ONE lens to buy

D

davidil

Member
Hello,

I can afford just one lens for my T2i, which one would you get? Obviously a zoom... which is the most cost effective / best result? Or should I stick with the kit lens?

Thanks!
 
tokina 16-50

covers from room wide to a close up

built like a tank, hards stops for a follow focus

really wide positive focus wheel

cheap

no IS if you care
 
Why no shallow DOF with the kit lens? Whats the difference? Whats the lowest F stop on it? Thank you for your time.
 
vroom said:
You can't get the shallow DOF look with the kit lens.
Click to expand...

Since when? You can always move the camera back a little and zoom in to compensate. That will blur the background a bit more. Same trick works with the DVX.

If you're talking about razor-thin focal plane, then you need f2.8 or lower. Shooting that wide open and with that shallow a DOF must be used carefully, though. Shooting everything shallow often screams "amateur trying to look like a pro."
 
C2V said:
Since when? You can always move the camera back a little and zoom in to compensate. That will blur the background a bit more. Same trick works with the DVX.

If you're talking about razor-thin focal plane, then you need f2.8 or lower. Shooting that wide open and with that shallow a DOF must be used carefully, though. Shooting everything shallow often screams "amateur trying to look like a pro."
Click to expand...

I should have been more specific. You can't get effortless shallow DOF (that requires no workarounds) and great low light performance from the kit lens. And, yes, how deep or shallow your DOF should be depends on the shot and the piece.
 
16-50 (or 55) or 17-50 2.8 lens is what u want. i cannot whole heartedly recommend the tamron just because 2 months into me having it the focus ring is sticking. i can no longer focus smoothly...so i hav to send it to be repaired. other people have had good luck with them so maybe i got a dud...sucks. it was decent while it was working properly though.

used it to shoot these

http://vimeo.com/13942125

http://vimeo.com/13568998
 
If you have a $500 budget then the Tamron 17-50 2.8 is great if you want something new. HOWEVER, if you're willing to think outside the box and consider vintage glass, you can get a suite of lenses for your budget.

For instance, you can get a Zenitar 16mm 2.8 for your wide ($200), a Vivitar 28-90 2.8-3.5 for your standard zoom ($50-$100 on Ebay), a Vivitar 70-210 3.5 ($50-$100 on Ebay) AND a Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 ($50-$150 on Ebay). Depending on how you do on individual auctions you can be way below or just slightly over your $500 budget and have a nice set of lenses for most occasions. Best of luck!
 
Is the kit lens that bad? Its 18-135 T3.5... doesn't sound that bad for the price. (just $250... if you compare the price of the body only) Thanks

Anybody here using the kit lens?
 
Don't overlook the $700 Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. It has had great reviews from the pros, it covers a huge range (24-136mm in 35mm equiv.) and has the latest generation image stabilization. It's also a great walk-around lens for still work. The lens was essentially made for the 7D and the T2i. Great for quick video work, cause you have a much desired focal range in one lens.
 
Listen to Chris Watson post...TRUST me...u wont be disappointed...I have the supertakumar...got it for $95 and its wicked! get an adapter for it for about $14

And i just ordered the vivitar 70-210 today for $50+ $12 adapter.

Next are the mir24, zenitar 16 (or comparable lens) and helios 40-2
 
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