Yet Another 7D Lens Question...(Kit lens vs Tamron 17-50mm?)

Boz said:
Oh, that Tamron looks like a nice lens! It's going on my list as a possible contender after I get my Sigma 30mm f/1.4
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A 30mm seems like a good all around lens for a ASP-C camera. Is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 the one most are gravitating towards? I think 30-35mm should be a normal perspective lens for the 7D.
 
Sttratos said:
I'm noticing that most people are going for zooms for their 7Ds. As this is a filmmaking community I find this interesting. I'm sure it has to do with budget, but primes would be the way I thought most would go. I know I am. I can't stand shooting narrative with zooms for some reason. Then again many are getting the 7D for eng and other things other than filmmaking. But for filmmaking, you can most likely get a decent set of 3 or 4 used primes for the price of a brand new zoom. Specially if you go for Nikons. Since EF lenses are newer and have auto focus, even used, they cost more than manual older nikon primes and the nikons are great glass. Nikon adapters are cheap too.
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Just how much of an image quality improvement is a prime over a shorter range zoom (for instance a wide zoom like the Tamron 17-50, lol)
 
A zoom makes sense if you can only afford one lens, I guess. I'm going for a few primes , and then one zoom to cover the gaps. Plus, a zoom is nice to have as a 'walking around' lens.
 
I purchased the Tamron 17-50 (but still saving up for the 7D), but I had a question about IS. How big of a deal is IS for video? I know nothing I've shot with so far has it but how useful is it? My Tamron doesn't have IS. Also is the auto focusing very useful for video? I guess I'm just used to shooting manually, focusing myself, and using stabilizers and tripods so I'm sincerely asking the questions
 
boulder said:
I purchased the Tamron 17-50 (but still saving up for the 7D), but I had a question about IS. How big of a deal is IS for video? I know nothing I've shot with so far has it but how useful is it? My Tamron doesn't have IS. Also is the auto focusing very useful for video? I guess I'm just used to shooting manually, focusing myself, and using stabilizers and tripods so I'm sincerely asking the questions
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I've heard that the IS does help a little bit with stability and reducing rolling shutter artifacts, but the difference is most noticeable at longer focal lengths, i.e. greater than 50mm. Some say that hand-holding at focal lengths 50mm and less is no problem. You'll have to see for yourself.

The camera does not autofocus continuously while recording. You can autofocus before each take, however.
 
I just received my 7D a couple of days ago and have been using the Tamron 17-50 and the Canon 50mm f1.8. Here are some observations..

The Tamron is sharp! Great lens, but some caveats. The Tamron has a short focus throw. It's sensitive, responding to minuscule touches on the focus ring at 2.8. I've been getting much better with only a couple of hours of practice. Completely usable. For image quality, I'd recommend it over the kit lens.

Yes, the Tamron holds focus throughout the zoom. Nail the focus at 17mm and you'll be good all the way to 50mm.

The Tamron is loud. The 7D has a button on the back of the camera that you can press to nail focus while recording. The Tamron is very audible every time this is engaged... BUT you probably won't be recording video in AF because..

Unlike some of Canon's USM lenses, the Tamron only has a full-auto or full-manual mode. Some lenses allow you to autofocus and then make adjustments with the focus ring. The Tamron isn't so advanced. You need to hit a switch to switch between the MF/AF functions.

Bottom line.. Great color and superb sharpness. The other shortcomings regarding focusing can be overcome with practice.

I've also been playing with the "nifty-fifty". Good low light images, but the same difficulties with the MF/AF switch. I believe the focus throw is about 90 degrees where the 50 1.4 is almost 180. The 1.8's focus ring is also on the edge of the lens, so it might be easy to get fingertip into the field of view if you're inexperienced.

Of note, my wife was really put off by the lack of AF in video mode, but she actually caught on quite quickly and enjoys the challenge. It's been a fun couple of days.
 
so getting back to the question... is the Tamaron a better buy than the one that comes with the 7D... body only purchase for me too if so...
 
I think that you should ask yourself why you might prefer the kit lens over the the Tamron. If you can't find any compelling reasons, and if none of what the_wallbanger said (excellent overview, BTW!) sounds like a deal-breaker, then you might consider the Tamron a better buy.

But the truth is that we can't give very meaningful advice to you unless we have a better understanding of what your needs are. Some people find the kit lenses to be worthwhile, but others don't. And they all have their reasons. So what do you want most from a standard zoom lens?
 
Just shot this video with the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. Please see my impressions of the lens on page 3 of this thread.

http://vimeo.com/6901913

This was my first time out with the intent to use the video function. I blew some highlights here and there by not paying close enough attention to the light meter. No color correction or other post processing. WYSIWYG.
 
Looked sharp with that lens! Cute cute kid!

the_wallbanger said:
Just shot this video with the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. Please see my impressions of the lens on page 3 of this thread.

http://vimeo.com/6901913

This was my first time out with the intent to use the video function. I blew some highlights here and there by not paying close enough attention to the light meter. No color correction or other post processing. WYSIWYG.
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You have wonderful handheld skills. No IS version of the Tamron, right? Did you have any sort of stabilization equipment or were you just in full stealth mode? Any tips?
 
mhood said:
You have wonderful handheld skills. No IS version of the Tamron, right? Did you have any sort of stabilization equipment or were you just in full stealth mode? Any tips?
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No IS in this lens, but I learned an easy technique from reading this board. Simply pull the camera strap taught when using longer focal lengths. Also, you'll be focusing with your left hand. While pulling focus, I supported some camera weight with my pinky below the lens hood. I believe the further your two hands are apart from each other, the more stable the camera will become.
 
I'm also considering this lens... I was thinking of going body only and maybe getting this lens as a general shooting lens.

I have Nikon primes that should marry well with the 7d.

I must admit that after seeing the pumpkin patch video I think I would want IS.
But then I am hopefully getting a z-Finder or LCDVF to add another point of contact.
 
I have both and find they compliment each other. The Tamron is wider and faster which is great and the Canon is longer and has IS for times when I need that.
 
the_wallbanger said:
Just shot this video with the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. Please see my impressions of the lens on page 3 of this thread.

http://vimeo.com/6901913

This was my first time out with the intent to use the video function. I blew some highlights here and there by not paying close enough attention to the light meter. No color correction or other post processing. WYSIWYG.
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This video shows why IS is needed even in below 50mm ranges. Don´t forget 50 on the 7D is actually 80mm which is a tele-range.
The little jitters are the problem. not the handheld-moves as such but the tiny shakes. Those can be taken away with an IS lens.
I wait for the Tamron 17-50 VC (=IS) version. Should be out this week.
 
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