Buying a Canon Rebel T3i and could use some advice! - General

I am a film major and was planning on using the majority of it on video. My dilemma is that I can't decide on whats the smartest way to buy it. I was planning on buying the t3i body separate and then purchase an L series lens. That way if i ever want to upgrade my body later, i will still have a high quality lens that i can use on the next body since they are interchangeable. Or I could buy the camera in a kit and have a lower end lens that would later i would want to upgrade the lens from causing we to burn more money? Which would be the smartest purchase. Also what kind of lens would you recommend for filming? I like getting close up shots dealing with macro. but i also like distance shots so i assume i will be getting multiple lens's? Thanks guys.

would it be smarter to buy the body separate then and get a high end lens (L series) so I wouldn't have to upgrade lenses later?

I'm not big into film, but you should look for a zoom if it's going to be your only lens for awhile. There's the 24-70 2.8L and the 24-105 4L with the IS. Image stabilizer is really helpful for filming, but you aren't going to have much low-light capability like you'd get with the 24-70. If you want really good low light capabilities and a shallow depth of field you should look into a prime. You'd probably want to go with the 35 1.4L. On a t3i it would approximate a 50mm on a fullframe. That's not going to be the widest angle out there but it will be your best bet. It would simulate what a 50mm would look like on a fullframe. You could also look at the 50 1.2L, but that's going to be pretty limiting at an equivalent of 85mm, until/if you upgrade to a full frame. If I were you, I would get the 24-70 2.8L, and throw in a cheap little 50 1.8 ($100) to give you something for when you want some shallow DOF or have a really dark scene. Anecdote: I have a 5D2 with 35 1.4L, 50 1.4, and 85 1.2L; and I feel pretty covered with just primes after selling my 24-70 2.8L. Maybe plan for a similar setup down the line? I think if you were to a get a 50 1.8 (it's so cheap, why not?) you'd get a feel for a fast prime and see if you like them. [editline]8th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34119271]would it be smarter to buy the body separate then and get a high end lens (L series) so I wouldn't have to upgrade lenses later?[/QUOTE] I agree with this. I think if you got a hold of the 24-70 (arguably the best zoom out there) you'd be set for awhile and have time to build up some funds for some nice primes.

my friend at work suggested a 24-105mm [url]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AZ57M6/ref=asc_df_B000AZ57M61852940?smid=A2I7HERVLL3MI9&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B000AZ57M6[/url] Generally most of my shots i think would involve conversational indoor shooting, but i would also want a lens that can have some distant/ outdoor establishing shots. Would this lens be a smart choice?

[QUOTE=NielsGade;34119622]The thing is, movies generally don't use zoom, so using it would make the movie seem less realistic.[/QUOTE] That's not the point of a zoom lens. It's to have a wide range of different focal lengths in one package. [editline]8th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34119732]my friend at work suggested a 24-105mm[/QUOTE] The only problem is that it only goes down to f/4 which will leave you starved for light in most situation besides daylight. I'm thinking the 24-70 2.8 would be better.

so since i will be buying a high end lens and will probably be one i will have for awhile till i can afford another...what would be the best canon L series lens that would give me a good variety of shots. Wide enough angle to have conversational indoor shooting...great depth of feel and some establishing shots? having Image stabilization on it would be nice also. I will definitely be looking into this 24-70 2.8

[QUOTE=NielsGade;34119622]The thing is, movies generally don't use zoom, so using it would make the movie seem less realistic.[/QUOTE] It's cheaper than buying a bunch of primes, not like you're going to be zooming while filming.

[QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34119900]what would be the best canon L series lens that would give me a good variety of shots. Wide enough angle to have conversational indoor shooting...great depth of feel and some establishing shots? having Image stabilization on it would be nice also.[/QUOTE] That is going to be the 24-70 2.8, hands down. The only gripe is no IS. You could hold out for the 24-70 2.8 II to be released, which is rumored to have IS - but it isn't a sure thing and would be more expensive.

[QUOTE=JoshJosh117;34119927]It's cheaper than buying a bunch of primes, not like you're going to be zooming while filming.[/QUOTE] Agreed!...lots of my techniques of filming don't involve zooming. My major concern is that since its gonna be my first lens that gonna be ALOT of money that i will have for a long time till i can afford another, i want it to be a lens that is a good standard one that can be used in every setting. But majority of my filming involves close ups, indoor shooting, and some outside establishing shots, so i feel a wider angle lens would be best. [editline]9th January 2012[/editline] Thanks Bopie! do you know when its supposedly gonna be released? Because i might not be buying this camera for a couple months?

Canon is [url=http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/01/lens-announcement-at-ces-cr1/]supposedly announcing[/url] lenses next week at CES, but it isn't certain it will be the 24-70 II, let alone them announcing any lenses. Even then, it will be awhile before it's actually released, maybe 4-6 months, I would guess.

alright, thanks. Do you know any videos that show this lens in action, or any websites that sell them reasonably priced. [editline]9th January 2012[/editline] also since that lens says 24-70 mm does it mean i can get a 55mm shot? I assume it would, but i just wanna make sure i get all my dumb questions or suspicions out of the way before i drop off 1000 dollars.

I always buy from [url=http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html]BHphoto[/url], they're fast, huge, and reliable. For samples, I would search around YouTube and Vimeo for '7D 24-70' - the reason being the 7D has the same sensor size as the T3i and will look pretty much identical. This is on a 7D with the 24-70L, and a 50 1.8 [media]http://vimeo.com/9102729[/media] [editline]8th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120178]also since that lens says 24-70 mm does it mean i can get a 55mm shot? I assume it would, but i just wanna make sure i get all my dumb questions or suspicions out of the way before i drop off 1000 dollars.[/QUOTE] It's smart to ask questions like that - yes you can go to [b]any length[/b] in from 24mm to 70mm, meaning 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.....67, 68, 69, 70 Here's a video I made awhile ago before I sold mine to show what setting it to say 50mm is like. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJGpu6ALPPA[/media]

Gorgeous man, You sold me on this. I understand lens and what they do, but i need to get a firmer grasp on how f/stop and aperture and iso all effect each other...gotta do my research. But this looks amazing and i am super excited. I figure if I'm jumping to DSLR, getting the t3i would be a great choice and if i want to upgrade, i will just have to upgrade the body [editline]9th January 2012[/editline] Mind if i ask why you sold it? Also, what lens were you using when you shot that? I like the depth of feel how everything behind your hand is completely out of focus. Can you get that same image with this lens? [editline]9th January 2012[/editline] I also have another question while were discussing. Do you know exactly how they get those shots that move really slowly. for example, the shot at 0:54 in the video you sent me testing the lens. Do you use a tripod, or some other equipment?

You could also look at the Tamron 17-50 VC f2.8 It has the same aperture as the Canon 24-70, it has vibration reduction( IS) and it is generally a pretty good lens. Also, it's much cheaper.

[QUOTE=DoubleDD;34128363]You could also look at the Tamron 17-50 VC f2.8[/QUOTE] The only problem there is that it's EF-S, meaning if he ever wanted to upgrade to a fullframe or on the off chance 1.3x, he'd have to chuck it. [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120390]i need to get a firmer grasp on how f/stop and aperture and iso all effect each other...gotta do my research.[/quote] That would make for an entire new thread haha! Give [url=http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm]this[/url] a good read to get a basic idea. Stick around and you'll pick things up, and ask questions in the assortment of threads we have. [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120390]I figure if I'm jumping to DSLR, getting the t3i would be a great choice and if i want to upgrade, i will just have to upgrade the body[/QUOTE] You have the right idea. Bodies come and go, and don't hold their value very well. Lenses on the other hand, stick around for awhile - and rightly so, they make the most difference in image quality. [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120390]Mind if i ask why you sold it?[/QUOTE] I like primes better. After acquiring the 50 and 85, I decided replacing the 24-70 with a 35 would give me a good range from those three lenses. [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120390]what lens were you using when you shot that? I like the depth of feel[b]*[/b] how everything behind your hand is completely out of focus. Can you get that same image with this lens?[/quote] I shot that video on my 50 1.4. You could pretty much get the same thing out of the 24-70 that close up, but not quite. That's why I want you to get a 50 1.8 along with the 24-70. *It's called 'depth of [i]field[/i]'. [QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34120390]Do you know exactly how they get those shots that move really slowly.[/QUOTE] As I said before, I'm not big into filming, but that definitely looks like a slider. It's a rail that you mount a tripod head on that lets you move the camera very smoothly in perfectly straight line. A lot of people seem to make their own out of parts from [url=http://www.igus.com/wpck/default.aspx?Pagename=filmtechnology&C=US&L=en]IGUS.[/url]

I think i am planning on going with the T3i Kit 18-55 mm. That way i won't have to spend a giant amount of money right away until i get use to using my first DSLR. THEN!!! I will buy the L series 24-70 mm L series lens. My only question is... Is the kit 18-55 mm lens really as bad as they say? I understand its bottom of the barrel lens, but is it better than the lens on the Canon vixi a hf s20 I have right now?

[QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34153077]I think i am planning on going with the T3i Kit 18-55 mm. That way i won't have to spend a giant amount of money right away until i get use to using my first DSLR. THEN!!! I will buy the L series 24-70 mm L series lens. My only question is... Is the kit 18-55 mm lens really as bad as they say? I understand its bottom of the barrel lens, but is it better than the lens on the Canon vixi a hf s20 I have right now?[/QUOTE] I have this lens, and it seems to be a decent lens. I'd say it's good for starting off.

I have a t2i with the 18-55mm and I was discouraged when I first started using it. But that changed when I took this photo. [img]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/180/8/e/can_i_play__by_nazereth666-d3kfbuq.jpg[/img] I haven't rushed myself to buy a new lens yet because I want to live by the saying, "It isn't the camera it is the user." The only thing I wish it had was a wider aperture.

[QUOTE=Southpaw1991;34153077] Is the kit 18-55 mm lens really as bad as they say?[/QUOTE] I don't think so, many people are using that since that's the kit-lens, so Canon can't afford making it subpar. The build-quality is cheap, but it's very sharp

[QUOTE=NielsGade;34119622]The thing is, movies generally don't use zoom, so using it would make the movie seem less realistic.[/QUOTE] I'm not sure why this guy got 5x dumbs, he's right. 50 is a great lens, I've been digging some work done with 1.8 and 1.4, not much difference. [editline]17th January 2012[/editline] Also, 18-55 is just fine, I've been using it for half a year now since I can't buy anything yet due to highrent, enjoying my results.

[QUOTE=NielsGade;34119622]The thing is, movies generally don't use zoom, so using it would make the movie seem less realistic.[/QUOTE] That's true, in that you don't zoom while recording. But you can stop recording, zoom (instead of changing lenses) and then continue. Need only buy 1 lens. Prime lenses are generally better quality, because they can make it perfect for that one focal length, instead of okay for all the focal lengths in a zoom.

i agree with nazereth, i try to go by it's not the camera its the user. i'm still on my kit lenses, and i wont upgrade until i feel the need to. the 18-55mm does the job well imo.