/1.8 or f/2, it is somewhat unrivaled in color, clarity & bokeh (background blur). Plus, it fits my style nicely as it can convey an editorial/fashion feel. It is only limited by it’s focal length & therefore, I use it to shoot anything & everything.
Description (from Canon USA): The EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a peerless new standard lens featuring an ultra-large aperture for a narrow depth of field and soft background blur so loved by photographers everywhere. The EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is suitable for any shooting situation; its lens coating and construction are optimized to minimize the ghosting and flare that frequently occurs when lenses are used with digital cameras. This high-performance, weather-resistant lens delivers all the superb image resolution and contrast you expect in a Canon L Series Lens.
A few examples of images taken with the 50mm f/1.2:
Canon 50mm f/1.4
If all you had available was around $500 for a lens, without reservation, I’d point you here. It’s normally my first recommendation for beginners & amateurs alike. However, many professionals still keep it in the bag. This lens has most of the features of the 50mm f/1.2 yet at a fraction of the cost. It will look it’s best when shooting at around f/2, allowing you to shoot in less than ideal lighting environments. If you don’t have a 50mm, buy this now! From Canon, the 50mm f/1.4 is a standard lens featuring superb quality and portability. Two high-refraction lens elements and new Gaussian optics eliminate astigmatism and suppress astigmatic difference. Crisp images with little flare are obtained even at the maximum aperture. All Nikon shooters, check out the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G.
Canon 50mm f/1.8
If you only had around $150, this is your lens. Although the build quality seems rather cheap, you get much more than you pay for. Compared to other lenses, it’s light as a feather. From Canon, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens is a lightweight lens at a mere 4.6 oz (113.5 g). This compact and high-performance, standard lens features Gaussian optics that provide sharp delineation from near to far focusing distances. The color balance is excellent for a standard lens. The Nikon equivalent is the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D. 
Canon 85mm f/1.2*
I love this lens. It has quickly become a competitor to my 50mm f/1.2. This lens produces the highest quality images I’ve been able to achieve. It is certainly costly & a bit of an indulgence but it will produce stunning portraits of your children or family & wonderful professional headshots. I use it throughout wedding days, especially bridal portraits & low-light ceremonies. It effortlessly pulls your subject off it’s background creating the most wonderful bokeh you’ve ever witnessed. I’m pretty sure I’d sell my car before parting with this bad-boy. Nikon has a really nice alternative in the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF.
Description (from Canon USA): Retaining the impressive optical performance and large aperture of the original EF 85mm f/1.2L USM, this new medium telephoto lens uses a Ring-type USM, high-speed CPU and optimized algorithms to achieve an autofocus speed approximately 1.8x faster than the original. The high-speed AF and circular aperture create a shallow depth-of-field that brings attention to the subject and blurs the background, which is ideal for portraits and weddings. The floating optical system, which includes an aspherical lens element, suppresses aberrations and ensures excellent imaging performance.
Stay tuned for examples of images taken with the 85mm f/1.2.
Canon 85mm f/1.8
If you’re a man or woman of practicality, this is your lens. An excellent alternative to the pricey 85mm f/1.2. Affordable, fast-focusing & strong build-quality are just a few of it’s strengths. From Canon, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens is a highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability. Images are sharp and clear at all apertures. Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur. Since the front lens group does not rotate during focusing, special filter effects are not affected. Nikon makes the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D.
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS*
My goodness this lens is sharp! I was looking for a somewhat wide-aperture mid-telephoto lens, coupled with IS (Image Stabilization), when I ran across this lens. Plus, the Macro feature is hard to beat for ring shots, flowers, & the tiniest of details. When I began shooting it, I really couldn’t believe how sharp the images. Now, for most wedding ceremonies, you’ll find it in use. And, for the price, it’s quite affordable. To my knowledge, Nikon doesn’t manufacture a comparable lens.
Description (from Canon USA): Canon’s newest “L” series lens is its first mid-telephoto macro lens to include Canon’s sophisticated Image Stabilization. With the highest quality optics available, combined with near-silent Ultrasonic focusing and life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is simply unrivaled. The Nikon user should consider the Nikkor-Micro 105mm f/2.8 VR.
A few examples of images taken with the 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS:
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Since I own the IS version of this lens, I haven’t had a need for this lens, although I hear wonderful things about it. Many friends owned this lens before they came out with the IS version mentioned above. From Canon, the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens will focus over the full range from infinity down to life size (1:1 reproduction ratio). This lens will impress any serious photographer with its combination of versatility, image quality and superb handling. A high-performance ring type Ultrasonic Motor provides fast and silent AF throughout its focus range, and even more significantly, allows full-time manual focusing permitting the close-up or macro shooter to instantly override the AF whenever necessary. For the Nikon user, check out the Nikkor Micro 105mm f/2.8 VR or consider the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro.
Canon 135mm f/2
This is a really fantastic lens. I owned it for a season & now regret selling it, often day-dreaming about it while on shoots. It is certainly on queue to be purchased again in the near future. You can easily shoot at f/2 pretty much exclusively & it happens to be one of the sharpest lenses Canon makes. This is a lens that is optically stunning and it’s focus is much faster than the 85mm f/1.2. I miss it! Nikon makes an equivalent, Nikkor 135mm f/2D.
Description (from Canon USA): The fastest 135mm telephoto lens in its class. Ideal for indoor sports and portraits with background blur. Two UD-glass elements correct secondary spectrum for outstanding sharpness and color. Compatible with Extender EF 1.4x II, 1.4x III and 2x II.
Canon 200mm f/2L IS
Everyone has the right to dream don’t they!? If I could afford a luxury lens, this would be my jewel. Coupled with a low aperture of f/2 & Image Stabilization, gives plenty of reason to spend more cash on this lens than my first vehicle. It’s ideal for indoor sports, theater work, fashion, and candids at events. Just consider the wedding ceremony images this lens could capture… wow! Nikon is well matched with their Nikkor 200mm f/2 G ED VR II.
Description (from Canon USA): This ultra-fast telephoto, a new member of Canon legendary L-series lenses, has totally new optics to provide better image quality. It uses fluorite and UD lens elements for excellent chromatic aberration correction and consists of 17 elements in 12 groups. The built-in Optical Image Stabilizer gives it up to 4 stops of stabilization correction. The inner USM and optimized AF algorithms result in fast and quiet autofocusing, and the circular aperture can even produce beautiful out-of-focus images. This ultra-high-performance lens also improves its durability – better dust- and water-proofing. The EF 200mm f/2L IS USM is outstanding for many available-light applications, including indoor sports, theater work, fashion, and candids at events.
Canon 200mm f/2.8
Back to reality now, the 200mm f/2.8 is a nice length with a fairly wide aperture. For my style, I find any lens that isn’t a f/2.8 or wider is too dark. Because I consistently find myself in low-light situations, I don’t own anything except f/2.8 or faster. I may consider adding this lens on down the road due to it’s focal length, affordability, & somewhat wide-aperture. Nikon boasts their Nikkor 200mm f/2.8 D ED-IF.
Description (from Canon USA): The EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM employs Canon’s famous rear-focus telephoto optical design that delivers outstanding picture quality throughout its entire focusing range. Like its high-end siblings, this lens also uses two ultra-low dispersion glass elements to ensure maximum image sharpness and accurate color fidelity. Canon’s advanced ultrasonic focusing motor & rear focusing design give silent, high speed autofocusing. It is perfectly suited for Canon’s EOS system cameras, placing special emphasis on manual focusing capabilities.
Conclusion:
You may be asking, “Is 200mm as wide as you’re going?” As of right now, yes. Because I’m primarily a wedding, lifestyle & editorial photographer, I don’t usually find myself beyond these focal lengths. As you can see, there is no paucity in options. Lenses can be very expensive & in some cases, only worth the extra cash if you’ll have a return on the investment or can afford the nicer equipment. I’m a firm believer to buy the best lenses you can afford. If not, as you grow as a photographer you may find yourself frustrated with the limits of your lenses. When I started investing in fast, high-quality lenses, I was set free from many limits & only rarely find myself prohibited except by my imagination. In the near future I’ll share Part 2: Zoom Lenses. It will be particularly helpful for the majority of my readers who would rather invest in one or two all-purpose lenses. I’ll be glad to recommend my favorites! Stay tuned. Was this helpful? If so, let me know. Thanks!
And the same goes for people shots too! When I was photographing these twins I couldn’t really afford to shoot with a lower ISO… it’s one of my favorite images! {ISO 1250, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/320 sec}
As you can tell, I don’t always stray away from shooting at a high ISO setting. In fact, sometimes I prefer it. What do you think? Does this post help you better understand ISO settings? Has it given you a new appreciation for grain/noise in images? Let me know what you think. Thanks friends!
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