I carry the Canon 300 2.8L as my only prime. It's tack sharp (even with a 1.4 tc), extremely fast, and my favorite lens.

Jody

I shoot artwork for artists so I only use (Nikon) macro lenses. What do you shoot?

Quote:
If you were only going to carry one prime lens in your bag what focal length would it be?

These days very long, fast lenses are advantaged by being prime lenses, single focal length, optimizing the optics for a single purpose. With shorter focal lengths the Canon zooms will equal the prime lens performance when fitted to any, even the highest resolution Canon dSLR bodies.

Some selections may be better than others, which is usually the pro lenses like the "L" series, which of course usually cost a premium, but some more modest models like a 50-200 Canon EOS zoom I've had for almost 30 years and have had no reason to fault or replace can be as good a choice.

But I also enjoy and obtain great satisfaction using some single focal length lenses I've had about as long like a 24mm F/2.8 and a 100mm F/2,8 macro.

I have three primes: 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, and the 85mm f/1.8. The 85 is my hands down favorite. It is a great indoor sports lens.

Quote:
If you were only going to carry one prime lens in your bag what focal length would it be?

its hard to say. what kind of pictures are you interested in?
Portrait, Sports, Landscape...
I think a 50mm 1.8 can always sometimes on weekends get the shot you want

Slightly off subject, then again I've also been wanting a prime lens. My main lens I use a lot is an EF 28-105 USM.
I've been having lot of images not having sharp focus.

I guess my first step is to send the lens in for a cleaning and adjustment?

Quote:
If you were only going to carry one prime lens in your bag what focal length would it be?

I

FYI

I took my lens in to send to Canon for a cleaning, the photo store said Canon quit servicing that old of a lens.

50mm f/1.4 prime unless I have a model with me in which case it would be my 85mm f/1.8

I currently use my 28-55mm 4-5.6 Canon lens as my prime lens on my EOS 40D, but I wish I had a Canon 50mm 1.4, I used to have a 50mm f1.4 on my Pentax and loved it.

Then maybe get a 35mm EF F/2, an f1.4 35mm will set you back $1479

Or, go for the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM for about $400US. It's a very sharp lens, and I'm finding it to be very useful for everything from landscapes to flower close-ups (not macro). It's an excellent investment, one that will migrate gracefully to your next EOS body upgrade.

By the way, just for info, most of us think of a "prime" lens as a fixed focal-length lens, not a zoom, so I'm sure you meant "primary" for your 28-55mm, right?

I always have a tough time with these questions, do I say my Canon 50 f1.8

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_pk4KYRpVE44/StIlmC6R_YI/AAAAAAAASaE/pHOijMEc34w/s576/IMG_0532_0150.JPG

Or do I say my Sigma 50 f1.4:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pk4KYRpVE44/StIlsPlujPI/AAAAAAAASaU/Guq0OaWaS-4/s576/IMG_0623_0083.JPG

Or do I say my Vivitar 100 macro:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pk4KYRpVE44/StJ8ccgj1RI/AAAAAAAASeo/-ffqmK-J7pg/s912/IMG_0170.JPG

Or my Sigma 150 macro, depends on the day I guess:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pk4KYRpVE44/SsKW4cgSAZI/AAAAAAAAR1s/eMIJl4arwaQ/s912/IMG_0797_0615.jpg

I suggest the prime lens would be the one you use the most. When I took a photography class the instructor had everyone use a 50mm lense refering to it as a "normal lense." Keep in mind faster lenses are more expensive. My lense of choice and the one I use most often is a telephoto lense. Try several to find the one that works best for you. And have fun!

That is not something I would admit to one way or another, someone might think if a telephoto then the person is narrow-minded, compared to a person with a short wide angle, who has a greater view of the world taking it all in.

Tell me which camera and i will tell you which lens, i have many cameras, digital alone i have 9 cameras, say one after i lost one camera which is a fixed lens compact camera anyway.

Currently--my prime is a 200mm 2.8L ii. I like it's compact size--it's very sharp takes a x1.4 tele-converter very well and when I add extension tubes it gets in nicely for close-ups.