Moving to DSLR
 

So, the time has come, my Z1E's are sold, and I've got my eye on the Canon 7D. I've spent the last few days reading up on lenses, and I'd appreciate some advice.

The 7D comes with the 18-55mm and 55-250mm kit.

I've narrowed it down to:

Canon EF-S 10-22mm
Canon EF-S 17-55mm
Canon EF 70-200mm

My budget is around £1000 for now.

Perhaps there are cheaper third party versions which are of equal quality?

Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I wouldn't get the 7D, go with 60D or T3i, you will have more money for lens, same video picture quality but you will get better video camera feature support with magic lantern, with 7D you can't get ML, plus you have swivel screen on the 60 or T3i, not with 7D.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

The 17-55/2.8 IS would be my #1 choice for any Canon APS-C camera.

Note that Canon is likely to release a next generation APS-C camera within the next months that will eliminate aliasing/moire and will have better ISO performance (based on the characteristics of the 5D Mark III.) You might consider buying a used 7D (or 550D...) and being prepared to turn around and sell it as soon as the next gen announcement comes.

Note that the yen is high right now, so the price of the next gen cam might be a solid step above a used current cam. If aliasing elimination and high ISO are important to you, this could be worth it.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

The swivel screen doesn't concern me, but is the video quality truly the same?

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Same video quality from the T3i to 60D to 7D, but if you are not in a hurry, you might want to wait like Jon said and see if Mark III technology will trickle down to their low end camera or not.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Magic Lantern does sound appealing, I thought the 7D had it, but apparently not.

The 60D could be ideal then, as it's much cheaper than the 7D. I'm in a hurry to get a pair of DSLR's, so I can't wait for the MKII to drop in price.

I apologise for any silly comments, I'm still learning about DSLR's.

Canon 60D
EF 50mm
EF-S 17-55mm
EF-S 10-22mm (for wide's)
EF 70-200mm

This is within my budget.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Don't forget a nifty fifty f1.8 or lower.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Just my 2 cents, but I'd take a long, hard look at the Tokina 11-16 for your wide. Here's a good discussion with people weighing in on both sides:

Tokina 11-16 vs Canon 10-22 - Steve's Digicams Forums

I use the Tokina on my Blackbird (Glidecam), and I like it a lot. It's sharp and has served me well. Depending on availability in your area, it could be $150 cheaper, and it's faster with a constant 2.8 aperture. It feels weighty and well built.

My only knock on the lens is that I've sent my copy in for repairs twice because the aperture petals kept sticking. Both times it was under warranty, though, so I only paid shipping.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Also, depending on your usage, the 70-200 may not be quite as useful as you think. We own a copy, and since we got out of event videography, it tends to gather dust. We have a 24-70 and an 85 f1.8 that carry us on the longer end.

The 70-200 produces great-looking images, but its color temperature is somehow different from our other lenses. At the far end of the zoom, it takes serious stabilization to keep shake out. For better or worse, the DoF is also suuuuper shallow at the far end of the zoom - for better or for worse.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Added to the shopping list, nice and cheap.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I've decided on the Canon 10-22 purely for the extra range, however it wasn't an easy choice. I spent an hour reading reviews and comparisons.

You say your 70-200 is barely used. Would the 85mm alone be a viable replacement for the longer shots?

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

If you don't mind working full manual with vintage primes then the best bang for your buck is:

- Canon T3i
- EF to F adapter (Fotodiox make a good one)
- Set of second hand Fast Vintage Nikon Prime Lenses (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm)

This is the set up I went with. Old Nikkor lenses can be found on ebay and second hand shops quite easily and very cheaply. You just need to get the fastest (lowest f stop) that you can find.

A lot of DSLR shooters (including Philip Bloom & Hurlbut) rate Nikkors very highly. Due to the design the lenses can be used very easily on a number of different camera platforms with adapters - the same can not be said of Canon EF lenses though. So its something to bear in mind in case you invest in Canon lenses, but then change camera brand down the line.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I'm with David - the Tokina is a wonderful lens on my 60D and before you plonk for the Canon 10-22, have a read of this:

Tokina 11-16mm

Of course it's devoid of OIS and if you're planning to hand-hold the DSLR you may want to think again.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I could pick up a second hand Nikon set of primes for around £875, which is much better than £1500+ on the Canon lenses.

I'll be using a tripod or rig at all times, so there's no need for IS. The Tokina 11-16mm does look fantastic, however it would take up a large chunk of my budget.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

that's probably because you never shot with DSLR, the flip LCD is huge add-on, and the quality is the same, and 60D doesn't overheat like 7D,
if there is no need for IS, nikon primes set for cheap is your best option

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Consider the Canon 24-105mm L which is also great for video.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

The trouble is Jalan that when used on a 1.6x crop SLR it's a big, heavy, not very fast, expensive lens that has a yawn-a-mile focal range of 38.5 to 168mm.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Buba, I've read about the heat issues, that did make me think twice about the 7D.

I have 8" HD LCD's on the horse shoe that I used with my Z1E's. I'm sure the flip screen is very handy though!

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

For video, the 60D is better for these reasons:

- Can use Magic Lantern (BIG Plus)
- Flip out screen
- Does not overheat

I had the 7D first, then picked up the 60D. Sold the 7D and picked up another 60D. Enough said?

LENSES:

I have the 70-200 2.8, great lens for photo but only use for video at the ceremony and maybe the toast at the reception. For most of the wedding I use my 17-55 Canon. For wide shot I use the Tokina 11-16mm. The Canon 50 mm 1.4 is also a wonderful lens for low light.

I would suggest the following:
1. 17-55 Canon
2 Tokina 11-16
3. Canon 1.4 50 mm
4. 70-200 (or soothing with some range for those long shots)

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I got the f/4 70-200mm IS. Saved a lot of money over the 2.8 and it's a lot more compact. I use it all the time - handheld even with the IS. The 17-55 lens is great, however nowhere far enough reach for many situations.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

The 17-55 and 11-16 seem to be a must.

1. Tokina 11-16
2. Nikon 35mm
3. Nikon 50mm
4. Nikon 85mm

This is within my budget, and seems to cover most ranges. Next month I will pick up a Canon 17-55. What do you guys think?

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Not sure what your local pricing is like, but check out the Sigma lenses.

I've got a Sigma 17-55 f2.8, and it's great, can't imagine the Canon would be any better. It really is brilliant.

Also, don't be afraid to buy second hand. I have bought most of my lenses second hand now (except the Sigma 2.8), and they're fine. I recently went on a purge and sold all my old gear on ebay, upgrading to 2.8s. Next on the list is a Canon 70-200 2.8, then I'm done (already have 50 1.4)

One thing I'd say in the 7D's favour is that it is much better built than the 60D. I had a 50D, and it had the body from the pro models - very sturdy, robust. 60D feels a little cheap next to a 7D.

Magic Lantern would be a plus. The 7D HDMI output is rubbish, and I really wish there was something I could do to fix it. Seems like ML and equivalents fixed the 5D2.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

So, I decided and invested:

Canon 60D
Canon EF 50mm II
Tokina 11-16mm
Scandisk 32gb SD
Battery Grip
Extra battery
UV Filter

Planned:

Canon EF-S 17-55mm IS

Hopefully this'll work out well, as my budget has been reached!

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

What are you going to use it for?

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Ben,
I recently went down the same route as you. I got a T3i to use with a set of vintage primes I already had from the ye' olde 35mm adapter dark ages.

Its easy to go on a spending spree, so bear the following in mind:

Dont:
1) Don't get a rig (shoulder rig, cage etc) unless you're actually sure you need one. Shoot with the dslr first, and if you find you can't cope then think about it.
2) Ditto with a follow focus - don't get one unless you really can't cope without one (bear in mind if you need a follow focus you'll also need a baseplate and rods, probably with the above mentioned rig).
3) Ditto with a matte box - there are easier solutions out there.

Do:
1) Look at getting a screw on variable ND filter for outdoor shoots. If your budget can't afford it then get some fixed screw on ND filters. You'll need them in the sunlight if you want to achieve a narrow dof.
2) Look at getting a rubber lens hood (instead of the matte box).

What I did was get a set of step up rings for all my lenses, so that they all terminated with a 58mm thread. I then got a Light Craft Workshop Variable ND Filter (58mm thread so it works with all the lenses and their step up rings). The LCW terminates with a 62mm thread, so I bought a 62mm Rubber lens hood to put on that.

Now when I shoot outdoors I just thread on the LCW with the lens hood (you can actually control the LCW by turning the hood which is handy) and you're ready for any lighting situations. In my opinion the variable ND with rubber lens hood is the best bang-for-buck and by the far the simplest solution for controlling light outdoors.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Short films, weddings, and in the future, motor sports.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

You will need a fast lens for reception like a F1.4 lens, and 70-200 for long distant like if are in the back of the church, I would go with T3i and ML, if you use ML, it will have everything 60D have + 3X center crop zoom, make your 200mm lens become 600mm field of view, if you use ISO 640 and less, you don't see much picture quality loss when you are using 3X center crop, but will give you the close up that you need if you are far away.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

+1 for vintage primes. You can get a helios 50 with an adapter for $35. I also use a zeiss 50 1.4 that can see in the dark for receptions.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I'm going to be ordering the Tokina 11-16mm in the next couple of days. Which adaptor will I need to mount onto the 60D?

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Adaptor? You just buy the Canon mount version of the lens.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

A local store has the Nikon version, is there an adaptor for this to mount onto an EOS? Silly I know, but this is much cheaper.

I imagine it would be a simple Nikon to Canon EOS adaptor, which are only £10. I'm trying to save as much money as possible!

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

Simple adapter? Have you looked at the bayonets, the electrical pin connectors and the iris / OIS motors? Get the Canon version and sleep easy.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I 100% agree with Simon. A major plus point of the DSLR format is a small light camera that is simple to operate & very manoeuvrable. Once you start adding all that junk & an EVF or monitor etc it starts to become unwieldy. For weddings & other events I would recommend a monopod or lightweight tripod & a simple loupe which doesn't need to be a jewel encrusted Zacuto Z-Finder (OK they are not actually jewel encrusted just priced as though they were:-).

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

[I don't know about the Sigma but I initially went cheap & bought the equivalent Tamron & exchanged it the next day for the Canon even though it was double the price. The Tamron focused & zoomed the wrong way like a Nikon lens. The IS was really noisy & you need to manually switch between manual & auto focus. For stills the AF was woefully slow & inconsistent compared to the Canon.

Re: Moving to DSLR
 

I've heard the same about the Tamron, but I honestly can't fault the Sigma - well, mine anyway. Not sure if all of them are as good. Worth a look.