Good, Cheap Lens for 7D

[Jean Dantes]

Ok, I'm gonna be honest. I'm new to DSLR's, and even newer to lenses.

I've spent the last few months saving up for a GH1, but now with the arrival of the 7D, I've decided to hold off my purchase (and with Philip Bloom's new video, "Dublin's People", I have been swayed towards the 7D).

Anyways, I would love to be able to reproduce images like those in Philip's video (same DoF, same bokeh). However, money is tight (recently unemployed, full-time university student). So my question to all those far more experienced then I in the field of photography/cinematography, is this: which is the cheapest manual-focus lens that will get me results similar/on par with footage like Philip's "Dublin's People"?.

Thanks in advance to any replies! :)

[NoxNoctus]

Start off with a 50mm 1.8. They can be had for the price of a cell phone bill and are crazy sharp

[cjwolff]

35mm f1.4 :)

[tnle2]

In the Dublin video, PB shot with a Canon 35mm f/1.4L. This baby costs $1350! A less expensive alternative you can look into is the Sigma 35 f/1.4 which cost about $430. It's not going to be as good as an L lens but if it's soft wide open, just stop it down a little to f/1.8 or f/2. There's also the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 for a wide prime. I don't own these lenses so I'm not vouching for them, just suggesting you look into them.

The 50 f/1.8 is a bargain and nice to have but you'll probably find it too tight, being about 80mm FOV on a cropped camera like the 7D. So you might also want to add a wide standard zoom like around 17-50 from either Canon or one of the third parties if you need a constant f/2.8.

[ChipG]

eBay

[Jean Dantes]

Thanks so much to all the replies! :)

I was thinking of getting this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Canon-EF-50mm-f-1-4-USM-Lens-with-Cleaning-cloth_W0QQitemZ300340392797QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCame ra_Lenses?hash=item45edaeb35d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

But that will become an "80mm" right?

Is 80mm "that bad"? (sorry again if it sounds like I have no idea lol) :)

[ydgmdlu]

Your best bet is to get the Tamron SP 17-50mm F2.8 as your general purpose lens. Then get an old manual 35mm F2.0 and/or a 50mm F1.4.

You'll hate being limited to just a single manual lens.

[Jean Dantes]

Your best bet is to get the Tamron SP 17-50mm F2.8 as your general purpose lens. Then get an old manual 35mm F2.0 and/or a 50mm F1.4.

You'll hate being limited to just a single manual lens.


Thanks for the suggestion ydgmdlu :)


What "old manual" lenses do you recommend (that would fit on a 7D with a glassless adapter)?

[daveswan]

Old M42 mount lenses are dirt-cheap and fit, and are, by definition manual. Also Nikon Olympus Zuiko (NOT 4/3). Going up a notch (And possibly out of your budget) Old Zeiss and Leica R lenses fit and are top notch.
Check out www.pebbleplace.com (http://www.pebbleplace.com) for a list of comparible Zeiss and Leica.
Dave

[Jean Dantes]

Thanks for that info daveswan :) Will definitely take a look into those mounts :)


I really wanna know how bad the "crop factor" is going to be using this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Canon-EF-50mm-f-1-4-USM-Lens-with-Cleaning-cloth_W0QQitemZ300340392797QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCame ra_Lenses?hash=item45edaeb35d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[ydgmdlu]

The best thing for you to do is to go to a camera store and try different lenses on an APS-C body. "How bad" is a rather subjective judgment.

[bimdas]

i don't get this whole hating on the 50mm lens being cropped with the 7D. If the shot is too tight, then take a few steps back. This of course won't work if you are shooting in a closet. m42 lens all the way.

[Jean Dantes]

i don't get this whole hating on the 50mm lens being cropped with the 7D. If the shot is too tight, then take a few steps back. This of course won't work if you are shooting in a closet. m42 lens all the way.

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't I just be required to take a few steps back?

[Green Hornet]

I had to buy a Sigma 10-20 constant F3.5 for panorama shots I was doing for a real estate company.
I find it to have very good quality.
I could not use it on my 5D due to it not covering the entire sensor, but on my cropped sensor DSLR, it worked great.

I would recommend it highly for a budget first lens on the Canon 7D.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030305sigma10mm20mm.asp

[tnle2]

There's nothing wrong with a 50mm. You'll likely shoot at that focal length at some point anyway for interviews or a medium closeup. I just wouldn't want it to be my only lens because it'd be shaky on handheld and wides are always useful. A wide standard zoom would be pretty versatile. But I guess it all depends on what you're shooting.

[xbourque]

My suggestion: get a 50mm 1.8 (or faster if you have the money) and/or 35mm f2.0 (or faster if you have the money) just to have something to put on the camera when it gets to your door.

Then, find a local photo store that does lens rentals (usually very cheap) and rent a few lenses for a week-end, to get the feel of how different focal lengths behave. With that newly acquired knowledge, THEN hit eBay.

-X

[Jean Dantes]

My suggestion: get a 50mm 1.8 (or faster if you have the money) and/or 35mm f2.0 (or faster if you have the money) just to have something to put on the camera when it gets to your door.

Then, find a local photo store that does lens rentals (usually very cheap) and rent a few lenses for a week-end, to get the feel of how different focal lengths behave. With that newly acquired knowledge, THEN hit eBay.

-X


Are these the ones your mentioned?:


http://www.camerastore.com.au/Canon+EF+35mm+f2.0_419_details.htm


http://www.camerastore.com.au/Canon+EF+50mm+f1.8+II_412_details.htm


(These are Australian prices btw :))

[Kegan]

I have that 50mm f1.8 and am also considering the 35mm f2.0 - although I've used the 35mm f1.4 L and was greatly satisfied with that, this 2.0 non-L series version looks to have good reviews as well.

Hm...

Kegan