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I need some new glass.. help

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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653

Ive had my eye on the Rokinon 14mm f2.8. it seems like a good lens for the price and i would probably get the canon 50mm f1.8 as well.  How well are these lenses for picture/video?

Or should i just buy the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 and call it good?

Sep 28 2011 2:31PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
oh and im only looking to spend about 500-600 dollars
Sep 28 2011 2:32PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
what camera/lenses/other gear do you have?
Sep 28 2011 2:48PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
I personally think this lens is crap. Optics are good, but the housing is terrible. There's much nicer lenses for the same price.
Sep 28 2011 2:54PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
After being able to look at the 14mm test shots, it's a piss poor lens. Don't buy it.

People say things like "for the price" and "for now", but that always makes me cringe... I always suggest saving up and buying a piece of glass you're ready to keep for a while.

If you want an UWA, get the tokina ( a little above your price range). If you want a versatile wide angle zoom, get the tamron. Both of those lenses are good enough glass to last you a long while.
Sep 28 2011 3:01PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653

i have a 60d with a 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens, a 55-250 f4-5.6, and a 75-300 f4-5.6.. i dont really have any other gear besides a cheap tripod and a handle i made from home depot.  i guess i should change my question to: where do i start investing money on camera equipment?

Sep 28 2011 7:10PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
First pick up a manfrotto 501hdv with 055 legs from b&h
Sep 28 2011 7:31PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
post fail

First pick up a manfrotto 501hdv with 055 legs from b&h
Sep 28 2011 7:31PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I used the less than symbol and it freaked out, here you go

First pick up a manfrotto 501hdv with 055 legs from b&h less than$300
Then a tamron 17-50 2.8 less than $400
I would strongly recommend selling the 18-135 and one of the tele's
I dont know a ton about audio, but the rode videomic pro is $250 new on ebay, its pretty popular and a zoom h4n is out of your budget for now
Then get a couple good class 10 cards, spare batteries and a battery grip (if you want it, bigger but you swap less often)
The cards and batteries are a bit cheaper, so I recommend saving towards either a tokina 11-16 or a canon 70-200 f4 (sell the other tele if you go with the 70-200)

lastly, somewhere along the way, you should pick up a pentax smc 50mm 1.4 (these are like $100). I would say anytime after you get the 17-50, and also build a simple handle for follows ($20 at a hardware store)

this is just general advice from what I have read, I have a panasonic so I dont stay up on a ton of the canon things, but regardless this would be a solid setup
Sep 28 2011 7:33PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653

thanks man! i think im gonna go this route. good information

Sep 28 2011 8:21PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
I don't think you should get the Tamron 17-50 unless you would rather have the constant aperture over a better zoom range. If that is the case, sell your 18-135 and get the Tamron. I don't think having both is a good way to spend your money. IMO, you should sell one of your telephotos, the money from that could help fund a UWA lens or better stabilization. A new tripod should be near the top of your list, look into a Manfrotto 501hdv setup or the new Satchler Ace if you want to spend a little more, it's probably worth it.
Sep 28 2011 8:59PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
good advice, not hating but did you see my post?
Sep 29 2011 12:13AM
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zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,039
THIS. So much CA, its really awkwardly distorted, looks like a photo-booth filter.

IMO but I would ditch 18-135 and 75-300, and pick up a 17-40F4L (used it goes for around $600ish, a bit more but its that much sharper than most in its price range), a good alternative is the tokina 17-50 F2.8. A 50mm F1.8 is a good thing to have as well. Its a great lens and for $100 its awesome (this lens is the only exception in my mind to twoods comment).

I think a 17-40F4L (if you can afford it, tokina if you can't) a 50mm F1.8 and a 55-250 would be pretty dope. Dan Carr always says that if you have a wide zoom, and fast standard prime, and a tele, you can get 95% of things done.
Sep 29 2011 12:58AM
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zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,039
oops. Tamron 17-50 F2.8 not tokina.
Sep 29 2011 12:58AM
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MattL.
Posts: 252 - Karma: 20
sorry to thread jack but right now i have a vintage 58 1.4 prime pretty fast.... so i think im proably gonna get a 17-50 next do you think thats a good choice?
Sep 29 2011 8:31AM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
If the 58 is your only current lens, yes
Sep 29 2011 11:30AM
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MattL.
Posts: 252 - Karma: 20
alright awesome but would there be a better choice for me?
Sep 29 2011 12:35PM
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p.hawks
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
the tamron is the best for the price/range/speed. Just make sure you get the non VC
Sep 29 2011 1:44PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653

why non VC? is it the sharpness or just price?

Sep 29 2011 2:14PM
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MattL.
Posts: 252 - Karma: 20
both
Sep 29 2011 2:39PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
bump.. any other advice on a nice video setup?? i think im going to get a tripod first.. then i want to get a new lens. sould i get the 17-50 or a UWA?
Sep 30 2011 1:58PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
We can't answer that for you. Are you going to be filming from a moderate perspective, or less than 10 feet from the skier?

The 17-50 will be more versatile obviously. 17mm is a great wide length for follow cams. To put into perspective, on my Tokina 11-16 I usually shoot at 16mm. However...

If you want an UWA, you need to get close. When I shoot at 11mm, I am literally 2 feet from the skier taking off the lip. Also, a quality UWA is going to cost more than the 17-50.

Just some food for thought...
Sep 30 2011 2:43PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
how do you like the tokina? how is the quality of it?
Sep 30 2011 3:14PM
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 529
Take a look at the Sachtler ACE for a tripod. Not much more expensive than Manfrotto kits, and has an actual fluid drag system.
Sep 30 2011 3:24PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
I couldn't ask for a better lens. It's fast, sharp, rectilinear, and great all around image quality. It has a very Zeiss look to it...

Also, ditto on the ACE system^. I would only recommend Manfrotto if you're spending $300 tops, but if you're spending $500 or more, you'd be crazy to buy a Manfrotto when there are a couple Sachtler configurations around that price point.
Sep 30 2011 3:31PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505876-REG/Manfrotto_055XPROB_Tripod_with_501HDV.html

i think im going to get this setup.. unless anyone has anything bad to say about it?

Sep 30 2011 3:53PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
That will work fine for now. A couple caveats:
- It will only be stable up to about 50mm
- It will only last you around three years, assuming you take care of it.
- It won't perform optimally in cold weather
- It takes lots of practice to get smooth movement
Sep 30 2011 4:03PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653

so would i just be better off saving up for this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/822102-REG/Sachtler_1001_Ace_Fluid_Head_with.html

Sep 30 2011 5:09PM
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 529
Yes. I spent 150 bucks on one of those Miller ripoffs from Cheesycam everyone likes. It works in a pinch, but I have to use a rubber band for panning otherwise it looks like garbage. And like Landis said, it is not stable for anything over 50mm. I picked up a minolta 70-210 for my GH2 and all the footage I got with it is totally unusable because of my tripod. Moral of the story, I wish I had just been more patient and invested in a quality tripod right off the bat.
Sep 30 2011 5:23PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
Let me break it down:

Cost of using Manfrotto for 12 years: $300 x 4 = ~$1200/yr

Cost of using Sachtler FSB4 for 12 years: ~$296/yr


Manfrottos will break if you do any actions sports. There's no avoiding that. My calculation is based off the assumption that you'll get about 3 years out of it before it falls apart. The Sachtler FSB tripods are said to last 30 years and beyond, so my calculation is based on how much of the principal cost you're paying yearly over a 12-year duration.
Sep 30 2011 5:39PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
d'oh, I mean $1200/12 years
Sep 30 2011 5:40PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
this is exactly how long mine lasted before it started breaking down
Sep 30 2011 5:42PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
so which would you reccomend? the sachtler ace or the fsb-4?
Sep 30 2011 7:47PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
The FSB series has a great reputation across the board. I can personally verify that they are extremely well-engineered heads.

The ACE is a bit of a new venture for Sachtler. It's their crack at a budget-level piece of equipment, which is odd considering most of their products are in the $1.5k - $3k range. Based on the (few) existing reviews, it's a shoe-in as far as it being better than anything else in its price range. However take that for what it is, because I have never personally used it.

I will say that anything you buy from Manfrotto at that price isn't any better than the 501, so that rules out Manfrotto at that price point. I have heard good things about the Vinten Vision Blue, but I have also heard the FSB series are better.
Sep 30 2011 9:24PM
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SkiJay.
Posts: 1550 - Karma: 653
What do you think i could sell my kit 18-135 for?
Oct 3 2011 1:50AM
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