Which Canon L Lens for 7D Mark II?
- Thread starter 7DMachII
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+1Robert Welch said:
When I go walking around with my 60D, the two absolutely essential lenses that I always bring are the 17-55f2.8 and the 70-200f4.
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7D Mark II for Weddings? 
Which L Lens? All of them! ;D
For weddings I'd get a 6D and a 24-70 I (used) Then save for a 70-200, then buy a 7D II as a 2nd body when the price comes down and I was flush with cash.
Which L Lens? All of them! ;D
For weddings I'd get a 6D and a 24-70 I (used) Then save for a 70-200, then buy a 7D II as a 2nd body when the price comes down and I was flush with cash.
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Wow, I've spent the day taking in your excellent comments and hitting YouTube for 6D, 7D, 7DmII and 5DmIII reviews. Canon has done a great job of holding features hostage to particular models. It does seem clear that the 6D full frame is best over the 7Dxx half frame for wedding photography. So considering wedding/portrait the 6D is the better way to go though interestingly that it only has one cross type focus point. 7Dxx is top dog for sports and action which is no big revelation.
Next I think maybe I should look at my favorite kinds of picture taking:
Now include what I might be able to help people capture their memories and get paid:
These two list above points to the full frame 6D for sure. I guess my problem is that in light of the 7DmII and the 5DmIII I feel like I am getting robbed on features and the AF system just seems substandard at this level. Of course the price point for the 6D is right. I feel that if I do decide to not get the 7DmII I should just wait and continue to save money for the 5DmIII and maybe the rumor will pan out for the 5DmIV for next year.
Also as I understand the L lens would work great with my T2i and then I can use it/them to their fullest when I get a full frame camera.
I do have 4 and 6 year olds that will be getting into sports and ballet which a 5DmIII would do well but I think the 6D would be questionable.
So what do you think? So much to consider and so much to learn.
Next I think maybe I should look at my favorite kinds of picture taking:
- Night Sky Photography
- Head Shots
Now include what I might be able to help people capture their memories and get paid:
- Weddings
- Maternity
- Couples
These two list above points to the full frame 6D for sure. I guess my problem is that in light of the 7DmII and the 5DmIII I feel like I am getting robbed on features and the AF system just seems substandard at this level. Of course the price point for the 6D is right. I feel that if I do decide to not get the 7DmII I should just wait and continue to save money for the 5DmIII and maybe the rumor will pan out for the 5DmIV for next year.
Also as I understand the L lens would work great with my T2i and then I can use it/them to their fullest when I get a full frame camera.
I do have 4 and 6 year olds that will be getting into sports and ballet which a 5DmIII would do well but I think the 6D would be questionable.
So what do you think? So much to consider and so much to learn.
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Get the 6D I have one and it is great for what you want. It isn't really lacking for what you want to do. Yes 5d markiii is a better camera but for the money i would rather have the 6D and put the money in lens.
I would say 6D ($1400)
Samyang 14mm ($350)
canon 24-105 f4 ($650)
Canon 70-200 2.8l is ($1400)
$3800
under 4k with some waiting for sales and buying used.
for kid sports the 6D works fine for me, i would rather have a 5dm3 but it works ok.
I would say 6D ($1400)
Samyang 14mm ($350)
canon 24-105 f4 ($650)
Canon 70-200 2.8l is ($1400)
$3800
under 4k with some waiting for sales and buying used.
for kid sports the 6D works fine for me, i would rather have a 5dm3 but it works ok.
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L
Loswr
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7DMachII said:
In fact, all of them point to the 6D being the better choice.
7DMachII said:
That does seem to be Canon's strategy. The 6D delivers excellent IQ particularly in low light, the 7DII delivers top AF and speed. If you need both, that's the 5DIII...and it actually costs a bit less than the other two combined.
7DMachII said:
Low light action is best served by excellent AF and a FF sensor...and fast lenses. None of that is cheap. In gymnasium lighting, I often need ISO 6400 or 12800 to get a 1/640 or 1/800 s shutter speed to freeze motion...and that's with an f/2.8 lens wide open.
With the exception of your kids activities, the 6D is the ideal choice. Although the 6D's AF isn't up to the level of the 5DIII or 7DII, good technique can help there.
I really think a FF body is a better option for your needs; but...you initially asked about lenses, and they're important too.
Important lens characteristics include:
- Night Sky Photography - wide angle, fast aperture (but for the moon you want the longest lens you can get, and it can be slow)
- Head Shots - short/medium telephoto, fast aperture
- Weddings - standard zoom, f/2.8 preferred; telephoto zoom, f/2.8 preferred
- Maternity - standard zoom, f/2.8 preferred; short/medium telephoto
- Couples - standard zoom; telephoto zoom (neither need be fast, you'll be stopped down to at least f/4 for sufficient DoF
To have the optimal lenses for a diverse array of subjects means several lenses (which is why I have 5 zooms and 9 primes!). The aperture suggestions above are based on ambient lighting; if you're going to set up a home/portable studio (backdrop + stand, flashes or monolights + modifiers), you'll be stopped down a fair bit and slow lenses are fine. Don't forget that some of the non-L primes deliver excellent IQ, and with session work (headshots, maternity, couples) you'll have time to move so the flexibility of a zoom isn't critical. The 85/1.8 is one of the best values in terms of IQ/$. The Samyang 14/2.8 would likely work well for night skies.
Given your budget and needs, do consider refurbs (assuming you're patient but quick, desirable refurbs come up periodically and sell out fast). A refurb 5DIII is $2700, a refurb 24-70/2.8 II is $1700. You could start with f/4 zooms, and move to f/2.8 versions later.
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Dick said:
Agreed. You don't need an insane amount of reach for weddings, and you don't need ultra-fast focusing (unless it's a very unusual wedding in the middle of a basketball court during the game or something). What you do need is great low-light handling. A 6D would be a much better choice, IMO.
And although the 6D's AF system gets a bad rap, it really isn't that bad. I shot a bunch of shots at a basketball game with mine just for fun, and although it didn't nail focus on every single shot, it nailed enough of them that I found it to be more than good enough (or at least good enough for someone who wasn't getting paid to get a specific shot).
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First ... if your heart is set on a 7DM2, don't worry about a camera like the 5D, 6D with full frame sensors. I use the 7D for everything as an event photographer ( www.keithcolganphotography.com ) and I would put my photos up against anyone using any modern camera. Learning how to get the most out of it is the most important thing. The frame rate is a big advantage for subjects that are moving and changing facial expressions like at the reception when people are eating, dancing, talking, etc. . Good software is your friend when you get into the high ISO's, but I never shoot over 3200 with the 7D and noise is not a practical issue with prints up to 11 x 14". As regards a lens, my go-to event lens is the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS (as recommended by others). Very, very sharp for a zoom. Get an L 70-200mm when you can afford it. If you're shooting outdoors with decent light, start with the economical f:4 (no stabilizer). Learn to shoot with a steady hand. If you can keep the shutter above 1/400th, you should be fine. I also have the f:2.8 version (no stabilizer), but it is very heavy, doesn't focus as fast and is not sharper than the f:4. Only the background blur is better on the 2.8 wide open (which most of us like to see). I plan on upgrading to the 7DM2 after I read some hands-on reviews. Given the M2 will focus more like the 1DX and jump from the Digic 4 to 6, I expect big focus improvements and noise characteristics much closer to full frame cameras like the 5D and 6D. Also, regarding the crop factor, when you are not able to approach your subject(s), you really get used to the extra reach with the 7D for those close-ups. But as one commenter said, you can quickly run out of room and find yourself reaching for a 50mm as your viewfinder fills up with noses. That means, two cameras or two shooters is almost a necessity for weddings. (by the way, how do you handle STRESS?) One more thing since I'm free thinking, the very latest pro cameras (including the 7D and 7D Mark 2), are all superior to pro digital cameras produced just a few years ago (and the pros were using them for weddings). For example, Canon's original $6000 1D series and the original 5D are still excellent cameras, but they don't hold a candle to a 7DM2 and 6D respectively. And since most of us can't afford too many pro and semi pro bodies, we need to compromise. Your choice is really between the 6D and new 7D. I like the new 7D specs because of the frame rate and I'm not a landscape / studio photographer.
Keith
Keith
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Ok, after spending the weekend researching, taking in your comments and viewing You Tube reviews and in light of what I would like to do with photography I bit the bullet and ordered the Canon 5D Mark III and will go with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. That should be enough to get me started and as I make some money I can expand from there.
I couldn't bring my self to get the 6D and second guess myself for the entire time I would have owned it. I know at my level I would have been pretty impressed with the 6D and know its a great camera but for $1000 more I could remove all doubt, meet all of my professional and personal needs and offer my best to customers.
I really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to enlighten me on this. Know that this was a very difficult decision as I have had my mind set on getting the 7D Mark II since last April at least and followed all the rumors thought the summer up to announcement.
Now, how do I change my user name. :-\ :-\
I couldn't bring my self to get the 6D and second guess myself for the entire time I would have owned it. I know at my level I would have been pretty impressed with the 6D and know its a great camera but for $1000 more I could remove all doubt, meet all of my professional and personal needs and offer my best to customers.
I really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to enlighten me on this. Know that this was a very difficult decision as I have had my mind set on getting the 7D Mark II since last April at least and followed all the rumors thought the summer up to announcement.
Now, how do I change my user name. :-\ :-\
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Great choice on the 5D3. You won't regret it. You will notice a huge difference from the T2i. The AF, low light IQ and depth of field control are amazing. The handling and controls are also great. Just a couple tips. Make sure to calibrate the micro focus for your lenses. It made a big difference for me, particularly for shallow depth of field shots. Also set up the joystick to select the focus point. This is the best way to take advantage of the 5DIIIs 61 focus points. This lets you just move the point instead of "focus and recompose". Much more accurate.
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By the way, I would recommend getting the 24-105L as your first lens. It's very versatile and pairs well with the 5D3. It's still my most used lens. The second lens I recomend is the 70-300L. Stunning IQ for telephoto and portraits. Very compact and well built.
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I'm late to this thread, but you won't regret your 5D3 and 24-70 f2.8L II.
I'm a strong proponent of shooting with two bodies. First, it's necessary to cover the full frame equivalent of the 24 to 200 mm, wide aperture lens that I believe is most useful for event work, which includes weddings. (This range is also most useful for indoor sports.) I don't like to waste time changing lenses or risk introducing dust to my sensors. Second, the redundancy of the second body is important for any "once in a lifetime" event.
For over a year, I used a 7D with a 70-200 f2.8L II and a 60D with a 17-55 f2.8. For crop bodies, these two lenses are ideal. I thought this was THE kit for me. No need for full frame, this did it all and Noise Ninja or Lightroom 4 (now 5) solved my high ISO noise problems.
However, I found myself shooting at ISO 2000 and up most of the time and realized that post processing to clean up the noise resulted in lots of lost detail. I finally concluded that full frame was worth a look. I took the plunge and bought my first 5D3 -- then, several months later, my second 5D3. Crop bodies are great when there's plenty of light or when you're ok with some noise. But, when you consider selling your work, you start to demand more from your sensors and clean images are a must (at least for me). For indoor work, nothing beats FF.
My suggestion is to consider the 70-200 f2.8L II as your next purchase. Wait for for Canon rebates and watch specifically for Canon's refurbish store rebates. They sometimes blow these out at 20% off, but they go quick. (CanonPriceWatch.com is a good source for tracking prices.)
With both crop and FF, my 70-200 is my main lens. I know that many rave about the 24-70 as their go-to lens, but for me it's the 70-200. Don't get me wrong, the 24-70 is superb and a must-have range. But for people shots -- from candids, to bride and groom, to indoor sports, to portraits -- the 70-200 is my first choice. It may be a little tight on crop, but it is very convenient on FF. I've recently shot high school senior photos and love this lens for portraits. The FF sensor offers much tighter DOF to really isolate your subject and blur out the background.
Weddings, mostly wedding receptions, can be a particular challenge with their lack of light -- even for full frame. F2.8 may not be fast enough. At some point you'll start looking into faster primes. I have a 35 f2.0 IS and found it to be quite handy at a friends wedding. For my work, this 35 has helped when I needed extra speed. But, I really wish Canon would refresh the 50 1.4. The current offering is too soft at 1.4 for my liking. (Someday, I might be tempted with the 50 f1.2L.)
I'm a strong proponent of shooting with two bodies. First, it's necessary to cover the full frame equivalent of the 24 to 200 mm, wide aperture lens that I believe is most useful for event work, which includes weddings. (This range is also most useful for indoor sports.) I don't like to waste time changing lenses or risk introducing dust to my sensors. Second, the redundancy of the second body is important for any "once in a lifetime" event.
For over a year, I used a 7D with a 70-200 f2.8L II and a 60D with a 17-55 f2.8. For crop bodies, these two lenses are ideal. I thought this was THE kit for me. No need for full frame, this did it all and Noise Ninja or Lightroom 4 (now 5) solved my high ISO noise problems.
However, I found myself shooting at ISO 2000 and up most of the time and realized that post processing to clean up the noise resulted in lots of lost detail. I finally concluded that full frame was worth a look. I took the plunge and bought my first 5D3 -- then, several months later, my second 5D3. Crop bodies are great when there's plenty of light or when you're ok with some noise. But, when you consider selling your work, you start to demand more from your sensors and clean images are a must (at least for me). For indoor work, nothing beats FF.
My suggestion is to consider the 70-200 f2.8L II as your next purchase. Wait for for Canon rebates and watch specifically for Canon's refurbish store rebates. They sometimes blow these out at 20% off, but they go quick. (CanonPriceWatch.com is a good source for tracking prices.)
With both crop and FF, my 70-200 is my main lens. I know that many rave about the 24-70 as their go-to lens, but for me it's the 70-200. Don't get me wrong, the 24-70 is superb and a must-have range. But for people shots -- from candids, to bride and groom, to indoor sports, to portraits -- the 70-200 is my first choice. It may be a little tight on crop, but it is very convenient on FF. I've recently shot high school senior photos and love this lens for portraits. The FF sensor offers much tighter DOF to really isolate your subject and blur out the background.
Weddings, mostly wedding receptions, can be a particular challenge with their lack of light -- even for full frame. F2.8 may not be fast enough. At some point you'll start looking into faster primes. I have a 35 f2.0 IS and found it to be quite handy at a friends wedding. For my work, this 35 has helped when I needed extra speed. But, I really wish Canon would refresh the 50 1.4. The current offering is too soft at 1.4 for my liking. (Someday, I might be tempted with the 50 f1.2L.)
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FTb-n said:
Thanks much, this is a real keeper of a thread with all the great information. I am tempted to go for the 70 - 200 2.8L II for the reasons you stated. I took an Amazon Local class once and the instructor said the same thing you said. If it was not for my night sky photography I am fairly certain I would follow your lead.
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7DMachII said:
Neither and none.
(This is why I keep harping about Canon not making EF-S L lenses. How can you seriously market a camera like the 7DII ... and the 70D and the 100D ... without lenses to match?)
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