Interview with only one Lens: what do you use?

[chris f]

Scenario: Interview shoot and you can only take one lens with you. What do you bring?

I'd prefer something that I can get both a wide and a close up with, that's fast, has IS so I can use it for other handheld stuff, and won't cost me an arm and a leg (not too much to ask, huh?).

The Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC for $650 seems like a great lens, but I'm worried that 50mm won't be long enough for me to really zoom in for a close up.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro looks good, but no IS

Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 is a great price, but again no IS

[cjwolff]

Like yourself, so far I'm leaning toward the Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC. I worked with a 17-55 this weekend and the majority of the work was in the 17mm range. Remember that 50mm is going to behave like an a 80mm since the sensor is cropped.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Well in between the Sigma and Tamron, the Sigma's build quality is exceptional and better than the Tamrons, heavier and a larger front diameter of 82mm, which on a downside makes filters more expensive. Tamron is mostly plastic, lightweight and compact. Image quality on both are quite impressive.

I'd go with the Sigma for durability and strength, the new HSM is a little more pricey but chops the size and weight considerably.

[mcgeedigital]

The Canon 17-55 I just bought or the 24-105L I have from my 5D.

[Stephen Mick]

I'm with mcgee. I think if you can swing the 24-105L, it covers a great range and has amazing image quality. It's not a budget lens, but it's a lens you'll likely keep (and keep using) for a long time.

On the budget-minded side, I checked out the Sigma at the local shop, and it really has a nice feel. Like Andrew said above, the Tamron just feels a bit cheaper to me.

And if you don't mind buying used, you can get some great deals through Craigslist every now and then. You might even find a lens you wouldn't think would be in your budget, for a price you can deal with. I picked up a Canon 16-35 f2.8L this morning for a song.

[Luis Caffesse]

I just shot a series of interviews in the past few days on the 7D, and I have to say I think the 17-50 would be too wide for my tastes (of course it depends on the location size, and your style).

I was shooting with a 28-105 (not a great lens by the way, an old Nikon I happen to have), and I felt like that fit nicely in terms of focal length for an interview - wide enough to get a good mid shot, tight enough to get close up on the face of the subject while still being set up a comfortable distance away so as to not make them feel crowded.

For my tastes - something around 30mm is a good wide limit on interviews - and if anything, I'd like something that went a little tighter than 105 if possible.

Just my 2 cents.

[chris f]

Luis, care to share a frame grab or two from the interviews showing how those ranges look? btw, really enjoyed the b-roll you posted

[chris f]

After going to my local camera shop today and testing out the Tamron 17-50 and the Tamron 28-75 I decided that I'm definitely going to need that extra 25mm on the long end to get the close ups that I want during interviews.

Also, after testing both lenses I confirmed that I will definitely need IS (or VC), stabilization ala Zacuto's Rapid Fire and something wider than 28mm to do any run and gun or handheld, so I just bought the Tamron 28-75 on Ebay for $325 free shipping, I'll use it for this project (all tripod), and then sell it for the new Tamron 17-50 with VC that's coming out.

[NoahK]

I have a 17-85, it's a bit slow, but it gives you a good range of focal lengths and is nice and sharp.

Noah

[manglerBMX]

i've been using a tokina 28-70 2.8. i think the lens is out of production tho. its got a slow auto focus so still photogs aren't into it. but the feel of the focus and zoom is very good for video. you can maybe find a used for less than $300. i've also used the canon 28-70 2.8 and did not like the way its focus felt. one thing nice about the tokina is that it doesn't extend past its end glass so it would be great for a matte box.

[Lucian]

i've also used the canon 28-70 2.8 and did not like the way its focus felt. one thing nice about the tokina is that it doesn't extend past its end glass so it would be great for a matte box.

I looked at some canon glass today, a 70-200mm, it didn't have a focus stop on it and the salesman said no Canon has a stop. So, since video requires manual focus, is Canon glass really a good choice for video?