Parfocal Lenses ?

anatusa

anatusa

Veteran
Hello

i finally decided to buy c300, just sold my previous cam pany ag-af101e. And now i am on market to get a few lenses for my brand new cam.

there were already a few posts related to what lens to choose for c300, but i decided to start a new topic about Parfocal lenses..... canon has a big lens collection, but are there any of them Parfocal?

from what i know there are some:

- Canon 17-40mm f/4.0
- Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 non Image Stabilized version
- Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II

has any one used them with c300? would be great to hear about your experience!

Any other EF/EFs lenses from Canon or other Manufactures are parfocal?
 
I own a bunch of Canon EF L glass and end up using the EF 17-55 f/2.8 IS more then anything else on the camera. This lens is great and would be a L lens except it will not work the the 1D distance to sensor spacing. I would consider this over the 17-40. The 70-200 is great I have the II but have not used it yet on the C300 only 5D MKIII for stills.
 
I haven't used the other two, but the 16-35 f2.8 L II is a fantastic lens for getting into the action. Unlike the 17-55, it has fantastic operation - but no IS and you get cut off the long end. It's far better built, though, and will likely have a much more usable life because of that. There are also a few reports of vignetting with the 17-55, as it may not completely cover the C300's larger than APS-C sensor.
 
Agree the 16-35 is a great lens and better built but no IS takes away hand holding. The build on the 17-55 is ok but the zoom is sticky. As for vignetting that does not happen. I have shot over 3500 clips with the 17-55 and 75% were at 17mm. If you buy the lens hood it has to be on perfect or that might get in the shot but the lens covers the C300 just fine.
 
what real wide lens would u use guys?

and what fish eye is good? i dont use fish eye very often so can`t justify the red canon version...
 
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I use my Canon EF 14 f/2.8L for real wide. But you have to be careful if you are not level. Will be getting a EF 8-15 for my 5D and will give that a try for some extreme effect but very rare.

So nice to have all the options we have with this camera. I am sure others can recommend cheaper brands that will work fine since you do not need as sharp a lens as you do for shooting stills. I only have Canon.
 
Paul Cronin said:
Agree the 16-35 is a great lens and better built but no IS takes away hand holding. The build on the 17-55 is ok but the zoom is sticky. As for vignetting that does not happen. I have shot over 3500 clips with the 17-55 and 75% were at 17mm. If you buy the lens hood it has to be on perfect or that might get in the shot but the lens covers the C300 just fine.
Click to expand...

i did tried the 17-55 lens in store, and did not like it as the focus wheel is kind of "short", the focus on red canon`s is nice.... kind of loger, not pl but much easier to use...
 
Agree the Canon L lens are very nice and all of mine are L except the 17-55 which I use since most of my C300 works so far has been hand held up close. The 24-105 L has is nice but might not be wide enough for what he needs. If the 16-35 L had IS I would be all over it that is a really nice lens.
 
cowpunk52 said:
I haven't used the other two, but the 16-35 f2.8 L II is a fantastic lens for getting into the action. Unlike the 17-55, it has fantastic operation - but no IS and you get cut off the long end. It's far better built, though, and will likely have a much more usable life because of that. There are also a few reports of vignetting with the 17-55, as it may not completely cover the C300's larger than APS-C sensor.
Click to expand...

I have the 17-55mm and also use it a great deal on the C300. I have never experienced any vignetting with the lens on the 300.
I don't seem to have a problem with the so called sticky zoom either, as I never zoom during a shot with these lenses.
 
I am with you greenhorn the zoom feels fine when not during the shot. But on my last shoot the producer is right next to me with a monitor and she asked push then pull while the shot was going and it was really tough to get it smooth. So it took three takes. With a normal Eng and zoom rocker it would be one take. Oh well moving forward.
 
I can confirm there is vignetting with some of the 17-55 lenses (without the hood on, of course), as mine has some when quite wide and quite narrow but just in the upper corners. So am going thru the process of trying to get it looked at.

The 17-55 range is great for the C300.
 
OK. THe 17-55 EFS lens DOES NOT vignette. Ive used the rubbish out of it.

It does not have the weather seal like the L lenses. Thats an issue if you're afraid to pull it apart to clean it as particles can get in. Im not one of those people. Ive done snap zooms with it successfully. Slow zooms aren't on my shot list period. The IS is very useful when off the sticks. The quality of the glass is very good, as reviewed by many people, many times. Its a great all rounder. Ive blown a portrait style shot up to 4K that I shot on the C300 with this lens, the image is sharp. Biggest let down... lens characteristics, it lacks that lovely contrast you get with better glass. And back OT, its not parfocal. Ive even used this lens on a TVC - everyone loved the results.
 
guys come on, i got it - everybody use 17-55 efs, plz lets move on..... its been said enough about it in other treats....

generally my idea to start that treats was about parfocal lenses from canon and other brands who does glass for eos.

but also i would love to find out what glass to you use for real wide angle?

Tokina 11-16 f2.8 - does it cover the sensor?

its seems like c300 owners use mostly canon brand, any other glass you would consider as good?

1 more thing that i would like to know about - i really love the focus wheel on Red Canon`s - it kind of longer.... easier to focus, so i wonder if any other brands makes something similar?

regards
 
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