What next?
- Thread starter MDfilms
- Start date
saneproductions
Veteran
I would rather have a fast wide zoom first. Either the tokina 16-50 2.8, the tamron 17-50 2.8 or the canon 16-55 2.8. I think you will find that the speed and versatility of any of those lenses makes it live on the camera. I went with the 17-40 f4L instead because I also shoot full frame and I see the companies introducing lower cost full frame bodies as the megapixel war starts to die down here. The 17-40 is just as sharp as the 16-35, it is 1 stop slower for half the money. If I take a small kit with me for stills, it is the 17-40 and a fast 50 (40 is slightly too short for portraits)
I would def get something more verstatile like the 17-50mm 2.8 tamron (or the canon equivalent if you can afford it).
My current setup.
Tamron 17-50mm ($260 on ebay)
Nikon 50mm 1.4 ($60 on ebay)
Vivitar 70-210 3.5 (nikon mount $60 on ebay)
Canon 50mm 1.8 (will probably sell now that i have hte nikon)
This has me pretty well covered through most of the ranges for a low intro cost. I would like to get a longer fast lens like the 85mm 1.8 or maybe a 135mm later on, but for now its good.
If you have tons of cash, just go out and buy whatever, but for starting out, i think you need to be thinking versatility first.
I would also dump that kit lens for as much as you can, and put that into other lenses better suited for video.
My current setup.
Tamron 17-50mm ($260 on ebay)
Nikon 50mm 1.4 ($60 on ebay)
Vivitar 70-210 3.5 (nikon mount $60 on ebay)
Canon 50mm 1.8 (will probably sell now that i have hte nikon)
This has me pretty well covered through most of the ranges for a low intro cost. I would like to get a longer fast lens like the 85mm 1.8 or maybe a 135mm later on, but for now its good.
If you have tons of cash, just go out and buy whatever, but for starting out, i think you need to be thinking versatility first.
I would also dump that kit lens for as much as you can, and put that into other lenses better suited for video.
I'm in the same boat as you MDfilms. Just got my 7D not too long ago, the only lens i have is the one that came with it and a 50mm that just came in today. I was also thinking about the Tokina 11-16 since I've read no bad reviews on it thus far.
Be interested to see what ou decide on next
Be interested to see what ou decide on next
Chris Watson
Well-known member
I have almost the same set up except my 50 1.4 is an old Mamiya Sekor and my Vivitar 70-210 3.5 (made by Kiron) is an OM mount.
Not only are zooms more versatile but you can zoom them in to various focal lengths to evaluate what primes you can work with comfortably. For instance, zoom your 17-50 to the 35 mark and see if that feels right to you. If it does, start looking for 35mm primes and so forth.
Chris W