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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs

 
 


KevinShaw
Veteran

Nov 2, 2009, 2:54 PM

Post #1 of 15 (461 views)
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Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs Can't Post
Did a little searching and found the following lenses from Tamron with 14x and 15x zoom range respectively:

http://www.amazon.com/...igital/dp/B000IBLMHQ

http://www.amazon.com/...moreAboutThisProduct


Darrell Aubert
Veteran


Nov 2, 2009, 4:52 PM

Post #2 of 15 (453 views)
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Re: [KevinShaw] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
These lenses are crap. Very high f stops. I think trying to get one "all around lens" is the wrong approach.

Darrell Aubert
The Smugboy


KevinShaw
Veteran

Nov 2, 2009, 7:58 PM

Post #3 of 15 (430 views)
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Re: [Darrell Aubert] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
f/3.5 on the wide end isn't bad, and the total zoom could be useful for well-lit settings. I currently use the Canon 28-200 for my personal photos and it's not quite enough range for my tastes, so nice to see there are other options. But sure, for maximum quality go with the Canon zooms or primes.


Brackish
Veteran


Nov 2, 2009, 10:54 PM

Post #4 of 15 (420 views)
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Re: [KevinShaw] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
Not directly related to your post but ...

I have just read that one of the top wedding photogs in the world
shoots a 50mm as his longest lens. Videogs, on the other hand,
are looking for 200mm and up on the long end.




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Scott S
Veteran

Nov 3, 2009, 1:22 AM

Post #5 of 15 (413 views)
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Re: [Darrell Aubert] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
The canon 17-55 2.8 IS USM is the closest to an all around lens I will use..


FaithPoison
Enthusiast


Nov 3, 2009, 8:16 AM

Post #6 of 15 (397 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Not directly related to your post but ...

I have just read that one of the top wedding photogs in the world
shoots a 50mm as his longest lens. Videogs, on the other hand,
are looking for 200mm and up on the long end.

My GH1 "ceremony" kit lens is 280mm (35mm equiv) at the long end and is way too short for just about any church wedding, unless you're standing on the altar area...which I don't do...most churches don't allow that anyways.

This past weekend I shot at the new Catholic cathedral downtown, and standing in the MIDDLE of the church (middle row/center aisle), all I could get was a wide shot of the B&G which included the MOH and BM.

On the other hand, at small dimly lit chapels where the lens IS long enough, it's only f5.8 at the long end, making it nearly useless. Seems like this wouldn't be as big of an issue with Canon or Nikon cameras, since they have some unworldly high ISO settings.

To me it's one of the reasons a "real" video camera still rules when it comes to practical event videography...especially if you shoot alone.

Receptions aren't as tough...I found I can shoot 95% of it with my new 20mm f1.7 (40mm in 35mm equiv)...and not have to use a light! The big aperture and "standard" focal length made the video very natural to watch...like being there.



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Darrell Aubert
Veteran


Nov 3, 2009, 9:03 AM

Post #7 of 15 (394 views)
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Re: [Scott S] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
The canon 17-55 2.8 IS USM is the closest to an all around lens I will use..
I just rented that lens and got some great results. The build quality blows but the optics are 1st rate.

Darrell Aubert
The Smugboy


Scott S
Veteran

Nov 3, 2009, 11:04 AM

Post #8 of 15 (382 views)
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Re: [Darrell Aubert] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
what did you think was wrong with the build quality? Was your broken or something or is it because it wasn't an L lens..? Just curious because it is a $1k lens... not exactly cheap even for canon..


Darrell Aubert
Veteran


Nov 3, 2009, 12:24 PM

Post #9 of 15 (377 views)
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Re: [Scott S] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
what did you think was wrong with the build quality? Was your broken or something or is it because it wasn't an L lens..? Just curious because it is a $1k lens... not exactly cheap even for canon..
Build quality wasn't an L. Feels weak, plastic. Optics are L lens quality though!

Darrell Aubert
The Smugboy


KevinShaw
Veteran

Nov 3, 2009, 1:45 PM

Post #10 of 15 (364 views)
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Re: [FaithPoison] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
To me it's one of the reasons a "real" video camera still rules when it comes to practical event videography...especially if you shoot alone.

Which is why I thought some might like to know about the wide-range zooms. At 250mm on the 7D your focal length equivalent would be 400mm, which should cover most situations. If you don't trust the quality of the Tamrons you could go with something like the Canon 55-250 for situations which don't require wide shots (like shooting from the balcony of a large church).


fr0gm@n
Veteran


Nov 4, 2009, 11:02 AM

Post #11 of 15 (337 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
Quote
I have just read that one of the top wedding photogs in the world
shoots a 50mm as his longest lens. Videogs, on the other hand,
are looking for 200mm and up on the long end.

That's because they are photogs and can be as obtrusive as they want to get whatever shot they want. It's accepted by society. We are forced to be less obtrusive meaning we have to shoot from the across the street or from the next county so we need bigger zooms. SlySlySlyTongue

Why does a gorilla have big nostrils.......cause it has big fingers.

frog blog


Joe Taravella
Novice


Nov 4, 2009, 1:26 PM

Post #12 of 15 (324 views)
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Re: [Darrell Aubert] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
These lenses are crap. Very high f stops. I think trying to get one "all around lens" is the wrong approach.
Joe Taravella
Studio Vieux Carre


jensenvideo
User


Nov 5, 2009, 5:23 PM

Post #13 of 15 (282 views)
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Re: [KevinShaw] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
Kevin,

For the 7D, the Tamron 17-55 2.8 has had excellent reviews and the newer version has stabilization. This lens hits many popular focal lengths with the 1.6x crop factor. The canon version mentioned above is also a good choice- though several hundred dollars more.... I would add a longer zoom. I think keeping reasonably fast fStops throughout the zoom range is critical with this cam- expecially in event shooting...

New Tamron here: http://www.amazon.com/...IKX0DER&v=glance

-Mike
Jensen Films | www.jensenvideo.com


KevinShaw
Veteran

Nov 6, 2009, 4:49 PM

Post #14 of 15 (249 views)
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Re: [jensenvideo] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks Mike. I looked up Tamron lenses on Amazon.com and they also have a 70-200 f/2.8 on sale for $679.


Scott S
Veteran

Nov 6, 2009, 10:25 PM

Post #15 of 15 (234 views)
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Re: [jensenvideo] Wide-range zoom for Canon DSLRs [In reply to] Can't Post
You rule Mike, thanks for turning us onto that lens...