Debating on a lens...

I shoot with a Canon 20D and have the basic lenses so far... 18-55 kit lens, 75-300, and a nifty fifty. I'm thinking about a 28mm 2.8... I love my nifty fifty, and I think I would like a 28mm also. I was shooting downtown in an alley the other day, wanted DOF, but couldn't use my fifty because I couldn't back up enough to get the shot I wanted (I was up against the wall already). The kit lens doesn't give me the DOF I wanted. So I can get the 28mm 2.8 for $180 at B&H... anyone shoot with it or have advice? Thanks!

~jenn

 

I have a 28mm lens and I use it a lot for city shooting. It's great for when you want to take a picture of a building or something but don't want to stand in the middle of the road to do it.

I can't really be much help as far as the particular lens you're looking at because my 28mm is on my old AE-1, but as far as the usefulness of a 28mm lens in general, I like mine.

 

When I have to I stand in the middle of the road . If you want you can save up some money for a zoom lens with a constant aperture ex. 24-70 f/2.8 . But you would have to save up a lot.

 

Do you mean shallow DOF? You DOF (Depth Of Field) with any lens you use (as long as your subject is in focus).

If you're trying to get a blurry OOF (Out Of Focus) background or bokeh you have to understand the mechanics of how DOF works...it's not only about using a wide aperture.

Tutorial: Depth Of Field

I don't have the EF 28mm f/2.8 but I think you might want a wider lens for tight spots. The best replacement lens for the standard EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens is the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. It costs a lot more than the EF 28mm f/2.8 but many people feel the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is worth every penny.

 

Yes, sorry, I did mean shallow DOF. Left out an important word, didn't I? That's what I get for trying to post when it's past my bedtime. And I understand about getting an OOF background... having the subject farther away from the background, etc... but in an alley, it's a tight squeeze, so to keep them away from the wall (background), I didn't have enough room to get the shot like I wanted it. I need a wider lens than my 50.

I would love to have that lens, but that's not in the cards (or should I say wallet?) for me right now... I'd like to have something to "hold me over" til I can afford better glass.

Thanks for your input.

 

Thanks Mike, I'll look at that one.