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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
ordered a new lens

Shadow
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Aug 10, 2007, 12:39 PM

Post #1 of 22 (1481 views)
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ordered a new lens	Can't Post

Anyone use the Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM lens?
I see it is very widely used.

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Brackish
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Aug 10, 2007, 1:18 PM

Post #2 of 22 (1477 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Anyone use the Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM lens?
I see it is very widely used.

Wow! Congrats, Shadow. Smile

I haven't used it but I've seen a number of the photogs use it.
It's not a small lens.
(Often the photogs don't have the lens hood on it
but, myself, I always use a hood.)

What made you decide to go with it? Were you considering
any others instead of that one?

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Shadow
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Aug 10, 2007, 1:42 PM

Post #3 of 22 (1473 views)
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Re: [Brackish] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well I had the 24 - 60mm f2.8 Sigma lens but couldn't get a true crisp photo when shooting from a distance. mind you I did buy the lens used, had it serviced but stll at a distance it wasn't quite crisp enough. I had a hard time showing people what I meant and many couldn't see it, but I could tell and it bugged me.

I wanted a constant 2.8 in that range as I found it really useful.

I have th 28-135 IS lens but it is variable f stop and miss the constant 2.8.

The other lens I was thinking of was the 70 - 200 2.8 but it is really pricey.

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Sparky
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Aug 10, 2007, 2:50 PM

Post #4 of 22 (1464 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Used to have it, but sold it. It is a fairly heavy lens. I ended up replacing it with a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 which has been very good.

I'm sure you'll like the Canon.

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 13, 2007, 4:37 AM

Post #5 of 22 (1426 views)
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Re: [Sparky] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Used to have it, but sold it. It is a fairly heavy lens. I ended up replacing it with a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 which has been very good.

Storm Crowe (who used to post here) spoke highly of
his Tamron 28-75. He uses it on a 30D body, as I recall.

P.S. I'm surprised you make note of the weight of the
Canon 24-70 considering you have shown a past
history of not being put off by the heft of much heavier
lenses. Wink

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

(This post was edited by Brackish on Aug 13, 2007, 4:44 AM)

StillMotion
User

Aug 15, 2007, 12:29 PM

Post #6 of 22 (1379 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

We had that lens, as did our other two photographers, and everybody ended up selling them when we went to the full frame 5D as the 24-70 range at f2.8 just seems to be too average if that makes sense. While primes may not be your style, the 50 f1.5 , 85 f1.2 and 24 f1.4 or 28 f1.8 will completely change the look of your work when used properly. That also means having 2-3 bodies, which doesn't work for everybody, but I speak for our whole team when I say that we could do nearly the kind of stuff we are doing know if we hadn't moved ot the primes on the 5D.

The 16-35 on the other hand is a great wide angle as it can go from an almost fisheye look at full wide to a nice wide angle with low distortion, and pretty good sharpness as you zoom in. The consensus I have heard, and seen with all of our guys, is that the 16-35, and 70-200 are great zooms, and the middile focal lengths are best covered by primes.

Patrick

Shadow
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Aug 15, 2007, 12:37 PM

Post #7 of 22 (1375 views)
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Re: [StillMotion] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes that does make sense, but I'm not using a full frame sensor at the moment.
I had a sigma f2 24 - 60mm and LOVED it. I sold it and bought the better Canon lens. I don't know what it would be like on the 5D, it will be a while until I upgrade to a 5D, as for now my camera works well for me.

I also have 2 camera bodies on me, and with an assistant too I sometimes swap all have different lenses on them. I love the low fstop for doing fun shallow dof shots!

I considered the 70-200 lens but went with this one instead, based on my preferences. I could see how the 70-200 could come in handy but the most of my work has been using the 24-60 range, or with the 50mm 1.8 lens.

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StillMotion
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Aug 15, 2007, 1:39 PM

Post #8 of 22 (1372 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree, the 24-70 is a great choice if you aren't going full frame.

Brackish
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Aug 15, 2007, 2:52 PM

Post #9 of 22 (1366 views)
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Re: [StillMotion] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

While primes may not be your style, the 50 f1.5 , 85 f1.2 and 24 f1.4 or 28 f1.8 will completely change the look of your work when used properly. ... but I speak for our whole team when I say that we could do nearly the kind of stuff we are doing know if we hadn't moved to the primes

Hi, Patrick.

First off ... Congrats on your success in the Vegas WEVA competition!

I was wondering if you could elaborate a bit on what you and
your team have noticed in the difference between using the
zooms and using the primes?

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 16, 2007, 9:51 PM

Post #10 of 22 (1319 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Did you get the lens yet?? What do you think of it???

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Shadow
Veteran

Aug 16, 2007, 11:22 PM

Post #11 of 22 (1314 views)
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Re: [Brackish] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes I have it, I haven't had time to play with it much, I think I took two pictures - such a shame!! I have engagement pictures to do tomorrow, I've tested it enough to know it works well, so I'm going to use it tomorrow.

It is pretty heavy, with the battery grip and the 580 flash I'm going to get a sore arm - ha ha, actually it isn't as much as my video camera but still it is heavy.

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Brackish
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Aug 16, 2007, 11:31 PM

Post #12 of 22 (1312 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Do you have it on a strap around your neck?

You should let us know what you think of it after the
engagement session.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Shadow
Veteran

Aug 16, 2007, 11:34 PM

Post #13 of 22 (1310 views)
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Re: [Brackish] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have a neck strap and also a hand strap. I liked the hand strap a lot.

I'll let you know my report. Wink

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Brackish
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Aug 17, 2007, 4:01 PM

Post #14 of 22 (1282 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

I like the idea of a shoulder strap but I'd be worried the cam
would fall off my shoulder and break.

I am going to carry a second cam by shoulder, though,
with this strap I heard about that is so grippy that it
will not slide off. It is called "UpStrap" - everyone raves
about it:

http://upstrap-pro.com/

There's a thinner one for if your cam is lighter:

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 17, 2007, 4:02 PM

Post #15 of 22 (1280 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I'll let you know my report. Wink

Yeah, you should write a review. Sly

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 19, 2007, 11:49 PM

Post #16 of 22 (1243 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

The photog I just worked with shot the whole day with
just one lens: the 24-70!

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 21, 2007, 4:46 AM

Post #17 of 22 (1220 views)
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Re: [Brackish] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

The photog I just worked with shot the whole day with
just one lens: the 24-70!

Although, he did have them re-enact the vows because
he was restricted to only shooting from the back of the
church or the balcony only.

(If videogs asked them to re-enact their vows
for a better shot I don't think we'd get too far. LOL)

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
Veteran

Aug 21, 2007, 4:49 AM

Post #18 of 22 (1219 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

One thing that looks different about that 24-70 in use
is how the front of it extends out rapidly. Is that
because of when you are zooming it or the
focus?

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Shadow
Veteran

Aug 26, 2007, 11:51 PM

Post #19 of 22 (1144 views)
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Re: [Brackish] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sorry Brack, I'm not getting notifications about replies so I didn't see your question until now.

The front extends when you use the zoom.

I used the lens tonight, there certainly is a difference from the other lens I was using. Although it is heavy, I do like the lens a lot. My next photo wedding is Sept 22, so I'll see how I like it after carrying the thing around all day.

I tried that renumbering trick but it didn't work for me the way I had wanted to. It saved it in terms of date, I couldn't seem to figure out how to do the time. Maybe there's something I haven't set in my camera.
I want to figure it out before the next wedding. If I manage to get it working I'll let you know how.

H

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AbracadabraTV
User

Aug 28, 2007, 10:16 PM

Post #20 of 22 (1105 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

We have one and it's a really nice lens but I prefer the Canon 17-35mm 2.8 when used on the 20D because of the 1.6 x factor.
Best, Craig

Shadow
Veteran

Aug 28, 2007, 11:29 PM

Post #21 of 22 (1099 views)
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Re: [AbracadabraTV] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Craig,

That lens is the next on the wish list. I really like this new lens and find it takes nice crisp photos. I wouldn't have expected such a difference in the L series lenses but there really is a difference.

H

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Brackish
Veteran

Sep 1, 2007, 6:02 AM

Post #22 of 22 (1046 views)
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Re: [Shadow] ordered a new lens [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Shadow.

Do you notice any difference in the color saturation and
contrast of the images with your new lens as compared
to what you were using previously? Or is the difference
just noticeable in the sharpness?

One thing I have read from someone who has used that
lens a lot is that you should be careful not to get
too comfortable with the high image quality of that
lens. What I heard is that you could end up just
standing in one spot, zooming in and out on your
subjects ... but it could hurt your images overall
because you don't move around anymore - you
shoot all your shots from just the one place where
you happen to be standing. I guess that means
in some respects the lens is too good. Smile

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."