5D lenses..? The Ultimate kit...

MyFilmPro said:
I'm leaning towards having a fast f2.8 or faster "kit" lens (something say in the 28-85 mm range) for all purpose shooting and run and gun stuff.
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If you're on a rather tight budget, then please consider the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. While not as nicely-built as the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and lacking IS, its optical quality is quite comparable, which is why it's such a popular lens. You can find used copies for around $300.
 
Anyone have any experience with the Sigma lenses for Canon EF? They make a 24-70 F2.8 for about half the price of the L series Canon. I'll check out the Tamron, thanks, although I'm not really on too bad of a budget, can afford to buy something nice.
 
ydgmdlu said:
If you're on a rather tight budget, then please consider the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. While not as nicely-built as the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and lacking IS, its optical quality is quite comparable, which is why it's such a popular lens. You can find used copies for around $300.
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Well, the Canon lacks IS, too. Can you show me where folks are saying that the Tamron's optical quality is quite comparable?
 
Couple of thoughts....
Tokina have a 16-28 f/2.8 FF coming out, might be worth looking at if it's anything like the 11-16.
Leica R glass works well on the Canon and some have long focus throws, Check though on www.pebbleplace.com for compatibility, not all will fit. The 21 f/4 Super-Angulon is a superb lens with ruler-straight drawing, and a 330 deg throw.
Cheers,
Dave
 
I agree with most all of what has been said here.

I own the 24-105 f4, 70-200 f2.8 and a 50 f1.4. This trio can cover just about any situation outside of lowlight wide shooting (video or still).

There is a lens design feature video DSLR folks need to watch for and it is called parafocal. If you don't know, this means the lens retains backfocus when the zoom is changed (like a video lens). I know the 70-200 is built this way but I don't know about the 24-105. A call to Canon might be useful.

So when using these lenses in a video role, I think parafocal is quite important to be similar to our other video camera operation.

I have read a lot of positive reviews of the Tamron 28-70 f2.8 lens on DPreview. If you have never been to this site, I would suggest you make a bookmark and research all of your lens buying there because the lenses are picked apart by the still folks.

Another great site for lens comparisons is :http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...=0&APIComp=0&LensComp=0&CameraComp=0&Lens=404

This site has a wealth of lens reviews and visual comparisons. MAke sure you have the same camera selected when comparing lenses to keep the crop factor constant.

I think a zoom plus a prime or two would be the best approach for photo & video.

As far as the 24-105 and low light, I don't know. The 5DMKII in my testing is clean up to 1250 ISO which is not a huge ISO number to be using f4 in low light situation imho. If you want true lowlight, then a prime along with knowing your DOF will go thin is the best alternative.
 
I checked my 24-105 a while ago for another thread and found it parfocal. In other words it's a ZOOM. If a lens doesn't hold it's focus then the correct term is VARIFOCAL. It's only the advent of autofocus in slrs that's allowed designers to become lazy in their designs. Before, all self-respecting zooms were.
Dave
 
Hye Thanks guys... this is all really helpful...

if you can/want, maybe list your lenses and the order you rank them for use/importance for a "film" dslr kit?

thanks again!
 
Bassman2003 said:
[...]

There is a lens design feature video DSLR folks need to watch for and it is called parafocal. If you don't know, this means the lens retains backfocus when the zoom is changed (like a video lens). I know the 70-200 is built this way but I don't know about the 24-105. A call to Canon might be useful.

So when using these lenses in a video role, I think parafocal is quite important to be similar to our other video camera operation.

[...]
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Actually, it's parfocal and the 70-200 does not hold focus when going from 70mm to 200mm. However, zooming the other direction holds accurate focus. The 24-105 is parfocal.
 
Sorry for the typo. I have seen information all over the map on this.

It is quite important to know with regards to using thse cameras in a video role.
 
Tamron Di and Di-II lenses are parfocal.

[Edit: At least according to Tamron order dept.)
 
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This is my "ultimate kit"

  • Canon f/4 24-105mm IS
  • Zeiss ZF Distagon f/2 28mm
  • Zeiss ZF Distagon f/2 35mm
  • Zeiss ZF Planar f/1.4 50mm
  • Zeiss ZF Planar f/1.4 85mm
The Canon kit lens is great. Sharp and constant and it has a good range.

The Zeiss glass is beautiful and gives me the full range of what I need.

I've worked with Sigma and Tamron lenses and I will never buy any fast lenses from them for professional work. Stopped down they are decently sharp, but wide open I've found them too soft for my taste.

I could get a super wide or longer zoom, but for 99% of all my work my kit is perfect.
 
If you're mostly shooting films then it's better to stick with primes. Most zooms breathe too much and have short focus throws. Shane Hurlbut has a rundown on lenses on his blog. He uses Nikon ai glass as do I.

F/1.4 can be a lifesaver in dimly lit conditions but you can get by with just one 50mm f/1.4. The old M42 mount pentax takumar gives the new zeiss glass a run for it's money but will only cost you about $100. With a budget of $1000 I recommend the following-

$150 50mm f/1.4 nikon ai
$200 24mm f/2.8 nikon ai
$200 35mm f/2 nikon ai
$250 105mm f/2.5 nikon ai

these are roughly current market value. Remember to budget for a decent ND filter or fader ND and a good quality polarizer. An eBay store virtual village has good cheap nikon to eos adapters. Get 1 for each lens.

Nikon ai lenses have a longer focus throw than the ais lenses, optically they are mostly the same.
 
I have recently upgraded to Canon 5D along with Zeiss 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 and the 85mm f/1.4 lenses. You cannot go wrong with Zeiss lenses, they are absolutely wonderful!

Next lens investments will be the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 and the 100mm f/2 Macro.
 
NextWaveG said:
This is my "ultimate kit"

  • Canon f/4 24-105mm IS
  • Zeiss ZF Distagon f/2 28mm
  • Zeiss ZF Distagon f/2 35mm
  • Zeiss ZF Planar f/1.4 50mm
  • Zeiss ZF Planar f/1.4 85mm
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Zeiss ZF are the Nikon version, do you mean you use them on the 5D with an adapter? Why not straight ZE?
 
Mike Brent said:
[/list]

Zeiss ZF are the Nikon version, do you mean you use them on the 5D with an adapter? Why not straight ZE?
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Because he got a sweet ass deal on ebay.

Sorry to answer for you.

Plus, the ZF series has manual aperture rings in case you ever want to use a non-Canon body.
 
So from a resale view its better to get the ZF over the ZE? Is it the same glass or are the ZF superior in some way?

I wanted to get these for 5D and later Scarlet... so I guess its better if I get the ZF and some adapters...
 
Mike Brent said:
So from a resale view its better to get the ZF over the ZE? Is it the same glass or are the ZF superior in some way?

I wanted to get these for 5D and later Scarlet... so I guess its better if I get the ZF and some adapters...
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It's really a matter of preference. Optically they're the same. I happen to like the communication between the lens and camera that the ZE offers. And I don't plan on using anything but Canon bodies for the foreseeable future.

However, you can get the ZFs cheaper (unless you look into the new ZF.2 versions).
 
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