Help with Lenses

[bazz farazz]

<p>Hi All,<br>

So I am going to be taking a film class in the Spring and I need help on deciding what lens or lenses to purchase. I own the EF-S 17-55 but as we all know that won't work on a film camera. I will be selling it, to help pay for the new lenses, so I've been looking for things in that focal range. I have a 50 F/1.4 and 70-200 F/2.8 so that end is covered. I was looking at the combo of the Canon 20mm F/2.8 and the new Canon 35 F/2 IS or the Canon 16-35 F/2.8. The 16-35 will be pushing my budget once the sales end. I'd like to keep it around $1400 and 2.8 or faster. I also considered the new Canon 24 F/2.8 IS but was wondering if the gap between being used to 17mm and 24mm would be too much of a difference on my digital crop body. Any advice will be appreciated. I am just wanting to have all the ranges covered. <br>

Thanks <br>

Jeff</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Look at he Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L. Sharp! Reasonably priced. Works very well on full frame film or digital.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>Your problem is getting wide and also fast (F/2.8).<br>

If I were you, I would not be in so much of an hurry to sell the EF-S17 to 55F/2.8IS.<br>

I think you have to consider what lenses you will have for your (APS-C) Digital Body, after you do this film course: the 17 to 55 is a nice lens.</p>

<p>I think that if you really want wide and F/2.8 – then either suck it up (and sell the 17 to 55) and buy the EF16 to 35/2.8L MkII USM<br>

OR<br>

Keep the 17 to 55 and (if you really NEED TWO wide lenses for the film course) buy a 24/2.8 and/or 35/2 (the non-IS lenses) that being a minimal spend and getting you quite reasonable quality glass at F/2.8 for your Film Camera, to use on the Course.<br>

(buying keenly, you could sell both lenses later at not too much ‘loss’ I expect)</p>

<p>Also – what is the duration of the Course? Is renting a 16 to 35/2.8 an option for you?</p>

<p>WW</p>

[peter_j2]

<p>Save even more money and go with a used Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L Mark I USM. Get it cheap. Sell it cheap. This film course will cost you money, regardless.</p>

[sarah_fox]

<p>Maybe you should have a chat with the professor instead of with us. He or she might have very different notions of what is necessary or useful for this course. You might be overthinking the issue, and of course that could cost you money you don't have.</p>

[hjoseph7]

<p>Not sure why the 17-55 won't work as a film lens but the 50mm f1.4, the 70-200mm, the 35mm will ?</p>

[John Crowe]

<p>Harry, EF-S lenses do not cover 35mm format, only crop body sensor.</p>

<p>I would also consider a used Canon EF 17-35mm f2.8 L or used Canon 20-35mm f2.8 L, each available for about the same as a used Canon EF 17-40mm f4 L.</p>

<p>I am not sure why you want to go as wide as 17mm, since you were used to about 28mm on your crop body. I am a superwideangle freak, currently using a 17 TS-E, but it takes time and patience to learn how to compose images well, with lenses this wide. </p>

<p>May I ask why a film course?</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Sorry Jeffery, I see you were looking for an f/2.8 lens. </p>

[arie_vandervelden1]

<p>I'd keep the 17-55. How about buying a Tamron 28-75/2.8</p>

[William Michael]

<blockquote>

<p>"I am not sure why you want to go as wide as 17mm, since you were used to about 28mm your crop body"</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I understand the question to imply: <em>'if I sell the 17 to 55 to fund this new lens, I also want a lens to (use on my APS-C body) to replace 17 to 55.'</em><br>

Maybe Jeffrey can clarify.</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

[bazz farazz]

<p>I'm in college and the film class is required for the photo major. It is a 16 week long course. After reading the responses and thinking about it a little more I think I'm going to hold on to the 17-55 and get the 35 F/2 to have a wide-angle for my film body. I'll save the extra money for the film, paper, and all the chemistry I'll have to buy. I'd be fine with the non-IS just wish it didn't sound like a bag of mosquitos. LoL<br>

Thanks Again!</p>

[William Michael]

<blockquote>

<p>"the film class is required for the photo major. It is a 16 week long course"</p>

</blockquote>

<p>. . . very similar to here, for a Photog. Major in the undergraduate degree - do you do Developing and Printing work and also learn Large Format Cameras (camera movements)?</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

[bazz farazz]

<p>Yes, we will be doing developing and printing, both b/w and color. I don't think we'll be getting to use large format cameras. I know there is a dedicated class for large format and another 400 level class you have to do architecture shots with the large format camera.</p>

[William Michael]

<p> . . . OK<br>

Thanks for the info, very interesting to know what happens elsewhere.<br>

Enjoy your course. Learn heaps . . . Learn the First Principles.</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

[zack_zoll]

<p>As a university photo instructor, I would tell you not to buy anything at all, and just use your 50mm f/1.4. For starters, the extra two stops of light over a zoom will help make up for your inability to do crazy magic tricks with high ISO settings.</p>

<p>On top of that, I personally find that students of almost any level will find more creative solutions, and thus learn more, when they're forced to use a limited set of equipment. When you only have a fixed lens, you spend more time considering framing and perspective then if you have a zoom.</p>

<p>You might want to check out the movie 'The Five Obstructions', as it deals with the effect of restrictions on creativity. It's really very interesting.</p>