Are these good lenses to purchase?

[gandres]

Hi, I have a 7D, and I currently only have the kit lens for it (28-135mm f/3.5). I'd like to be able to shoot in low light conditions and at a variety of distances. Here's what I've selected.

Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical for Canon EOS- $349.00
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...specifications

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens- $99.95
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...specifications

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens- $369.95
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...specifications

Are these good choices or will I encounter problems with any of them? I want to be able to shoot in a wide array of situations.

[morgan_moore]

while the 1.8 is a bargain a 1.4 is better purely because the focus wheel is fatter

S

[saneproductions]

The canon 85 1.8 has a great reputation. I think you may want somthing wider if possible on the 1.6 crop body the 85 is about as long as you need for most shots. As you get to the wide end of the lens range a few mm seems to make a bigger difference. Once you go below 28mm the lenses start to get slower and much more expensive. The nikon 24 f2 is a really hot item on eBay right now, so you will see prices of 300+. The nikon 20mm f2.8 is even more up to $400. Because of this I went withthe 17-40 f4L at $700. It gives you more versatility with stills etc and will work on a full frame camera later. Yes, it is a stop slower than the 16-35 f2.8L, but that lens costs twice as much for 1 stop faster, similar optical quality and 1 mm wider (which is actually a big difference on lenses that wide).

There is also the tokina 11-16 f2.8 which people rave about if you want super wide, but it is an EF-S type lens that only works on crop bodies.

[gandres]

If only the organization I work for allowed us to buy from ebay. Such a stupid rule, it could save them so much money.

Also, I've heard that I should avoid zoom lenses for shooting video because it's nearly impossible to do a smooth zoom while shooting.

[Jay H]

You need constant aperture lenses for smooth zooms, otherwise the exposure changes as you zoom.

[djkarn105]

The sigma 1.8 wide angle macros are top notch.

[N635DC]

while the 1.8 is a bargain a 1.4 is better purely because the focus wheel is fatter

S

Word

[morgan_moore]

Also, I've heard that I should avoid zoom lenses for shooting video because it's nearly impossible to do a smooth zoom while shooting.

That doesnt mean you cant use a zoom lens on the camera to enable you to frame different shots quickly without changing lenses, which becomes increasing annoying as you add matt boxes follow focusses and all the toys

on the canon 5d im very happy with the 24-105

on the 7d the tokina 16-50

and for both the 70-200

Inever zoom while recording however

S

[yokotas13]

There is also the tokina 11-16 f2.8 which people rave about if you want super wide, but it is an EF-S type lens that only works on crop bodies.

if you get the 10-22 canon, you can swap out the rear EFS ring with the one from a 50 1.8 and use it on a full frame btw