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Recommend me a lens for Canon EOS 5D

post #1 of 18
10/12/10 at 12:32pm
Thread Starter 
So, this Canon EOS 5D falls into my lap. But it's just the camera, what comes in the retail box -- no lens.

I've always had a fully-auto point-n-shoot up until now, so can anyone recommend me a good all-purpose starter lens?
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post #2 of 18
10/12/10 at 1:05pm
50 mm F1.4 or F1.8
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post #3 of 18
10/12/10 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, it looks like one of those will suit me well.
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post #4 of 18
10/12/10 at 1:57pm
How much you wanna spend?

the canon 28-105 F3.5-4.5 USM (not the crappy one that starts at F4.0) can be had for a good price (though brand new copies are getting harder to find).

It takes quite sharp photos and is reasonably fast. Zoom range is perfect for a full frame camera like the 5D (its a little long for a 1.6crop camera like I have but it is still my go-to lens)

If you want to spend some money, the "L" series lenses in this range (the 24-70L and the 24-105L) are both good zoom ranges for every day use. The 24-70L is faster and can have shallower depth of field but the 24-105L can zoom a little more and has image stabilization which can partially make up for the slower speed.

Both of those will run you a LOT more money than a gently used 24-105 3.5-4.5 USM (I know it gets confusing that they have at least 3 different lenses with a 24-105 range). I would suggest you just do that until you figure out what you like. Then, when you want to buy a nice L lens, you will be able to either buy the *awesome* 70-200 f2.8 (if you decide you want to go long) or the 16-35 f2.8 (if you want to go wider)
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post #5 of 18
10/12/10 at 1:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by binge View Post
Thanks, it looks like one of those will suit me well.

The 50mm 1.8 can be had for less than $100 which is nice but remember, it has no zoom.

It is a cool lens and a 50mm prime (fixed focal length/no-zoom) is a good lens to own but you may prefer something with a zoom like what I talked about above)
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post #6 of 18
10/12/10 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by otc View Post
It is a cool lens and a 50mm prime (fixed focal length/no-zoom) is a good lens to own but you may prefer something with a zoom like what I talked about above)

Good point about the zoom, and thanks for the additional info and suggestions.

Since this is my first non-point-n-shoot/pocket camera, I'll probably shoot for something simple and inexpensive to learn the camera and figure out what I do and don't like. As for my budget, maybe $300 max for my starter lens.
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post #7 of 18
10/12/10 at 2:53pm
It depends on what you want to shoot and your shooting style, but the 50 1.4 will last you a very long time and is an excellent lens. I'd avoid the 50 1.8, because it's cheap, plasticky, and noisy, though the quality isn't bad. If you want to try out lenses without committing to them, try rentals:

http://www.lensrentals.com

They've got a couple of used 50/1.4 on sale right now, too, right under your budget. The 5D can produce really, really nice images --- don't let the lens be the roadblock.

--Andre
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post #8 of 18
10/12/10 at 2:59pm
check out the carl zeiss lenses in ef mount.
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post #9 of 18
10/12/10 at 5:17pm
Zooms : 700$ 17-40mm f4 USM 1k$ 24-105mm f4 L USM IS 1.3k$ 24-70mm f2.8 L USM Prime : 350$ 50mm f1.4 380$ 85mm f1.8 There aren't that many starter lens for a full frame camera I would sell the 5D and pick up some crop frame( 7D, 60D, 50D, 550D) with 18-55mm IS ( $150) + 55-250mm IS ( $230 ) + 50mm f1.8 ( $100)
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post #10 of 18
10/12/10 at 5:55pm
Will trade you my 20D + 17-85 IS for that 5D and you'll be all set!

For your budget the 28-105 is probably your best bet; will let you see what focal range you use most frequently and you can go from there.
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post #11 of 18
10/12/10 at 6:06pm
I use mine with a 50mm 1.8/f and a 70/200mm 2.8/f
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post #12 of 18
10/12/10 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcg View Post
For your budget the 28-105 is probably your best bet; will let you see what focal range you use most frequently and you can go from there.
Here is a random ebay auction for one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-28-105m...item3a5f64819a Not affiliated with the seller/can't vouch for them but it is brand new for $250 and comes with the hood (I like my hood...you can shoot without one of course but might as well take it for free ) Looked like there were used models for even less (amazon was sold out of new ones so I don't have a comparison from them). I bought mine used on ebay in 07 for maybe 150 and had no issues
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post #13 of 18
10/12/10 at 8:20pm
The 5D is a full-frame sensor camera, meaning that a 24mm lens as used for 35mm photography will also have the same 24mm field of view on the sensor; there isn't a multiplier factor that effectively crops the image as might be made by a longer lens. So wide lenses are great with these cameras. Zooms are nice, but wide primes give you great sharpness at much lower cost. I suggest: Canon EF 50mm f 1.8 cheap and sharp normal lens that is also pretty fast Canon EF 24 mm f2.8 a wide angle prime Canon EF 20mm f2.8 a very wide angle prime that gives you dramatic field of view and lets you do creative near-far compositions and the like Canon EF 85 f1.8 for a portrait telephoto prime Canon Zooms are fantastic as well, but they get more expensive. If you like a great working range, the EF 24-105 f4L is great if not fast. Oh, and get a tripod. I recommend Gitzo carbon with either an Arca Swiss B1 ballhead, the Really Right Stuff BH-55 or the Kirk Enterprises BH-1, with a quick-release.
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post #14 of 18
10/13/10 at 10:34pm
buy something used. 14mm, 35mm, or 24-70.
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post #15 of 18
10/28/10 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
After hand-wringing a bit, I ordered the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and it arrived today.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to use the damn thing. Just shooting crap around the apartment the evening, the full-auto mode leaves a lot to be desired; although it seemed to do well outdoors during the day.
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