directed towards Canon users:

What primes are your favs? and why?

im in the market to buy a fast prime lens and im very torn between a couple of different models.

lemme hear what your thoughts are on the primes you guys own...

Thanks.
Abel.

I've got the 50mm f:1.8 and the 85mm f:1.8.  I like them both, but if I have the space I'll shoot with the 85mm.

I like the 85mm because it's a good length for headshots (I shoot with a 1.6x digital), but you can shoot full length while still in the same county.  It has nice compression and the bokeh is creamy smooth.  Great color and contrast.  For the price, it's a great lens for fashion, swimwear, glamour, whatever.

The 50mm is OK, and at about $70 it's kind of silly not to own one.  Mine has accumulated some dust on the inside of the lens, but it hasn't affected picture quality yet.  Pretty good indoor low-light lens and it focuses better in low light than my Tamron 28-75 Di.

Speaking of which, I fired my Tamron from wedding reception photos this weekend.  It just hunts too damn much in low light and it makes me miss photos.  So now I'm kind of looking at either the Canon 35mm or 28mm primes.  I've also been experimenting with shorter lengths in glamour/lingerie photos anyway.  I'm interested in what people have to say about these lenses.

I have the 50 mm f1.4. While I use my L-series zooms more, this is my favorite prime. Very sharp, has the usm for faster focus, is metal, including the mount. I had the 50mm 1.8, but lost it, then got the 1.4....when I re-found the 1.8, wound up selling it. It also took great pictures, but for the reasons above, preffer the 1.4, but it comes at a price triple of the 1.8.

Merle

I've got the 28mm and the 50mm/1.4. While I don't use them much for model shoots, they're both great lenses.

I actually use the 28mm on my 10d as the walk-around lens, since with the 1.6 multiplier it comes pretty close to a normal lens.

EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM with 1.4x teleconverter x 1.6 dSLR crop factor = 448mm

The 50 f/1.4 is by far my favorite, though I'm about to pick up the f/1.8 as a backup to it (the 1.4 uses plastic parts in its AF mechanism, which give out with heavy use).  I also have and love the 100 f/2.0, and I rent 24 f/2.8 whenever I think I'll need it. 

Right now I'm pretty fond of my 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.2, 100mm f/2, and 200mm f/2.8.

I have a full frame MII 1DS so the primes aren't nearly as difficult to shoot with.  I have:

135mm f/2.0 L
50mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.8

The 135 f/2.0 is my favorite so far.

50mm f1 (it took me almost 3 months to find another one when my last one was murdered)
85mm f1.8 (really fast and dependable)
400mm f2.8 (when shooting at the race track)
600mm f4 (I shoot surf)

The only prime lens I have is the 85mm 1.8.. I always keep in my camera bag..

50mm f1.4
85mm f1.8
135mm f2L

I need a better camera though

m42 85mm Helios.

Best lens for the money there is...at least for portrait work.   
Jupiter 135 is a good soft one.

The 50mm 1.8 is my favorite for portraits. I use the 200 2.8L for football. And the 100mm 2.8 macro for closeups. I need to try the 100mm for portraits. I hear it does pretty well in that area as well.

300 2.8L but I make my photo money shooting sports.

When shooting models I generally use 24-70 2.8L for studio and the 70-200 2.8L for outdoors, but I did just get the 100 2.8 macro which actual does quite well and should be a L

I love the Canon 135mm F2 for outdoor candid shots.  The bokeh is wonderful!

I just ordered the 15mm F2.8 rectangular fisheye after using a friends.  Should be here in a couple of days. Fun, fun, fun!

35 f1.4l
85 f1.2l
85 fi.8
My primes that are always at the ready.
70-200 f4 used extensively, though.

No question.

EF 50mm f/1.4
85mm L f/1.2


-TMH

thanks a tons guys...

i once owned a 50 f1.8 but traded it in for a f1.4 version and i love it..

ive considered a 35 f1.4L b/c of the concert work i do and the 50mm is just a tad bit too long. too bad theyre out of stock everywhere! (

i did order a 135 f2L so that i can get some nice tight concert shots etc but am in the process of exchanging it because of the little autofocus noise issue that has been floating around in this line of lenses...

Abel.

35 2.
50 1.2
24 1.4
85 1.2
200.1.8

85 mm 1.8 and 135 mm 2.0 are my workhorses.