Lesnes for both video and photo?

E

entry

Carbonite Member
I'm going to renew my equipment and after some testing with 5D I ordered it. What lenses would be best for both video and photography?

Primes and their 1.2 F stops are useless most of the time when you shoot video, but they are of course great for photography. I think it's better to save some money though and go with non primes with some lenses. I mostly shoot video and it doesn't matter at all if the lense is 1.2 or 1.4-1.8 in that.

I've been thinking these lenses:

Canon 16-35mm/2.8 L

This lense would include all the wide ranges for the video (14mm is too wide in most cases imo), and with 2.8 it's really great lense for photography too.

Canon 50mm/1.4

Great for both video and photo. I think this lense has the best value from all Canon lenses.

So, with those two lenses I would have pretty much everything I need from 0-50mm and with quality lenses, but what about after 50mm? IS lense?

I thought 17-40mm/4 L too, but for photography 16-35mm/2.8 is just way better and is pretty much "no compromise" lense so I choosed that instead. Price is of course almost the double.

What are your thoughts?
 
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My vote:
For telephoto, go with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, or if you want to save loot, the Sigma version will save you $500 and is supposedly just as sharp.
 
I went with all fast manual Nikon primes since I'll primarily use it for video.

I think I may invest in some Canon zooms for photo work though.
 
entry said:
Why need 28/1.8 if you have 16-35/2.8?

85/1.8 I will buy for sure. It has as good valua as 50/1.4.
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I'd like the 28 1.8 as well, but I'll have it covered with the wide, so I'm curious what the real significance of using that lens would be as well.
So far, the 85 1.8 is becoming my favorite, for both photos and videos. Never a dull shot with that lens. Beyond 100mm, I'm torn between the 135mm f2L, and 200mm f2.8LII, I haven't been able to pull the trigger on either one yet.
 
85mm 1.2/1.8 is the best lesnse for potraits. Haven't tested that for video yet. Do you think IS lense would be better for 70-200mm? My brother has 70-200mm/2.8 and could sell it since he aint using that anymore, but it's non IS...
 
entry said:
85mm 1.2/1.8 is the best lesnse for potraits. Haven't tested that for video yet. Do you think IS lense would be better for 70-200mm? My brother has 70-200mm/2.8 and could sell it since he aint using that anymore, but it's non IS...
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IS will work wonders for photography, but for video it isn't clear to me if it really does as good a job. I don't own any IS lenses, and I haven't seen anybody post IS lens vs non-IS video examples. I would think that you're more than likely going to have the camera locked down when shooting telephoto anyway, so IS would not be necessary in that regard. That's why I'm eyeing the 135f2L and 200f2.8LII, no IS, just really great glass that I know will remain stationary. Among the non-stabilized 70-200 Canon zooms, the 70-200 f4L gets terrific reviews. The impression I get from people who who use that one is that it's always sharp at any aperture, at any focal length. Incredibly consistent, and the least expensive L you'll find.
 
So far, the 85 1.8 is becoming my favorite, for both photos and videos.
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I can vouch for the 85mm 1.8, it's relatively inexpensive and it's very good. It's the only non-L Canon glass I own and it's wonderful glass. Great bokeh and it's small/light.
 
Digigenic said:
IS will work wonders for photography, but for video it isn't clear to me if it really does as good a job. I don't own any IS lenses, and I haven't seen anybody post IS lens vs non-IS video examples. I would think that you're more than likely going to have the camera locked down when shooting telephoto anyway, so IS would not be necessary in that regard. That's why I'm eyeing the 135f2L and 200f2.8LII, no IS, just really great glass that I know will remain stationary. Among the non-stabilized 70-200 Canon zooms, the 70-200 f4L gets terrific reviews. The impression I get from people who who use that one is that it's always sharp at any aperture, at any focal length. Incredibly consistent, and the least expensive L you'll find.
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Ok.

Here are few IS vs non IS test videos:

http://www.canon5dtips.com/2009/01/buying-an-is-vr-lens-or-not/
http://www.vimeo.com/3808742

IS works very well, but I heard it has prolems if you are panning a lot.
 
entry said:
Why need 28/1.8 if you have 16-35/2.8?

85/1.8 I will buy for sure. It has as good valua as 50/1.4.
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In movie mode f1.8 can see as you can see IRL at ISO 1250.
f2.8 will be blind in comparison but this is an extreme case if you want to film what you see in dim streetlights without noticable grain of let's say iso 500 film ;).

In my opinion 28mm f1.8 live focusing is much more doable whereas 50mm f1.8 is tricky and requires much more practice (following spontaneous action etc). In the other hand DOF at f1.8 at 50mm is so out of focus that it is much easyer to follow in some stuations.

I have had several 85mm f1.2 L lenses from FD to EF and I can assure you that if you can deal with even f1.8 @ 85mm results will be really good.

T
 
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