Lens acquisition schedule

G

Gwerd

Well-known member
Hopefully the title of this thread makes sense...

I'm looking to invest long-term into DSLR gear for pro-video production and serious/hobby photography. It's been 5yrs since upgrading my cameras (presently using an HVX200 and Nikon D90 w kit 14-205 and a 60mm prime).

My present train of thought is to go w a 5D markII (closely edged out the Sony A77 and pending Nikon D800), reasoning that it is widely is use, lots of on line expertise (I live small town "remote") with a plethora of lenses (also available to rent/deliver). So far, sound reasoning?

Perhaps starting w a kit lens for a variety of uses and investing in individual lenses as the need arises or when available at a good price.

That said, I know having a kit of prime lenses can be a the kind of thing you only need purchase once....so, where to start? I'm thinking a kit would include:

A fish-eye (under 10mm)
A wide angle 10-15mm?
A certain # of primes between 20-200mm?
A extreme zoom....

If money weren't an issue this would be simple. However....any suggestions on this approach? Any suggestions on priority? Specific "no-brainer" lenses that offer the best results for value?

I should mention I have alot of the outboard gear already- zoom H4N audio recorder, Cinevate Simplis rig, 7" lcd monitor, boom mic, lavs etc...

I should also mention that DVXUser has been my saviour out here in the wilds. I've probably learned more through fellow enthusiasts and professionals than I did w 3 yrs of college!
 
it very much depends on your style of shooting; what focal lengths you use most on your current cameras? for me, on APS-C, first would be the samyang 35mm f/1.4, then canon 50mm f/1.4 or samyang 85mm f/1.4, then tokina 11-16 f/2.8; other people would go for the wide end first, some people may require a long portrait lens as a first lens
more on lenses here: http://www.similaar.com/foto/equipment/us_lensc.html

coming from the HVX200, aliasing/moire may drive you crazy; consider starting up with a T3i (or, maybe soon, T4i) and spending the big money when the 5D3 comes out; if you go for manual lenses (samyang, or vintage), you can get them in nikon mount, go for the sony nex-5n and a dumb adapter, and then move to canon or nikon at minimal cost
more on cameras here: http://www.similaar.com/foto/equipment/us_cam.html
 
Thanks Norman! I stumbled on some of your postings already, really appreciate it. Gotta pass on some (pending) good news- can't resist- I believe I just got a 5D markII w a 50mm lens for $900 CDN! Don't have it in my hands just yet, but will know in the next few days if it's true...fingers crossed.
I actually have a Brevis adaptor w the HVX and a bunch of nikkor lenses, so a dumb adaptor will be my next purchase.
Out of interest, any thought on the A77? Looks pretty amazing....
 
my thoughts on A77 and A65:

they are basically the same camera, with slightly reduced specs and no weather sealing on the A65

APS-C sensor: 1.6x crop, not huge by modern standards
24Mpix: in stills mode, more per-pixel noise than 7D/60D/600D, but quite similar in (more relevant) per-image terms (check dxomark link below)
SLT: translucent mirror that allows full autofocus while shooting video (and it is phase detection AF, so absolutely great)
EVF: huge when compared with OVF from 1.6x crop cameras, plus it can be used while shooting video, and has features such as histogram, peaking, etc
cleaner video than current canons: less aliasing/moire... but there are some complaints about noise at ISO above 400, which would suck big time
in-camera IS: could be great, but the jury is still out (may be awesome, may use heavy cropping and work only with auto exposure or things like that)
absolutely moronic sony firmware that makes manual settings somewhat painful to use, only allows you to use AF if you also use auto exposure, etc
(personally, I think this last point can be enough to offset any advantages from the previous ones)

this clip was shot by a fellow forum member:
http://vimeo.com/29245251

the NEX-5N is cheaper, incredibly small, much better in low light, and accepts basically any manual lens you can think of with a cheap dumb adapter; it doesn't have IS, though
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IHAIMA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=similaar-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B005IHAIMA&adid=1R78VPFWF3BY7R55XQ6N&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.similaar.com%2F

this is a comparison, in stills mode, between the NEX-5N, the A77, and the 7D:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/(appareil1)/734|0/(brand)/Sony/(appareil2)/737|0/(brand2)/Sony/(appareil3)/619|0/(brand3)/Canon
the 5N wins in every aspect
I think it also does in video mode, but I still have doubts: I'm not sure yet about how sexy the 5N images are
 
If you're 5DII deal doesn't go through, don't get the T3i. Get the 60D instead. A lot of people are pushing the T3i but I think the 60D is much more worthwhile at only $100 more. It had a much more professional build and feel. You also have WAY more ISO values and the ability to enter in your color temperature instead of using presets.
 
So I got me a 5DmkII ! Wondering, is the Tokina 11-16 a good lens for full frame? We get northern lights here (Northern Ontario) and I'd like to do some timelapse soon...
 
the tokina 11-16 will work on full-frame, but will only cover the full sensor (and not hit the mirror) if you use it as a 16mm prime

but I haven't used it on full frame, and I haven't seen any image quality tests


edit: this review has some comments ("Use in FX format"):
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tokina/11-16mm.htm
 
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Much better off getting a full frame wide lens instead, based on that. Seems pointless having a super wide zoom where you can only use 16% of it's range.
 
a 16mm f/2.8 prime that delivers great image quality on full frame sensors is well worth $600the question is: does the tokina deliver good image quality on full frame? I have no idea; I have the lens and love it but my camea is APS-C; I plan to upgrade to fullframe if 5D3 is all we expect it to be, so I'll eventually find outalternatives:* samyang 14mm f/2.8: cheap, and great on APS-C, but very soft in the corners on full frame, at any aperture* tokina 16-28 f/2.8: more expensive and not as nice as its APS-C little sister (very soft in the corners at 16mm f/2.8, very good at f/5.6)* canon 17-40 f/4L: relatively slow, and soft in the corners at 17mm f/4 (good by f/5.6)* canon 16-35 f/2.8L: expensive, and soft in the corners at 16mm f/2.8 (very good by f/5.6)* canon 14mm f/2.8L: very good,l but >$2K* zeiss 18mm f/3.5: very nice UWA for full frame, but it's slower and not so wide, and not cheap either ($1400)
 
From what I understand the Tokina 11-16 will not cover a full frame Nikon sensor below 13mm if I remember correctly. There is quite the in depth review here for the Nikons. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tokina/11-16mm.htm.

Haven't seen if it will work on a 5dm2, but I'm sure that it was designed as a 1.5 - 1.6 crop factor lens.

Cheers,
Pete
 
I was being even more strict: at 14mm and 15mm it displays heavy vignetting, so for me it becomes a 16mm f/2.8 prime; as such, if image quality is good, it would be an outstanding lens for full frame
 
Thanks for all the info everyone! If budget allows, I'm hoping to purchase "lenses for a lifetime" (Canon should trademark that!), meaning, high quality purchase made once and used from body to body as new/better back-ends come out. And on that note, I presume lenses used on a 5DmkII could be utilized w the new C300 somewheres down the road (?)....
 
yes, if your lenses cover full frame, you can be quite sure you'll be able to use them in every canon camera (except the PL version of the C300)

but they won't work if you go to nikon F or sony A, and if you can control the iris from the camera then they will be stuck wide open if you go to NEX or m43

I also wanted "lenses for a lifetime", and therefore got myself vintage leitz lenses for leica-R bayonet: they'll work just as well on nikon, sony A, canon, m43, nex, whatever
on the wide end, as vintage glass is not so great, I went for samyang manual primes on nikon F mount (will work on everything, except sony A; that could be a problem, but there's no solution to that: there's no modern mount that will work on nikon, canon and sony)

check this table:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/lensmount/lensmount.html
 
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