So I am in the market for a dslr. I'd like to get the Canon 60d. Now trying to narrow down the lens. This is my first dslr, and I can only afford one lens for now. I'm thinking of either the Canon ef-s 15-85mm IS USM or the Canon 18-200mm IS.
The 15-85mm has the USM so I am leaning to spending the extra money on that one. But is it really worth it? The difference is about $300.
50mm F/1.8 or F/1.4 or F/1.2
The prime lens is truly amazing in the deep, dark, dank forest. It will allow you to get that shot you didn't think you could, simply because they let so much light in.
I have a 40D and several lenses and the one that I "hemmed and hawed" about buying and have been thankful for ever was the 15-85. The range and USM are great but the image stabilization is PHENOMENAL. Primes are awesome as long as you have a bunch but as my only lens? No way.
Mark
2010 Transition TR450 - 34.56lbs - the lightest TR450 ever?
A custom build from the good guys @ North Shore Bike Shop
1. Canon 50mm f/f1.8 is good and only $120, best cheap lens.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12140-USA/Canon_2515A003_50mm_f_1_4_USM_Autofocus.html
2. Sigma 30mm f/1.4
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/381615-REG/Sigma_300101_30mm_f_1_4_EX_DC.html
This video was filmed 90% with the 30mm f1.4
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/236939//
3. Tokina 11-16 f/2.8
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554035-REG/Tokina_ATX116PRODXC_11_16mm_f_2_8_AT_X_116.html
or Rokinon 14mm f/2.8
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769532-REG/Rokinon_FE14M_C_14mm_Ultra_Wide_Angle_f_2_8.html
4. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91680-USA/Canon_2569A004_70_200mm_f_2_8L_USM_Autofocus.html
You will also want a fluid head tripod $300ish, and a mic
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8
yes on this lens, I've borrowed my buddies a few times, it rules…I also think you can't really go wrong with a 24-70 2.8….they aren't cheap, but they're amazing.
2.8 is tough on the dark days unless your camera is ok at 3200 ISO or more and like to pan. The shore is a dark and mysterious place.
:canada:
yes on this lens, I've borrowed my buddies a few times, it rules…I also think you can't really go wrong with a 24-70 2.8….they aren't cheap, but they're amazing.
The 24-70 is an awesome lens, but I don't think there is any justification for buying it for use on a crop body. A 15-85 with IS is almost as good in low light at the wide end since it sports IS and as a bonus goes WAY wider and marginally longer for less than half of the price.
Mark
2010 Transition TR450 - 34.56lbs - the lightest TR450 ever?
A custom build from the good guys @ North Shore Bike Shop
The 24-70 is an awesome lens, but I don't think there is any justification for buying it for use on a crop body. A 15-85 with IS is almost as good in low light at the wide end since it sports IS and as a bonus goes WAY wider and marginally longer for less than half of the price.
Mark
fair points…I got a screamin' deal on mine from a friend who was liquidating gear, I dig it!
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647013-USA/Canon_3560B002_EF_S_15_85mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html
This a pretty slow lens, same as the kit lens, which blows for filming in the woods. Faster is better in the woods.
http://digital-photography-school.com/what-is-a-fast-lens
F/1.8 or faster is best. F/2.8 is about as fast as you get for zoom lenses.
http://digital-photography-school.com/most-popular-dslr-lenses
http://digital-photography-school.com/23-popular-dslr-lenses
You are thinking:
Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera (Body Only) $900
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens $734
$1634
One thing to know about camera gear. Lenses, tripods, dollies make a huge difference in quality, and hold their value. Lenses generally sell for 75-85% of new value, no matter how old they are, as long as they aren't scratched.
Camera bodies hold their value when they are the newest, greatest, but as soon as newer models come out, they get harder to sell and lose value rapidly.
Most people collect lenses, mics, tripods, etc over time, and keep them. They tend to trade up bodies every couple of years as new models come out.
The T2I, T3I, 60D, and 7D all share the same sensor, and get essentially the same results. Difference is the quality of the body construction, size, waterproofing, flip out screen.
T2I $550 T3I $625, 60D $900, 7D $1550
T2I and T3I are very similar cameras, but t3i has flip out screen and bit easier to navigate.
This is what I would get on your budget.
T2I $550
Canon 50mm f1.8 $120
Sigma 30mm f1.4 $490
Manfrotto 190XDB with 701HDV Video Tripod System $245
2x LP-E8 Battery+Vertical Battery Grip $43
Opteka X-grip Handle $30
Opteka SteadyVid PRO Video Stabilizer System $180
$1618
And a pack.
DSLRs ergonmics suck for filming handheld. You need fluid tripod and handle to get good results. Glidecam and dolly add more options for exciting shot variety. If you want something to film handheld, and not have to carry all the accessories, get a HD video cam. The onboard mic is crappy, as well. It pops, and picks up a lot of camera noise.
Next thing I would get Rode mic with boom $170
Thanks for all the input people. Thad, I really appreciate all of those links and the video. That's exactly the type of riding that I mainly do. And I hear you know a few things about trail building too;)
I did end up getting the Canon60d with the 15-85 lens. I need a more robust body and I can afford it. I went with the all-rounder lens because I am leaving for Utah/Colorado tomorrow. That 30mm Sigma will likely be my next purchase. I have a tripod already. And I got a Dakine mission pack. I think I may try to construct my own shoulder rig.
Can't wait to get out there. Although my iphone served me well. Here's my first video I did last year with my iphone:
[http://www.pinkbike.com/video/188940//PINKBIKE]](http://www.pinkbike.com/video/[HTML_REMOVED]http://www.pinkbike.com/video/http://www.pinkbike.com/video/188940//PINKBIKE]/
Nice. That lens will do well in UT/CO, due to more light, and sweeping views where you will want a long lens. On the dark and rainy shore, it will be too dark and grainy. Good all around lens when you want to carry a camera with one lens and have good lighting, tho.
I would have gone for a zoom with a fixed f2.8 aperature for video, so the light levels don't change when you zoom, also it's faster. The Canon is likely sharper for photos…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFLHrrjylSY[HTML_REMOVED]feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjlQWc3pogc[HTML_REMOVED]feature=relmfu
http://www.digitalrev.com/article/5-lenses-for-ultimate-movie/Nzc3Nw_A_A
http://www.digitalrev.com/article/why-sharp-lenses-are-wasted/ODA5MQ_A_A
Self filmed video is really impressive for an Iphone! You should play around with the "Ken Burns" pan and zoom features in Imovie. You can fake smooth pans, tilts, and zooms from fixed tripod shots. Just need to frame the shot wide, so you have room for the pan or zoom.
I like to search Pinkbike vids by lenses:
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/search/?q=30mm
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/search/?q=50mm
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/search/?q=tokina
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/search/?q=8mm
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/search/?q=70-200
The nifty fifty is a favourite for many for sure, but I'm really glad Nikon makes an inexpensive 35mm f/1.8 - the 50 requires you to be pretty far back to get the shot on a crop, which can be tough in a lot of situations. Not sure if Canon has an equivalent.
And I echo what many have already said - if you want good action shots in the forest, a prime lens in the 1.4 or 1.8 range is the only way to go.
28-105mm. Fast as you can afford. Or buy a monster freakin' strobe. Or three w/slaves……….
Freedom of contract. We sell them guns that kill them; they sell us drugs that kill us.
The nifty fifty is a favourite for many for sure, but I'm really glad Nikon makes an inexpensive 35mm f/1.8 - the 50 requires you to be pretty far back to get the shot on a crop, which can be tough in a lot of situations. Not sure if Canon has an equivalent.
And I echo what many have already said - if you want good action shots in the forest, a prime lens in the 1.4 or 1.8 range is the only way to go.
Interesting… you can get $30 adaptors to run Nikon glass on Canon bodies. Autofocus doesn't work, but with the shallow depth of field on fast primes, you are using manual focus anyways. I am very tempted to try out
I am just starting to get my collection going. Got a T1i with 18-55 kit lens. Manfrotto fluid head tripod. 50mm f/1.8. It seems like primes are the way to go for low light filming and action photography.
The 50mm is pretty tight. You end up filming tight, getting hands and helmet, or tires and roosts. Or, it forces you to move back, well off trail, getting some cool shots with foreground filter of ferns, vine maples, decomposing logs, and whatnot.
I find 50mm works for about 50% of the shots I want. 30% I would like a wider prime, with no distortion, like the 30mm. 15% I would like even wider, with distortion, the make dorps look hella big and tight corners look even tighter. 5% of the time I would like a longer lens, for ridgeline shots, and long shots where the rider is coming directly toward the camera for awhile.
This guy makes a ton of helpful youtube videos.
Crop Sensor focal length demo 11mm to 85mm
medium 50mm primes: Canon 1.8 $120, 1.4 $380, 1.2L $1500.
Battle of the Fast 50mm's: Canon f/1.8 vs f/1.4 vs f/1.2
wide primes:
Canon 24mm 1.4 $1630 v.s. Sigma 24mm 1.8 $540 v.s. Canon 28mm 1.8 $470
Canon 35mm f1.4 $1380 v.s. Sigma 30mm $490
Canon 35mm 2.0 $330. Nikon 35mm 1.8 $195 + $30 adaptor.
Sigma seems like the best option, the Nikon is a tempting budget option.
super wide:
Tokina 11-18 2.8 $700. Rokinon 14mm 2.8 $400
long primes:
Canon 85mm 1.2 $2050 v.s. Canon 85mm 1.8 $389 v.s. Nikon Nikkor 85mm 2.0 [HTML_REMOVED]$100 used + $30 adaptor
This is what I want to put in my bag. I'm cheap :P
canon 50mm 1.8 $120
nikon 35mm 1.8 $225
rokinon 14mm 2.8 $400
nikon 85mm 2.0 $120
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