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Which is the better lens?

Which lens is better for video: 18-55mm or 50mm?

  • I'm a novice photographer and I'm getting a canon rebel t3i either with stock lens (18-55mm) or with 50mm lens. I'm planning to use it mostly for video (e.g. for short films that have the "movie" look). Which lens is better suited for me? The 18-55mm has image stabilization which is appealing to me because I also use a steadicam and I would like to eliminate shaky footage as much as possible. But the image is less sharp, and can't get a really shallow DOF. The 50mm doesn't have image stabilization (I don't really know how much difference image stabilization makes though) which could be a problem because sometimes my steadicam is far from adequate to keep the camera steady while moving. But this lens allows shallow DOF (which I like) has sharp images, and performs well under low-light conditions (which I frequent). I've read that this lens is great for portraits but I'm not going to use it for that. I would like to have both, but my current budget only allows for one lens. Keep in mind that I'm a beginner as well. Which of these two lens would be better for me to film with? Thank you.

  • Answer:

    I don't think you are going to get any cheap lens that will really fit your bill to be honest, and I seriously wouldn't reccomend your first lens being a prime - a couple of months in maybe, but not now. So other than the issue that it may not be as cheap as you want what are your options. You want a decent lens that you can grow with, that is going to be good for video even in low light, with a reasonably shallow DOF when you need it. I think the obvious thing to do would be to go for a lens similar to the kit lens but with a wider constant aperture. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM This would be a good place to start, if it wasn't for the price! Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC Lists at a fraction the price of the Canon and is still a great lens. Sigma's equivalent gets some bad reviews so I'd leave that one. I think right now the Tamron lens above is your best bet - would I buy one of these - I already have, though as I'm on the Sony Alpha platform mine is the cheaper unstabilized version (we get up to 4 stops stabilization on the sensor). Seriously, forget the kit lens and the 50mm and go for either of the above!

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Other answers

For video purpose I will recommend you to use 50mm F1.8 lens or 17-55mm IS USM F2.8 lens The Kit Lens is not recommend for video shooting purpose...

vashistha pathak

For recording video, you should buy an actual video camera/camcorder. Despite popular belief,DSLRs are not replacements for actual video cameras. DSLRs = meant for taking stills, video cameras = meant for recording video.

Taylor

Either lens can be used. It depends on how you use them. I would rather have a fast 35mm (f/1.8 or f/1.4) instead for a dSLR but the best solution here is to buy a digital camcorder.

keerok

get the 18-55mm first and then get the 50mm when you have money saved up. if you're shooting video you're going to end up using more than one lens at some point.

random internet guy

Probably the 18-55, but only if it is the 50 1.8 stock lens, which you would want to use mainly for stills. You're going to eventually want to invest 4-5x the amount you spent on your body into your lenses, as they are your eyepiece to view the world. The t3i should be something like 1.6 focal crop, which means it will magnify all focal length by 1.6x because it has a smaller sensor. So 18-55 is more like 28-80mm. Besides at 80mm for your 50 you will only be able to tell DOF differences with stills. My advice if you're low on cash? Focus on your lighting knowledge, its the other half of the skill you'll need to perfect as a cinematographer. You can't go wrong with "Cinematography Theory and Practice, by Blain Brown."

Mckenzie

I agree the 18-55. One simple principle of photography, stills or video, is that the more zoom you add the more you magnify every thing including camera movement. The wider the lens the less movement will show. Put this lens on 18 for video and leave it there. Also, always use the IS, that will help with movement even more. Do all your focus manually and you'll find you're much more accurate and less time consuming. I know because this is exactly how I do it with pretty good success. I also own a 50mm f/1.8 but I don't use it for video because of what I wrote above. Good Luck.

Jim A

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