Author Topic: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D (Read 1397 times)

mrfamousface · « **on:** December 06, 2011, 03:03:15 PM »

Any help appreciated. I'm still using my 18.55 kit lense, but looking for an upgrade lense, for video. preferably, great low light, and just overall sharper images. ANY HELP!

1074 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2011, 04:39:00 PM »

The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html

If you're on more of a budget, the Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 has a great reputation, I'm thinking pretty hard about getting one soon myself! Philip Bloom uses one on his RED EPIC, that seems like a decent endorsement... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769569-REG/Rokinon_RK35M_C_35mm_f_1_4_Wide_Angle_US.html

sfyn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:22:28 PM »

great suggestions! Are there any FD lenses one can suggest? I ordered a converter and still have no idea what FD lense I should get to use with it. I heard that the converter adds a few "mm"s(increases focal length) so I don't want to end up having accidentally bought something which ends up being like a 50mm 1.8 which I already have.

Raf702 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2012, 02:15:21 PM »

A common upgrade from the kit lens would be 50mm 1.8. Produces amazing video or picture quality for the price. You can find them for well under $100. After that depending on what you plan to film is where I base my judgement on what lenses to invest in.

kjvanek · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2012, 10:41:29 PM »

Agree with Raf702: I just got a t2i last week for video purposes (interviews and scenery shooting for business promo videos). I forewent the 18-55mm "kit lens" in favor of a 50mm f/1.8 (for the interviews) and an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 (for my "scenery" shots).

I'm loving the 50mm in terms of how crisp the image is and how well it handles close-up interviews. I also use it for some cool DoF shots while filming scenery, but ONLY on a tripod... no IS makes it pretty shaky. That's why I love my zoom lens for handheld shots. Plus it does DoF pretty well, too.

One thing I'm concerned about with the 50mm prime though, is that when I film myself in my bedroom (clarification: interview testing), with the camera about 8 feet away, not much more than my chest through the top of my head fits into the frame... it'll be interesting to see what lens I end up using for a two-person interview I'm filming tomorrow... and a family interview the day after... haha.

Anyways, just a few thoughts.

Hybrid AWD · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2012, 08:24:41 AM »

I want the 24-70... it's definitely on my list for this year.

NightowlDVP · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2012, 12:00:18 AM »

Quote from: sfyn on February 01, 2012, 06:22:28 PM

great suggestions! Are there any FD lenses one can suggest? I ordered a converter and still have no idea what FD lense I should get to use with it. I heard that the converter adds a few "mm"s(increases focal length) so I don't want to end up having accidentally bought something which ends up being like a 50mm 1.8 which I already have.

even tho i have a few FDs, and hav enjoyed my time with them, i would suggest NOT using FDs purely because the adaptors suck! the extra glass is a piece of shit. the adaptors without glass r fine for macro-only shots.

They,re nice and cheap, but definitely can be a hassle.

if only "they" would make a quality FD adaptor......

xNighx · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:31:17 PM »

Quote from: kjvanek on March 14, 2012, 10:41:29 PM

Agree with Raf702: I just got a t2i last week for video purposes (interviews and scenery shooting for business promo videos). I forewent the 18-55mm "kit lens" in favor of a 50mm f/1.8 (for the interviews) and an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 (for my "scenery" shots).

I'm loving the 50mm in terms of how crisp the image is and how well it handles close-up interviews. I also use it for some cool DoF shots while filming scenery, but ONLY on a tripod... no IS makes it pretty shaky. That's why I love my zoom lens for handheld shots. Plus it does DoF pretty well, too.

One thing I'm concerned about with the 50mm prime though, is that when I film myself in my bedroom (clarification: interview testing), with the camera about 8 feet away, not much more than my chest through the top of my head fits into the frame... it'll be interesting to see what lens I end up using for a two-person interview I'm filming tomorrow... and a family interview the day after... haha.

Anyways, just a few thoughts.

What do I look for on Amazon or Ebay? I put 50mm prime in search box and there is way too much stuff there and the prices are all over the place. (forgive my ignorance, I'm very new) I just don't want to buy something that is useless to me...ie; won't fit my t2i. :/

NightowlDVP · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2012, 11:38:57 PM »

Realistically man, u gotta expect to get sum duds when u play in the "used gear" market.

Having said that, ive bought 8 vintage lens in the last year (all under $100) and only one has been a dud (& the seller took the return, so no harm done)

Its just a bit of a gamble (which is probably why i enjoy it lol)
but it really can pay off!!

Conbined total cost of ALL my vintage lens doesnt even come close to the price of an L lens (tho neither does the sharpness of course).

Try googling sum vintage lens sites for specific info.

Dont be scared, just dive in, its only money....... lol

Ps. Caleb Pike at DSLRvideoshooter.com has an extensive video guide on nikkor lens, check it out!

1074 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2012, 07:21:04 AM »

Quote from: xNighx on March 19, 2012, 09:31:17 PM

What do I look for on Amazon or Ebay? I put 50mm prime in search box and there is way too much stuff there and the prices are all over the place. (forgive my ignorance, I'm very new) I just don't want to buy something that is useless to me...ie; won't fit my t2i. :/

With your level of experience, I would recommend staying far, far away from ebay...

For used lenses from a source you can trust, the first and best option is www.keh.com. You can search by camera and lens brand, so you know what you're looking at is what you're looking for.

You're looking for Canon EOS mount lenses, btw.

If you still want to shop ebay, definitely use KEH to compare prices.

xNighx · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:32:36 PM »

Quote from: 1074 on March 20, 2012, 07:21:04 AM

For used lenses from a source you can trust, the first and best option is www.keh.com. You can search by camera and lens brand, so you know what you're looking at is what you're looking for.

You're looking for Canon EOS mount lenses, btw.

I thought I wasn't looking for EOS lenses. I want full manual control to pull focus during filming. Manual Aperture as well, if I can find it. (I haven't seen any that say "manual aperture control")
Maybe I misunderstood what lenses I'm looking for. I don't need AF and a manual aperture would be nice although I could live w/o it. Or...maybe I'm missing something.

(wouldn't be the 1st time)

1074 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:22:40 AM »

You can definitely use non-Canon lenses, it just wasn't mentioned in your post.

You can mount the older Nikon non-G lenses with an adapter, and you'll have manual focus & manual aperture ring action.

M42 mount lenses will work as well, again with an adapter.

xNighx · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2012, 08:39:10 PM »

Quote from: 1074 on March 21, 2012, 10:22:40 AM

You can definitely use non-Canon lenses, it just wasn't mentioned in your post.

Good point. I did say I was trying to avoid lenses that won't fit my T2i, and I didn't mention I was willing to use adapters. It's reasonable to assume I meant I only wanted Canon glass. My bad.

Quote

M42 mount lenses will work as well, again with an adapter.

OK..."wow!" Outta my price range, but yes. These are what I'm looking for.

Quote

You can mount the older Nikon non-G lenses with an adapter, and you'll have manual focus & manual aperture ring action.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is non-G? I couldn't find "non-G" on the site you recommended.

1074 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2012, 07:05:39 AM »

What were you looking at that would make you say M42 mount lenses are out of your budget??

They are just about as cheap as lenses get!

Check here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=m42+lens&_sacat=0

As for the Nikon "non-G" thing, it's really simple! They're just older Nikon lenses that don't have a "G" on them!

Look for AI-S Nikon/Nikkor lenses, that's what you want: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=nikon+ai-s&_sacat=0&_odkw=m42+lens&_osacat=0

and here: http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-35mm/system-Nikon-Manual-Focus/category-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses?s=1&bcode=NK&ccode=6&cc=80342&r=WG&f

scrow9 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2012, 11:10:15 AM »

I encourage people to not buy the kit lens and instead save that money for the Canon 50mm 1.4 which is built better than the Canon 50mm 1.8 and has a much wider focus ring which for me turns out to be very important for manually focusing. Regarding the comment that the 50mm is just too much of "zoom" lens for interviews in a small room - yes, that's where something like a 24mm or 30mm prime comes in real handy but they are expensive (the ones from Canon) - I may go for a third party brand like Tamron or Sigma.

Canon does sell a 28mm 1.8 prime lens for just under $500, no image stabilization but I think I can live with that.

Author Topic: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D (Read 1397 times)

mrfamousface

Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

1074

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

sfyn

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

Raf702

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

kjvanek

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

Hybrid AWD

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

NightowlDVP

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

xNighx

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

NightowlDVP

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

1074

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

xNighx

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

1074

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

xNighx

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

1074

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D

scrow9

Re: Best Upgrade Lense for Video with 550D