Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras 

Initially I used a 50 f/1.4 on my 40D, but it was a bit too close for my taste, after tons of research, I found that the 35 f/1.4L received amazing reviews so I thought I would try it out. This lens just smokes the 50 f/1.4 in sharpness, bokeh, colors and build quality. I don't even use my Speedlite indoors anymore because this lens is so fast. A lot of people say that the 24L would work better on a crop, but I think the 24 would be a bit wide for my taste...I'm really digging the normal focal length this produces (56mm on a crop camera). I'm not sure if I even want to upgrade to a FF now because the focal length is so great on a crop cam. All in all, if you want a well built, fast, contrasty prime, don't hesitate...its worth every penny.

This lens is stupidly sharp. I believe that this is probably the sharpest lens that Canon does. I have not tried the 300mm or the 200mm lenses. Some people I have spoken to believe that the 135mm is the sharpest but I am not too sure. You have to remember that all of the lenses mentioned are ridiculously sharp at all stops. The 35mm lens however is such a joy to shoot with. It work great as a landscape lens as well as a great portrait lens (for a true portrait lens get the 85mm - that is also fantastic). It is fairly light to carry around and you simply cannot go wrong with this. You will not regret buying this lens. Every professional photographer has this in their arsenal and it works beautifully with the Canon 5D MarkII. Buy this lens....

I have both a Canon 5D MarkII and a Canon 50D...so I wanted a high-quality prime lens that would be a good primary lens for both cameras (taking into consideration the magnification factor on the 50D). And this lens is perfect. When I put it on the 50D, it's more like a 50mm, and when I put it on my 5D, it give the perfect amount of extra angle. I love this lens! If I go somewhere and don't want to take all of my equipment, I will strap this baby on without hesitation. I notice that it's a little less sharp at f/1.4, so I mostly shoot with it at f/1.8 or f/2.0 and that gives me amazing bokeh and subject sharpness.
I am primarily a wedding portrait photographer and love to get different angles and styles...this lens provides me with the most creative power.

I have been switching between a Canon 17-40 f/4 and a 50 f/1.4 for the everyday lens on my EOS 40D and I couldn't seem to find the sweet spot. The 50mm which is an effective 80mm on this body is always too limiting in interior situations such as birthday parties or small groups where its narrow field of view forces me to back away or take tighter crops than I would like. The 17-40 f/4 isn't fast enough for low light.
After procrastinating over the price of the 35mm f/1.4L for some time, I finally took the leap. I am not disappointed - I now have a real standard lens and a fast one at that. It has a pleasant heft and is built with solid materials and a quality finish. It seems to focus much faster than the 50 f/1.4 and early test results are fantastic. It produces lovely warm colors, the bokeh is very pleasing and images have excellent sharpness. I have had the 35mm f/2 and that lens just is not in the same league though it is a good value choice. If you can afford this lens (even at the cost of dumping some of your others) and want a standard focal length on a non-full frame body, I strongly recommend it.

What can I say? It's one of the best lenses Canon makes. I resisted buying it but now I'm so glad I did. I use it on a 40D and the focal length is fine. It's super sharp.