canon L lens.. 1717 Responses

Last post: 1 year ago | Thread started: May 8, 12, 2:36 p.m.

RespondNew TopicDisable Images

• autoflavour

  ok.. so after fucking around with the Canon 50mm 1.2 L for the past month, i have concluded that right now, given that i am still using a crop camera, this lens just isnt what i need for video..

  and given that its going to be a while before i get a full frame camera, i have sent it back.

  I am tossing up between the 24mm 1.4 L and the 16-35mm 2.8 L..

  my current workhorse is the 24-70mm L..

  my question to you lot is.. do any of you have these, or used them, or have any thoughts otherwise..

  May 8, 12, 2:36 p.m. – Permalink

• autoflavour

  as for why its not what i need..
  its too long.. its like 80mm or something..
  its an amazing lens for portraits and just straight photography..
  but as a lens for video, i have found it very restrictive..

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 2:37 p.m. – Permalink

• autoflavour

  also wide open, the 1.2 was a bit soft for my liking.. considering its price tag

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 2:38 p.m. – Permalink

• linearch

  i like the 85mm 1.2

  • this was not a helpful answer at all.....i'm sorry.– linearch1/4

    nah its totally fine..– autoflavour2/4

    the photos i took with the 50 were stunning.. its just for video, it was hard to find a good shot– autoflavour3/4

    <why i'd jump to canon from nikon
    – jaylarson4/4

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 2:47 p.m. – Permalink

• doesnotexist

  i use the 24mm lens and love it. i'm not a big fan of telephoto lenses, so if I need to zoom in on something, i get closer. i like how close it is to real-life perspective.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 3 p.m. – Permalink

• HijoDMaite

  yeah man don't buy the 16-35mm if you mostly shoot vid because it might be good with the cropped sensor but when you upgrade to full frame, (which you should do asap), you won't be able to use it everyday. It's just way too wide and will only work for some cool effects. Check out this full frame use of the 16-35mm and ask if this is the look you are going for. Sorry if post is veering off subject but I am just thinking you will eventually upgrade to full frame.

  &feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLC69C5E826EE636DD

  I bought the 16-35mm 2.8 a couple months ago and dropped $1,700 I ended up taking it back. It's just so wide that it's too much of a specialized lens which I don't have the luxury of owning right now. I still don't have a perfect walk around lens. Just my nifty fifty and my 85mm 1.8 (which I love zoo much)

  • Exactly. I bought the 17-40 for my 20D, when I got the Mark II it became useless....– ArmandoEstrada1/3

    tell me this camera is in a waterproof case... omg. looks fun though...– sherm2/3

    oh.. its a GoPro.– sherm3/3

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 3:02 p.m. – Permalink

• inteliboy

  For video (and a crop sensor) I find the 24-105mm is great - it's only f4 but has image stabilisation which is VERY handy when shooting from car / on the move. Plus it's not always easy swapping lenses when on a run'n'gun type shoot.

  From primes I'd say the 35 1.4 is spot on as it gives you nice DOF but also versatile (either normal wide, or normal depending on sensor).

  Best thing though, which a bunch of DOP's here have done, is invest in a set of Leica R lenses converted for canon mount. Amazing lenses and relatively cheap for leica.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 4:06 p.m. – Permalink

• epigraph

  17-55 2.8 if you are cool with 2.8.

  • perfect on crop. I regret losing this lens upon moving to FF– epigraph

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 5:26 p.m. – Permalink

• canuck

  not canon, but from what I hear pretty good for video and around $500

  

  there is also a 24mm vers. but more money (700)

  • i've just bought one of these, awesome for the $$$– Huebert1/2

    yes, and the old-school manual focus is great for video– vaxorcist2/2

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 7:35 p.m. – Permalink

• bogue

  ok... so what's the verdict here. I'm looking to add a wide angle to my kit for my 5D Mk3... is the 17-35 2.8 not a good option for a full frame censor?

  • *sorry 16-35mm 2.8– bogue1/4

    5DMK3!! Jealous!– pango2/4

    also jealous..– autoflavour3/4

    also jealous
    – sadpanda4/4

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 10:51 p.m. – Permalink

• albums

  I have the 16-35L I admit, it's heavy to use and makes things more cumbersome than a 50 or the longer 85 but the glass is so nice, coated to let so much light through. I enjoy the natural vignetting this lens provides. at lower aperture settings.

  28-35 is standard editorial shooting range with (85 being the common portrait). 16 allows you to cover more area in a confined space. it's able to provide a very flat image too, not fish-eyed, with very little bowing at the edges. IMO this makes a great cinematic lens for a 5DMKII or MKIII it will fit on the 7D and other bodies however it does suffer the crop.

  The only drawback to this lens is the technical preparation of its use. If you record footage or take photos at 16mm, you'll notice the distortion more, but when leveled and framed properly this lens will consistently create visually stunning images. I believe for the investment, a full frame body is a must to get the most benefit of the 16-35.

  • great feedback, thanks so much.– bogue1/4

    yeah, full frame is the next body .. but the 7d is still doing what i want and considering the scaled output on the 5dII– autoflavour2/4

    for monitoring, i would save pennies for mkIII.. but yep.. that is a whole other world at the moment..– autoflavour3/4

    trying to find something that will keep me happy now and later.. that is my goal..– autoflavour4/4

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 11:03 p.m. – Permalink

• albums

  Want to love your 16-35L on a full frame body?
  Buy one (or 3) of these...
  

  

  
  http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Bub…

  • Newer cameras have digital level built in.– pango1/6

    I'd rather not depend on the screen all the time, sometimes I hold it waist high and look down on this, it's a great angle– albums2/6

    this makes that angle easy to take nice and level on all 3 axis, plus other low angle stuff I do– albums3/6

    I'm speaking from experience here to answer a question so your confrontation is a waste of my time & others.– albums4/6

    confrontation? right.....– pango5/6

    Get it if it helps your shooting style. I had one until i discover my camera has one built in. never used it again for my need.– pango6/6

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 8, 12, 11:08 p.m. – Permalink

• autoflavour

  yeah basically i know that i will go full frame on my next body.. so i am not even considering any ef-s lenses..

  i am leaning pretty heavy towards the 16-35mm .. the wide side of things is drawing me in..

  but the 1.4 on the 24mm is tempting for the speed..

  as for 3rd party.. the only lens i would consider really is the zeiss .. but i want something for normal photography also.. so the manual side of it is a bit of an extravagance

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 2:21 a.m. – Permalink

• vaxorcist

  honestly, i'd consider some old manual focus prime lenses + adapters for your EOS... you're lucky that the adapters are $20 and work well with EOS.

  Old metal ring manual focus lenses are a joy to follow focus with compared to AF plastic.

  The Nikon AIS 28mm F2.8 is extremely sharp, has a long focus pull, and focusses very close and is $200-300 used.

  The Contax Zeiss 28mm F2.8 is astoundingly sharp-contrasty, bites a bit in a way, and it's about $250-350 used.

  The Nikon 35 F1.4 AIS is very nicely bokeh-smooth at close distances, and has a nice focus pull.

  These lenses are lunch money compared to an L zoom, and you can sell them for the same you paid.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 5:37 a.m. – Permalink

• autoflavour

  yeah problem is (and i know this is a total first world problem) but the money for this lens is from a grant.. and i need to show that i have the lens i put in for..

  i am already needing to tell them i changed from a 50mm which i specified in the application.. so going back and saying i just spend 1300 euro on a bunch of second hand lenses isnt really going to cut it alas..

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 6:18 a.m. – Permalink

• CyBrainX

  I have the 16-35mm 2.8 L and the 24-70mm L. The 16-35 is great but not quite as sharp as the 24-70. But it's like splitting hairs. And 2.8 isn't a the kind of depth of field you can get with a prime lens but I'll trade it off for having more range.

  

  • < taken with the 16 - 35– CyBrainX1/3

    Full frame or crop?– autoflavour2/3

    full frame (5D)– CyBrainX3/3

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 6:43 a.m. – Permalink

• autoflavour

  but yep, i have to say.. amazon is fucking amazing.

  28 days after purchasing the 50mm.. i just click return on the website, print out a DHL label, and its free shipping to return.. no questions asked.

  seriously, if you had the cash, why would anyone ever rent equipment again.. just buy it, use it, return it..
  repeat.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 7:21 a.m. – Permalink

• vaxorcist

  argh! I used to work in a camera store, we had "customers" who would ask all sorts of stuff about which camera to get for a beach wedding, then they'd return the camera 3 weeks later with sand in the box and the manual missing and no batteries... argh! we couldn't sell that to a customer(!) it was sometimes not a fun moment....

  • well, i took good care.. i promise..– autoflavour1/3

    no sand– autoflavour2/3

    manual included– autoflavour3/3

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 12, 8:13 a.m. – Permalink