Canon lens help?

[magnamious]

I am currently looking at the Canon 50 mm f1.2 lens. I heard it has a very nice blurred background but I have one question: I usually make vlog type videos and I usually have the camera pretty close to me so I can reach and focus my camera and be able to press the record button. I have a 17-55mm lens right now. So if it's 50mm, does that mean I'll have to have the camera very far away from me?

 

[Matt Beck]

This information is usually available in the specifications section of your lens' manual or on the manufacturer's Web site. You can always just estimate it, too, through trial and error.

 

[DBA]

Since you already have a lens that can do 50mm just try it out. Zoom in with your 17-55mm until you hit 50mm, that's what the field of view will look like on your new 50mm 1.2

 

[Phostose]

Since you already have a lens that can do 50mm just try it out. Zoom in with your 17-55mm until you hit 50mm, that's what the field of view will look like on your new 50mm 1.2

Yeah, what he said. But remember that that lens is going to be a lot brighter and sharper than your kit lens. Also, remember first that if the distance is to far, you are going to have trouble with audio quality. And lastly, that lens was made for portraits, though it is an amazing lens that I would love to own (I'm a photographer) I would recommend something else for recording video. I currently use the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L II Lens. This is an amazing lens. You can see the quality of it on my channel, not so much my last video though because it was a little out of focus. That was my bad. Haha

 

[JeriKane]

Moved this over to Video Editing, Recording, Software and Hardware.

 

[James Strange]

Yeah, what he said. But remember that that lens is going to be a lot brighter and sharper than your kit lens. Also, remember first that if the distance is to far, you are going to have trouble with audio quality. And lastly, that lens was made for portraits, though it is an amazing lens that I would love to own (I'm a photographer) I would recommend something else for recording video. I currently use the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L II Lens. This is an amazing lens. You can see the quality of it on my channel, not so much my last video though because it was a little out of focus. That was my bad. Haha

Great advice. For photos I have a Sigma 50mm 1.2 that I love. When using the same lense for video I can get soft edges without going that low.

In the future I am looking to buy the same Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L II Lens. Just not ready to spend the cash.

If your looking to save some cash look at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 it will give you good results. If your looking for the best get the Cannon.

 

[magnamious]

Yeah, what he said. But remember that that lens is going to be a lot brighter and sharper than your kit lens. Also, remember first that if the distance is to far, you are going to have trouble with audio quality. And lastly, that lens was made for portraits, though it is an amazing lens that I would love to own (I'm a photographer) I would recommend something else for recording video. I currently use the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L II Lens. This is an amazing lens. You can see the quality of it on my channel, not so much my last video though because it was a little out of focus. That was my bad. Haha

Thanks, that's very helpful! I am just looking for a lens that will give me a nice blurred background

 

[Phostose]

Thanks, that's very helpful! I am just looking for a lens that will give me a nice blurred background

The best way to find a nice "bokeh" (name for blur in the background) in a lens, is to Google something like this "Canon 24-70mm II Test Shoots OR Bokeh Tests" and look up both photography review and especially videos on YouTube. YouTube compresses videos, so you would be getting exactly what your video "could" look like.

Also, remember that all lenses have difference mounts. Not all lenses fit on all Cameras. Canon cameras typically have 2 mounts. EF and EF-S. The simple rule is that Cameras that have an are not "full-frame" (like the canon rebel series) can fit both EF and EF-S lenses. But cameras that are "full-frame" (like the 5D Mark III) can only fit EF lenses.

Why is this important? Because if you are planning to upgrade to something like the 5D Mark III Canon camera sometime in the future. All of your EF-S lenses will NOT work with it. Only EF lenses will.

Lastly, the general rule for the "bokeh" is that the lower the "f-stop" the smoother the blur will be. What is an f-stop? It's the part of the title that says "f1.2" (like in the original lens you were asking about). The lower that number is, the better the blur.

If you really want to know a lot about it, you should read up of "Depth of Field in Photography" in Google or something. I've given you a lot of information, but this way you will be able to find exactly what you need. You could also always rent a lens and try it out before buying something very expensive.