Canon Prime Lens or Canon Zoom Lens?

C

Cieloent

Well-known member
Referred to this forum by a friend.


I have a shoot which will include several group shots and neighborhoods. A community video with actors/artist expressing their opinions. I am going to rent a lens as I just bought my T2i and would like to know which would be the best. I currently only own the kit lens but will be renting lenses for my professional shoots as I am new to Dslr and do not own any lenses.

Here are the list of lenses, which would you choose if only one or two and why? I do not need anything past 100mm so those can be disregarded. Basically I am thinking about the Canon 14mm as I tried it out and felt it looked amazing. Secondly I might get the 85mm. Now those two lenses will cost a little over $100. Or for half of that I can rent the 24-70L lens I cover the same focal points. So should I just grab two Prime lenses or just the one 24-70 L lens? I know the 14mm is very wide and helpful but I can get by with a 24mm.

Thank You


Canon 14mm / f2.8 35mm lens
Canon 15mm / f2.8 35mm lens
Canon 20mm / f2.8 35mm lens
Canon 24mm / f1.4 35mm lens
Canon 24mm / f2.8 35mm lens
Canon 24mm / f3.5 35mm tilt/shift lens
Canon 24mm / f3.5 II 35mm tilt/shift lens Version 2
Canon 28mm / f1.8 35mm lens
Canon 28mm / f2.8 35mm lens



Canon 35mm / f1.4 35mm lens
Canon 35mm / f2.0 35mm lens
Canon 50mm / f1.2 35mm lens
Canon 50mm / f1.4 35mm lens
Canon 50mm / f2.5 35mm macro lens
Canon 85mm / f1.2 35mm lens
Canon 85mm / f1.8 35mm lens
Canon 100mm / f2.0 35mm lens
Canon 100mm / f2.8 35mm macro lens



Canon 16-35mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 17-40mm / f4 35mm zoom lens
Canon 18-55mm / f3.5-5.6 35mm zoom lens
Canon 20-35mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 24-70mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 24-105mm / f4 "IS" 35mm zoom lens
Canon 28-70mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 28-105mm / f3.5-4.5 35mm zoom lens
Canon 28-135mm / f3.5-5.6 35mm zoom lens
Canon 70-200mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 70-200mm / f2.8 "IS" 35mm zoom lens
Canon 80-200mm / f2.8 35mm zoom lens
Canon 75-300mm / f4-5.6 "IS" 35mm zoom lens
 
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shaocaholica said:
You can probably get away with shooting the whole thing on a the 24-105/4.
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Yes, but just in case I might shoot in any low light situation I would love to have a faster aperture. Regardless thank you for your reply and any further post is greatly appreciated.
 
If you are new to framing shots go with shao's advice and rent a 28-105 f4 because the one lens will cover all the focal lengths you need
(unless you are shooting in a manhattan sized apartment)

If you know what you're doing Timur's advice of the 16-35 and an 85 prime is a good way to go.

Another variation on Timur's approach would be to rent the 17-55 and an 85 prime as the 50 focal length is a useful substitute for the 85 when
an interior space won't allow.
 
J Davis said:
If you are new to framing shots go with shao's advice and rent a 28-105 f4 because the one lens will cover all the focal lengths you need
(unless you are shooting in a manhattan sized apartment)

If you know what you're doing Timur's advice of the 16-35 and an 85 prime is a good way to go.

Another variation on Timur's approach would be to rent the 17-55 and an 85 prime as the 50 focal length is a useful substitute for the 85 when
an interior space won't allow.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately something came up and now I can only afford to rent one lens.

The 85mm will probably not work for me indoors ( if needed ) So should I just get the 16-35mm and call it a day?

Thank you
 
17-55 2.8 IS usm, if you can get it....

If you can only go with one. That's a relatively flexible range. Wides and decent close ups.
 
17-55 2.8 IS usm, if you can get it....

If you can only go with one. That's a relatively flexible range. Wides and decent close ups.
 
TimurCivan said:
17-55 2.8 IS usm, if you can get it....

If you can only go with one. That's a relatively flexible range. Wides and decent close ups.
Click to expand...

I would love to try that lens, but unfortunately the rental company only carries the ones I listed. Thank you for the help people.
 
Cieloent said:
I would love to try that lens, but unfortunately the rental company only carries the ones I listed. Thank you for the help people.
Click to expand...


There are online lens rental places that ship lenses to you.

If you really must choose from just the lenses you listed I would go

24-105 f4 if you are outside all the time

if indoors get 16-35 an ask them to throw in the 50mm f1.4 for a little extra
you should get it for not much more.
 
J Davis said:
There are online lens rental places that ship lenses to you.

If you really must choose from just the lenses you listed I would go

24-105 f4 if you are outside all the time

if indoors get 16-35 an ask them to throw in the 50mm f1.4 for a little extra
you should get it for not much more.
Click to expand...



Sounds great, thank you everyone for the advice. Great forum and many talented minds here! Also I found some online rental places with that lens, so might give it a try. Last but not least which wide angle lens, medium and long whether they are primes or zooms are considered the sharpest? I was at the rental shop and they let me use a 50mm 1.4 and I could not believe how sharp that lens looked compared to the kit. I would love to have that same sharpness in a wider focal length?
 
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