Lens for still and video

[Steve Bleasdale]

Hi all i have bought a couple 20d still canon cameras to go along with my camcorders so i can practice for a while before i jump into a 7d or 5d/mark 2/3 in the future for video. I shoot wedding video and have just started still photography. My question is i have the kit lens 18-55mm (not the best), and i have 50mm 1.4 fast prime, what general all rounder lens will be sufficient to keep costs down, for both stills for now and video in the future? so for now on the 20d, but in the future a 7d, but i may jump to a full frame instead of the 7d. I have my eye on the 24-70mml 2.8 series which has got the best reviews! will this then work for video and stills and at present on the 20d. if i plum for the 24-105mm is usm f4 again good reviews, will this fit the full frame if i get it and will it be good for now on the 20d? Lastly would the 17-40 or 17-55 be better than the lens i have mentioned above??STEVE

[Susanto Widjaja]

24-70 is a nice lens to have on both full frame and crop frame cameras like 7d. 17-55 is not a very handy lens on the 5D since it is generally to wide and not close enough on the end bit. However it makes a great lens for the 7D since it becomes roughly the same as the 24-70mm equivalent after the crop.

If you can afford 24-70 f2.8L. That lens will be a great investment for you no matter which camera that you will buy in the future.

24-105 is great but its only f4 compared to 24-70 f2.8. You will be craving for that extra 2 stops all the time when you hit dark receptions. Put it this way, if you need the extra reach, you can just walk closer. You cannot add the extra stop when you need more light with f4.

Santo

[Steve Bleasdale]

Susanto thats great, i thought that would be the case, so for future reference i may as well get the 24-70mm l, with the 50mm 1.4 what else would i need or just save for a 70-200 2.8, will the 24-70 be ok for now on these 20d canons? cheers again steve

[Danny O'Neill]

Make sure if your going 70-200 you get the IS. At that focal length filming will be tricky without the IS.

[Susanto Widjaja]

Originally Posted by Steve Bleasdale

Susanto thats great, i thought that would be the case, so for future reference i may as well get the 24-70mm l, with the 50mm 1.4 what else would i need or just save for a 70-200 2.8, will the 24-70 be ok for now on these 20d canons? cheers again steve

I would get 24-70 and 50mm f1.4 or 85mm f1.8 for now. You need at least 1 prime lens in your starting kit for those shallow depth of field and low light killer shots. 70-200 is a must have lens but it can come in later on. try to look for second hand 70-200 f2.8 IS mark 1.

[Spiros Zaharakis]

Originally Posted by Susanto Widjaja

17-55 is not a very handy lens on the 5D since it is generally to wide and not close enough on the end bit.

The Canon 17-55 is an EF-S lens and it doesn't even fit in the 5D or any other FF or 1.3X Canon

[Steve Bleasdale]

Thanks susanto and thanks Danny,,, steve

[Susanto Widjaja]

Originally Posted by Spiros Zaharakis

The Canon 17-55 is an EF-S lens and it doesn't even fit in the 5D or any other FF or 1.3X Canon

my bad. totally forgot about it. thanks for that spiros.

You're welcomed steve :)