What are the best lenses to get for video. Let's say you could only afford 3, which would they be?

1) Tokina 11-17mm 2.8
2) 50mm 1.2 prime
3) 24-75mm 2.8

Only 3 eh?

Alrighty...

Lens 1:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/425812-GREY/Canon_1242B002AA_EF_S_17_55mm_f_2_8_IS.html]Canon | EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Zoom Lens | 1242B002AA | B&H

Should handle most wide shots indoor or outdoor.

Lens 2:

Sigma | 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM Autofocus Lens | 571101 | B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/596257-REG/Sigma_571101_24_70mm_f_2_8_IF_EX.html)

Should handle the bulk of your shooting from groups of 4 down to medium close or close on a 1 or 2 shot


Lens 3:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/539396-REG/Tamron_AF001C_700_70_200mm_f_2_8_Di_LD.html


Should handle everything else.


Best of luck.


* I normally prefer primes. But given that you offer no information at all on what you will be shooting, or in what conditions, I have selected 3 fast zooms, with focal length overlap. They should allow coverage for any reasonable shooting condition.

I'd replace the 24-75 (Brian, did you mean 24-70 F2.8 Canon EF L lens?) with the Canon 17-55 F2.8 EF-S as it has IS. It's a superb lens. I also personally chose the Canon 10-22 as my wide as I wanted less barrel distortion but agree the Tokina's constant aperture F2.8 is a strong point for most people.

I'd replace the 24-75 (Brian, did you mean 24-70 F2.8 Canon EF L lens?) .

Yes and No. I don't know the OP's budget. If you're cheap and broke like me, you look for names such as "Tamron" and "Used" and "Ebay". In a perfect world, Canon I guess.

Btw, I love the range of Perrone's choices, but I do think that the 7D's main sells are shallow focus and low light filmming, with that in mind, I'd want at least one lens 1.8 or faster.

Btw, I love the range of Perrone's choices, but I do think that the 7D's main sells are shallow focus and low light filmming, with that in mind, I'd want at least one lens 1.8 or faster.

Not that I disagree... but frankly the idea is WHICH lens. Frankly, the prospect of going out and buying a 55m 1.8 or 1.4 or an 85mm 1.8 or a 35mm 1.8 is so inexpensive, I just don't consider it in this kind of discussion.

I already have the Tamron 70-200, so that is out of the way. I also have a few primes but they are 2.8. I would love something faster but I don't know about the cash outlay. I also have th canon 50mm 1.8.
OK, new question, $1300 and one lens, which?

As you are on a budget I would recommend:

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8

Canon 28mm f/1.8

Canon 85mm f1./8

And with the money you save get a Canon 70-200 f/4 and a lensbaby.

Amazing amount of replies considering the poster hasn't even said what sort of things he'll be filming! 11-17mm zoom's not much use for Astro cinematography!
Steve

Yeah, I agree on that point, it would have helped for sure!... but I've also seen some amazing timelapse stuff of stars shot on a 5D/7D with a really wide lens!

Amazing amount of replies considering the poster hasn't even said what sort of things he'll be filming! 11-17mm zoom's not much use for Astro cinematography!
Steve

I'd go with the Canon 24 f/1.4 for astro photography and bin all the other lenses:)

Check out Welcome to Photozone! (http://www.photozone.de) for in-depth lens reviews.
Canon range is massive, should be something in there for any use, but recommending them without knowing what they're going to be used for is silly.
Basic rule of sticking with "L" lenses is a good start. All the big teles are excellent (300 2.8, 300 2.8, 500 f4, 600 f4, 800 5.6). The 70-210 2.8 and f4 are also top drawer. I'd say be a bit wary of anything with a fairly big zoom range (ie more than 3x) as they're likely to be less than great, and problems may well show up more in video mode than in stills.
Tell us what you're shooting E.Patric!
Steve

All the input is truly appreciated! I'm going to be shooting mostly narratives, not too much action, mostly character studies and maybe a doc. Keep the suggestions coming!