VINTAGE LENSES in the DSLR Age
EventDV, Jul/Aug 2010 by Watson, Chris
Reading this article will save you thousands of dollars. I know that statement sounds like something you’d hear while channel surfing at 3 a.m., but it’s absolutely true. All you need is the time it takes to read this article, an open mind, and an adventurous spirit. So let’s get started!
If you’re one of the thousands of videographers who are currently or have recently upgraded to a DSLR such as the Canon 5D Mark ?, EOS 7D, or Rebel T2i for video, you’ve likely experienced the sticker shock of how much money you’ll need to invest in lenses. The cost of DSLR purchases is completely different from investing in fixed-lens camcorders; the $2,500 or $1,700 you spend on the 5D or 7D (respectively) is just the beginning when it comes to equipping these cameras to get the shots you want.
The conventional wisdom is that there are two ways forward when it comes to lens purchasing: One way is to invest in the fastest glass you can find and write it off as the cost of doing business. The other way is to make compromises and buy slower glass at a lower cost just so you have something to start out with in the hopes of upgrading to something better later. We’ll look at the pros and cons of each.
CHOOSING YOUR GLASS
Let’s say you choose the first option and go with the Canon brand lenses. For a minimum suite of lenses for shooting a wedding video, you’re looking at an investment of about $2,768. This would include a 17mm-55mm f/2.8 with image stabilizer ($1,119), a 70mm-200mm f/2.8 without image stabilizer ($1,300), and a 50mm f/1.4 ($369.95). You can cut this total nearly in half if you go with lenses from companies such as Sigma, Tokina, and Tamron. But you’re still looking at a sizable investment, and the price tag could double or triple if you buy duplicates for a second and third DSLR. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it adds up.
The upside of this approach is that there’s a reason the Canons are so expensive. They feature quality optics both in build and image quality. If you take care of them, you’ll never have to buy lenses again, and you’ll be able to resell them at the cost you paid for them. The downside is that they’re expensive, and the high cost of just getting started might be a deterrent to those who want to get in the DSLR game.
If you choose the second option, you’ll save some money, but you won’t get the most you can out of your equipment. The lenses on the budget end of the spectrum tend to be slower and cheaply built. If you’re on a budget, you can get a Tamron 18mm-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ($329) and a Canon 50mm f/1.8 ($99) and be somewhat OK for less than $500 per lens suite. But you have to make compromises when it comes to the speed of your main lens, and the budget lenses might be difficult to use in dim locations such as a wedding reception venue. Still, choosing cheaper glass is a good way to at least get started with DSLR video on a restricted budget, but it’s not the best way, by far. That leads us to the third way forward: vintage lenses.
GOING OLD SCHOOL
Once again, let’s take the example of the minimum suite of lenses you’ll need for a wedding shoot. Here are the lenses that are in my bag and the prices I paid for them:
* Standard Zoom: Tokina RMC (OM mount) 28mm-70mm f/2.8^4.3, $35 (shipped)
* Telephoto Zoom: Vivitar Series 1 (OM mount) 70mm-210mm f/3.5, $90 (shipped)
* 50(ish) fast prime: Mamiya Sekor (M42 mount) 55mm f/1.4, $40 (local pickup)
* Adapters: $20×3 = $60
* Grand Total: $225
If you go this route and have a lens budget of $500, you’ll have money left over. You can add a few other lenses that I have in my bag just for fun:
* Helios 44M (M42 mount) 58mm f/2, $35
* Mamiya Sekor (M42 mount) 35m f/2.8, $27
* Jupiter 9 (M42 mount) 85mm f/2, $128
* Adapters: $20×3 = $60
* Aggregate Total: $975
By now, you probably have a few questions, and they are probably in this order:
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5d canon