06-25-2010, 06:39 PM
Hi. I'm new at this forum. I'm currently looking for my first DSLR, I've pretty decided on going with the Canon 5D mark II. Yet, due to budget restraints, I'm kind of beating myself over what lens to get with it. Let me give you a run-down of my style of photography / needs / thoughts / and budget - to give you a better idea of how you might be able to help me. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
So...
I am a visual artist. I have a BA at an art and design school. For years I have been working with a film medium format Mamiya 6 camera (6x6) with Mamiya 50mm lens which produces beautiful super sharp images. I also have a medium format Holga which I really love because of it's low-quality build which results in really interesting, unpredictable trashy interferences, mistakes and light leaks which produce some great and unique "bad" looks that no Photoshop artist could ever think up. So in that sense, my work ranges on a pretty wide scale of: from super sharp, ultra-detailed and controlled images and way down to bad, trashy, but unique and interesting images.
The majority of my work is portraits - either full body, or from the waist up. Sometimes I crop the image to get just a head-shot portrait. Other images could be a house, a garden, an interior of a room - no vast landscapes and no extra close shots. 95% of my work is done in a rather controlled environment, meaning I can more or less take my time, take light readings, work with my subject and usually I can re-shoot several times if necessary. My style is not so much a "capture the moment" kind of thing where you impulsively whip out the camera and shoot something before it goes away 2 seconds later. Yet, I do feel that I am at a point where I would like to be a bit more spontaneous and cut down preparation time before shooting, while still preserving my original style.
I use only available light and sometimes a camera-mounted flash for some shadow fills. In fact, I kind of like over-doing the flash just a bit giving it a kind of obvious (sometimes even harsh) presence.
I normally like to work hand-held. I like to move around and get into a rhythm when I shoot (when using tripod, I naturally find it more difficult to do that). Also the people I photograph are not professional models so I try to keep things as easy-going, quick and simple as possible. Sometimes the setting up of a tripod for each shot just bogs up the situation. I've tried using a mono-pod, but didn't like it much either (maybe I should try again).
The final product of my images is either a Lambda print or very high quality ink-jet prints which are done by a specialist using a high-end printer and special paper. The sizes of the prints differ from 40x40 cm to 120x120 cm.
My reasons for wanting to get a digital SLR are (not in any particular order):
1. An option for quicker work as opposed to my Mamiya
2. The option to immediately see the image I shot. I work somewhat intuitively (as opposed to technically) and seeing the image could be really helpful for making small adjustments.
3. I think that today is an era for digital images and I being one who has only worked with negatives and chemicals - I am very curious to dive into the digital realm.
4. I work a bit with video as well and I like the idea that the Canon 5d mII has the HD video aspect built-in.
5. It's becoming harder and harder to find high quality labs that work with film and prices for film, development, contacts and high-end scans are climbing. I am pretty sure that in the long-run having a digital camera as part of my working kit will save me money.
So about the lens - I will need to purchase one. I don't think I have the cash for more than one at the moment. Being used to the Mamiya 6x6 and the 50mm lens, I was thinking about getting a 24mm lens which I think should more or less give me the same diagonal field of view as the 50mm on my Mamiya. Then of course there is the option of getting the 24-70mm zoom lens which will of course give me the flexibility of choosing focal length, but at the cost of extra glass meaning losing a stop or two and loss in sharpness (not sure how significant). Plus, its another half kilo to lug around.
At first I was thinking ONLY prime lenses, ONLY Canon L series lenses - looking for the best glass possible and the sharpest image, hoping that it will somehow be similar to the images from my Mamiya. But then I started having different thoughts on this - saying to myself that the Canon 5D will probably never be a replacement for my Mamiya - so maybe I should treat the Canon 5D as a whole different animal. Meaning, that it won't be my go-to tool for extra crisp portraits, but rather a tool for some kind of other "look" I have yet to find for it. With this in mind, I thought that maybe going for the best glass to put on my 5D is not the right approach and that I would be better off getting a cheaper lens and possibly spending the difference on other equipment, or maybe a 2nd lens.
And finally, my budget. After buying the Canon 5d mII, I'll have about $1500 left to spend.
I'd really appreciate your opinions on this. Sorry for the long post, I'm just hoping that all this information might be helpful in understanding what I need.
If you want to ask any further questions, please don't hesitate.
I've included some samples of my work to give you an idea of the kind of stuff I do (below).
Thanks!
This was shot with my Mamiya
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zT2CUnGx3AXTJRLiIaHTDw?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]
This too is with the Mamiya
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zOf1QmxPXkoKw7eDzPlzdQ?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]
This was shot with the Holga
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kTLBXkoJJAuKqlGHcdwlSA?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]
' /> So...
I am a visual artist. I have a BA at an art and design school. For years I have been working with a film medium format Mamiya 6 camera (6x6) with Mamiya 50mm lens which produces beautiful super sharp images. I also have a medium format Holga which I really love because of it's low-quality build which results in really interesting, unpredictable trashy interferences, mistakes and light leaks which produce some great and unique "bad" looks that no Photoshop artist could ever think up. So in that sense, my work ranges on a pretty wide scale of: from super sharp, ultra-detailed and controlled images and way down to bad, trashy, but unique and interesting images.
The majority of my work is portraits - either full body, or from the waist up. Sometimes I crop the image to get just a head-shot portrait. Other images could be a house, a garden, an interior of a room - no vast landscapes and no extra close shots. 95% of my work is done in a rather controlled environment, meaning I can more or less take my time, take light readings, work with my subject and usually I can re-shoot several times if necessary. My style is not so much a "capture the moment" kind of thing where you impulsively whip out the camera and shoot something before it goes away 2 seconds later. Yet, I do feel that I am at a point where I would like to be a bit more spontaneous and cut down preparation time before shooting, while still preserving my original style.
I use only available light and sometimes a camera-mounted flash for some shadow fills. In fact, I kind of like over-doing the flash just a bit giving it a kind of obvious (sometimes even harsh) presence.
I normally like to work hand-held. I like to move around and get into a rhythm when I shoot (when using tripod, I naturally find it more difficult to do that). Also the people I photograph are not professional models so I try to keep things as easy-going, quick and simple as possible. Sometimes the setting up of a tripod for each shot just bogs up the situation. I've tried using a mono-pod, but didn't like it much either (maybe I should try again).
The final product of my images is either a Lambda print or very high quality ink-jet prints which are done by a specialist using a high-end printer and special paper. The sizes of the prints differ from 40x40 cm to 120x120 cm.
My reasons for wanting to get a digital SLR are (not in any particular order):
1. An option for quicker work as opposed to my Mamiya
2. The option to immediately see the image I shot. I work somewhat intuitively (as opposed to technically) and seeing the image could be really helpful for making small adjustments.
3. I think that today is an era for digital images and I being one who has only worked with negatives and chemicals - I am very curious to dive into the digital realm.
4. I work a bit with video as well and I like the idea that the Canon 5d mII has the HD video aspect built-in.
5. It's becoming harder and harder to find high quality labs that work with film and prices for film, development, contacts and high-end scans are climbing. I am pretty sure that in the long-run having a digital camera as part of my working kit will save me money.
So about the lens - I will need to purchase one. I don't think I have the cash for more than one at the moment. Being used to the Mamiya 6x6 and the 50mm lens, I was thinking about getting a 24mm lens which I think should more or less give me the same diagonal field of view as the 50mm on my Mamiya. Then of course there is the option of getting the 24-70mm zoom lens which will of course give me the flexibility of choosing focal length, but at the cost of extra glass meaning losing a stop or two and loss in sharpness (not sure how significant). Plus, its another half kilo to lug around.
At first I was thinking ONLY prime lenses, ONLY Canon L series lenses - looking for the best glass possible and the sharpest image, hoping that it will somehow be similar to the images from my Mamiya. But then I started having different thoughts on this - saying to myself that the Canon 5D will probably never be a replacement for my Mamiya - so maybe I should treat the Canon 5D as a whole different animal. Meaning, that it won't be my go-to tool for extra crisp portraits, but rather a tool for some kind of other "look" I have yet to find for it. With this in mind, I thought that maybe going for the best glass to put on my 5D is not the right approach and that I would be better off getting a cheaper lens and possibly spending the difference on other equipment, or maybe a 2nd lens.
And finally, my budget. After buying the Canon 5d mII, I'll have about $1500 left to spend.
I'd really appreciate your opinions on this. Sorry for the long post, I'm just hoping that all this information might be helpful in understanding what I need.
If you want to ask any further questions, please don't hesitate.
I've included some samples of my work to give you an idea of the kind of stuff I do (below).
Thanks!
This was shot with my Mamiya
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zT2CUnGx3AXTJRLiIaHTDw?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]
This too is with the Mamiya
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zOf1QmxPXkoKw7eDzPlzdQ?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]
This was shot with the Holga
[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kTLBXkoJJAuKqlGHcdwlSA?feat=directlink"]My link[/url]