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FF Lens Setup Help

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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
In case you didn't see the thread, I am in the process of selling my T2i and a couple lenses and moving to the 5d ii. I will be keeping my 70-200 2.8L. As some of you may know, I am travelling to France this fall to study abroad (I will be making a blog and posting a bunch of pictures if any of you are interested). That said, lens size is very important. I am leaning towards not bringing the 70-200 because of the size and weight. I will be traveling all over europe with just a backpack, So I'm planning on only bringing 2 lenses everwhere I go (1 on the camera and one in my bag).

What I will be taking pics of: (also plan on using for video, but im not taking equipment to france)
Landscapes
European architecture
Street (oktoberfest, events, markets, etc)
People

So if i dont bring the 70-200 (or should i?), I'm trying to pick 2 or maybe 3 from this list with ~$800 budget:

Canon 24mm 2.8 (leaning towards this) ~300
Sigma 30mm 1.4 ~300
Canon 40mm 2.8 (its so small and cheap!) ~200
Canon 50mm 1.4 ~275

If I dont bring the 70-200, i will pick up one of these and sell when i get back
Canon 85mm 1.8 ~275
Rokinon 85mm 1.4 (hesitant because I really like AF. Will it still focus confirm?) ~275

Also, what is a cheap hard case that i could put the camera and attached lens in that I can throw in a pack and not worry about?

Thanks guys!

Aug 5 2012 3:44PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
If you only want to keep one lens on your camera, then I would go for a Canon 24-70, or a 24-105 IS if you dont mind it being a little slower. If you want primes, people seem to love the Rokinon series. I have shot with a 8mm and the 85mm and they are great.
Aug 5 2012 3:48PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Changing lenses is fine, I just want small lenses with the best image quality possible. As far as aperture goes, I'm fine with 2.8 but I'd really like at least one lens to be 1.4, either a 30mm or a 50mm
Aug 5 2012 3:56PM
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Wheat
Posts: 375 - Karma: 1,633
My friend has got the rokinon 85mm 1.4 and he's already selling it. It was way to hard to make sure  your in focus. I would recommend you stay away from it. I would pick up this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12182-GREY/Canon_2519A003_85mm_f_1_8_USM_Autofocus.html because it's only 80$ more and its got auto focus.
Aug 5 2012 4:10PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
The sigma 30 is not for FF bodies
Aug 5 2012 4:49PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
shit. good catch thomas
Aug 5 2012 5:24PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
Sigma 50 1.4 is much better than the canon
Aug 5 2012 5:45PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Think I'm gonna go with this:
Canon 24mm 2.8
Sigma 50mm 1.4
Canon 85mm 1.8 (if i dont bring my tele)

Should i bring the 70-200 or no? I'd love to have it with me but its soo big and heavy, and kinda risky to take into hostels...
Aug 5 2012 6:43PM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 7,732
I've heard great things about the 24-105 (I think that's the focal lengths). Seeing as though you're going to be outside a good amount, and have a couple low light prime lenses, the f4 might not be an issue
Aug 5 2012 6:56PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
not gonna work with my budget.

So I got a guy on craigslist selling a canon 28mm 2.8 for $190. Do I take that or a 24mm for $300?
Aug 5 2012 7:00PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Sell your 70-200mm 2.8 and buy a 70-200mm f4 non-IS. Then get a 24 (or whatever Canon do around that length) and a 50.
Aug 6 2012 4:54AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
That would be a pretty big downgrade
Aug 6 2012 11:38AM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Ya I'm not gonna do that. I got that tele for a steal in bran new condition, keeping that for years. Looks like I'm gonna get the 24 and 50mm and bring the 70-200
Aug 6 2012 11:42AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
I'd go with the 24-70L and a fast 50 (probably even just the 1.8, since it's cheap, small, light as fuck, and has more accurate AF than the 1.4 - so you don't have to worry about it quite as much for travelling etc)

how often do you really expect to need a serious tele-length?
Aug 6 2012 2:03PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Ah I just don't know! Thats the problem. It's the lens thats on my camera the most by far
Aug 6 2012 2:07PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
If you're going to be in Europe, I suggest at least some type of 50mm for street photos.

Something like the 70-200 + a fast 50 would still work out well.

If you're going to be mostly in cities and stuff though, where you want wider angles, a 70-200 is likely a bit much.
Aug 6 2012 2:13PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Not really. From all accounts the f4 versions are as good as the 2.8s stopped down past 5.6, certainly past f8, which is where I shoot pretty much all of my ski shots, and you shouldn't use IS above 1/500 anyway. If/when Nikon bring out an f4 version as good as Canon's I'll "downgrade" for sure.
Aug 6 2012 2:36PM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,020
Yeah but he's not shooting skiing, so being able to use f4 or even 2.8 (and or IS with 1/30 shutter) will actually be helpful to him.
Aug 6 2012 2:45PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Yep, I'm really getting into wedding photography, so fast lenses are essential
Aug 6 2012 2:48PM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
You're not going to want anything longer than 85mm.
Leave the 70-200 home.

If I were you:
Rokinon 35mm
Canon 85mm

And you're set. Unless you can't manually focus, then you're fucked.
If you don't want MF, swap the Rokinon for Canon 24mm f/2.8 and Sigma 50mm/Canon 40mm.

3 prime versatile set-up. Nothing beats that.
Aug 6 2012 7:55PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
^thanks for the input. i've been back and fourth all day and realized that the tele is way too heavy to lug around. Hopefully I get some decent birthday money and will be able to pick up all 3.

Final decision:
Canon 24mm 2.8
Sigma 50mm 1.4
Canon 85 1.8

leaving the 70-200 home

thanks for all the input guys, I greatly appreciate it!
Aug 6 2012 8:01PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Good call.
Aug 6 2012 8:05PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Picked up a Rokinon 85mm 1.4 with a focus confirm chip. We'll see how MF goes
Aug 6 2012 11:56PM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,020
Nice, that lens is on my list.


Just sack up and get the canon 24mm 1.4L
Aug 7 2012 1:16AM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Wish I could Evan, this whole having money saved for France is becoming a huge pain in the ass
Aug 7 2012 8:39AM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,020
I was kidding, the 24mm 1.4L is like 1500-2000 ha
Aug 7 2012 11:36AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
but so worth it
Aug 7 2012 11:40AM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,020
Yeah, I've actually used the lens a couple times before (on a 7d and a 1dm4) and it was very, very nice.
Aug 7 2012 11:44AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
It's incredibly soft wide open. Like, unuseable. Maybe it was just my copy, but I don't think so.
From f/2 onwards it's useable, but I would never use it lower than that. The 35mm L on the other hand is really sharp wide open and only gets sharper when stopped down, but you don't have to, as is the case with the 24L.

I don't know how good the Canon 24mm f/2.8 is, as I've never used it, but if it's good wide open, I'd always get that over the 24 L and save my money for something else.
Aug 7 2012 12:23PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
If anybody cares, heres what I got

Sigma 24mm 1.8 (didn't even know about this lens til 2 days ago, just bought it, so stoked on the 1.8)
Sigma 50mm 1.4 (comes monday, owner said no focus issues, cant wait to try it)
Rokinon 85mm 1.4 w/ focus chip (have had it for 2 weeks, IQ is awesome, sharp wide open, DOF is crazy small)

horray for fast glass! leaving a week from today for france, so excited!
Aug 25 2012 8:53PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
glad you figured it out man! Enjoy :D
Aug 25 2012 8:55PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
Thanks jamie, thanks again for all the help. after 3 hours of tech support chat i got my site running too!
Aug 25 2012 9:01PM
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