35mm vs. 50mm again, sort of.

[cl516]

Hi, I just picked up a 24-70L.

i've also got the 50 1.4.

(and the 10-22 and the 18-135. The only guy I'm keeping for sure it the 10-22.)


But I wanna ask more in terms of focal length and not lens quality.

Taking into account the crop factor already, am I nuts that I find myself liking 50mm on the 7D a little bit more? I know 35mm is supposed to be more 'normal'.

Not sure whether to keep the 50 1.4 and 24-70L or take them back and grab the 50L.

[Jean Dantes]

I'm also wondering the same thing.

I'm a BIG sucker for shallow depth of field (please don't hurt me), and I got my eye on two lenses: Sigma 30mm f1.4, and Canon EF 50mm f1.4. The Sigma becomes 48mm after crop factor, the 50mm becomes 80mm. I know 80mm is making the shot a bit tight, but I'm more then willing to take a few steps back if I'm gonna get more control over depth of field. However, seeing that I'm new to all this and I've never shot on anything but handycams, what I just said might very well be completely wrong lol :P

[ydgmdlu]

Taking into account the crop factor already, am I nuts that I find myself liking 50mm on the 7D a little bit more? I know 35mm is supposed to be more 'normal'.
No, you're not nuts. You like what you like. Go with whatever works for you, and don't second-guess yourself. Forget "normal."

[cl516]

i went back and grabbed the 50L. i'd been back and forth to the store so many times this past week... this was the first time I had a HUGE grin on my face as I exited. Yes 50 is a bit close, but I'll just step back.

[DELTA_Rotary]

Man thats a big price increase to go from a 1.4 to a 1.2. I would have totally kept the 24-70. I own the 85mm 1.2 and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get rid of it and pick up some of the other glass simply because its not worth the crazy price increase over the 1.8 or even a nice piece like the zeiss 1.4.

[Osslund]

That 85/1.2 is a serious walletdrainer. The 85/1.8 will do in most cases. Use a 50/1.2 when you need lots of speed instead.

[macgregor]

The canon f1.4 is as "sharp" as the f1.2 at f1.4. Considering that the 50 f1.2 wide open looks reaaaaaaaaaaaallly soft and has lots of CA it really has to make sens for you to spend the extra money. I´d rather increas the iso by half a stop than shooting wide open with the f1.2.

Then again we can say the same about the f1.4 vs the f1.8. ;D

[Sttratos]

No, you're not nuts. You like what you like. Go with whatever works for you, and don't second-guess yourself. Forget "normal."


Yes, but on the other hand choosing focal lengths calls for more than just what you like. If what you are doing is just an abstract video or a music video then yes. But if you are telling a story, the focal length has to help you tell it. A normal lenses is not only normal because of the FOV. It's also because of the image compression and I'm not talking codec here. A longer lens will make actors look like they are standing closer to each other or about to kiss in a OTS and a wider lens will make them look like they are standing far apart. A normal lens will make them look like they are standing at the distance they are actually standing. So if you don't want to have them looking like they are about to kiss or that they are too far apart you should use a normal lens. You can always cheat and fake their standing position and stand them where you want but then you are not only defeating the purpose of using the lens you are using but also starting to create problems for yourself. Lens choice is so much more than only what looks cool.

[Wendt]

Yes, but on the other hand choosing focal lengths calls for more than just what you like. If what you are doing is just an abstract video or a music video then yes. But if you are telling a story, the focal length has to help you tell it. A normal lenses is not only normal because of the FOV. It's also because of the image compression and I'm not talking codec here. A longer lens will make actors look like they are standing closer to each other or about to kiss in a OTS and a wider lens will make them look like they are standing far apart. A normal lens will make them look like they are standing at the distance they are actually standing. So if you don't want to have them looking like they are about to kiss or that they are too far apart you should use a normal lens. You can always cheat and fake their standing position and stand them where you want but then you are not only defeating the purpose of using the lens you are using but also starting to create problems for yourself. Lens choice is so much more than only what looks cool.

Good points, I'm learning a bunch of stuff like this from "Hollywood Camera Works" I highly recommend it.

[cl516]

thanks Sttratos you raise some really good points. if i was shooting a narrative, i'd definitely have a fuller kit available, plus a lighting rig. but in fact, this is just my personal fun set-up, aka music video and abstract stuff... and so far it's been a month now, no regrets on the 50mm 1.2.