lenses for canon 5d

[fanatic_about_film]

Hey guys. I am a newbie to this so please speak in laymens terms for me.

Hopefully I am buying a canon 5d very soon (possibly a 550d) and I want a good range of lenses. I think 4 or 5 primes. Money is an issue so I want to spend as little as possible. I will be using the camera for short films, music videos and commercials, perhaps feature length films also.

What 4 or 5 lenses would you consider buying if you were me. Please list the brand and model numbers.

(I hear that canon fd lenses may be a good buy, IDK)


Also something more techinical I would like to know: For instance what is the difference between primes and zooms. What I mean is, if I had a camera shot that I achieved with an 85mm, could I not achieve the same shot by using and 70-200mm zoom lenses.

And if so, rather than buy any primes, should I not just buy 1 or 2 zoom lenses, which cover the range of the 4 or 5 primes that I want to buy.

Does that make sense?

 

[Jordan_S]

[...]Hopefully I am buying a canon 5d very soon (possibly a 550d) and I want a good range of lenses. I think 4 or 5 primes. Money is an issue so I want to spend as little as possible. What 4 or 5 lenses would you consider buying if you were me. Please list the brand and model numbers[...]

You seem to have conflicting goals. Why not get the 24-105 with the camera and call it a day?

(I hear that canon fd lenses may be a good buy, IDK)

Negatory

Also something more techinical I would like to know: For instance what is the difference between primes and zooms. What I mean is, if I had a camera shot that I achieved with an 85mm, could I not achieve the same shot by using and 70-200mm zoom lenses.

Yes. However, primes are usually faster and sharper than zooms.

And if so, rather than buy any primes, should I not just buy 1 or 2 zoom lenses, which cover the range of the 4 or 5 primes that I want to buy.

Yes, unless you need a lens that is faster than the previously mentioned Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS lens, in which case you should also buy a few fast primes.

If you buy the 550D, you could get the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS and 70-200 f/2.8 IS and consider yourself set unless 2.8 is not fast enough for your needs.

 

[Petrus]

Primes, pro: Faster (shorter DOF when needed), lighter, better contrast, sharper*
Primes, con: just one focal length, need many to cover all angles, have to change lenses (dust).

Zooms, pro: need fewer lenses, can adjust exact framing with zoom, all focal lengths available, can do zooms also!
Zooms, con: heavier, slower (can not get extremely shallow DOF), less contrast, flare easier, less sharp*

*) I would say that in reality this would not be noticable on a moving picture, only if you look at the stopped frames.

If you have a 85 mm prime and a zoom set at 85 mm the pictures would be identical in framing and everything else. With 85mm f1.8 you can get less DOF than with a f4 zoom set at 85mm, but that is the only difference.

I would maybe get 28 f1.8, 50mm f1.4 and 100mm f2 primes first. 200mm 2.8, 20mm f2.8, 35mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 in that order as the finances allow.

Or just start with the 24-105mm f4 zoom and practice a bit first.