If any individual gave you $1,000 and knowledgeable you to buy a digital digicam and lens combo, what would you do? Certain, it is laborious to get an outstanding bundle for comparatively little money. However, there are some hidden gems which may be good to kickstart your occupation and supply an enchancment over present gear. As soon as I started out taking footage, at about 15-years-old, I couldn’t truly afford to buy a digital digital digicam or one thing of that sort. I wanted to make do with what I had: a film digital digicam and lens I took from my dad. Being pretty youthful, I didn’t start footage inside the good outdated days. I started taking footage film and wanted to check fast what to do and learn the way to do it. Lastly, I managed to keep away from losing up and I bought a digital digital digicam: Canon 1D Mark II. Then, I saved up way more and acquired my 1D Mark II for better than purchasing for it, I bought a 5D Mark II. Paired with an outstanding zoom lens, it was an amazing digital digicam I shot a great deal of jobs on. That was in 2019, after the discharge of the EOS R. A decade after the 5D Mark II was launched, it was nonetheless an prepared digital digicam that delivered.
Now, I prefer to advocate this combo to every single beginner photographer, almost it doesn’t matter what their model is. Digicam experience, usually, has improved fairly a bit before now decade, nonetheless to be honest, it is a marginal enchancment yearly. Prolonged story fast, there hasn’t been a nasty digital digicam since 2010. Lenses have moreover improved fairly a bit; new glass is sharper, flange distance is shorter, and elements are larger. Does that make a distinction? For individuals who’re a pixel-peeper positive. I shoot a 24-70 from 2007 on a Canon 5Ds physique, and nobody has complained. Rather a lot so, that nobody notices me swap from a 5D Mark IV to a 5Ds and vice-versa.
So, let’s look at why I consider the 5D Mark II and a 24-105 f/4 IS is the perfect digital digicam and lens combo beneath $1,000
Canon 5D Mark II ($300-400)
Launched in 2009, this digital digicam is an actual legend. The specs are nothing specific in 2022, nonetheless they’ve been the latest and largest in 2009 when the digital digicam first obtained right here out. In a nutshell, proper right here is the rundown of the specs of the famed Canon 5D Mark II.
Sensor-wise, you’ve got 21MP to work with. It’s vitally very like the Canon 1Ds Mark III, which was a digital digicam made in particular for studio work. Personally, till you take footage large campaigns, you do not need a higher-resolution sensor. From non-public experience, my purchasers moreover didn’t truly uncover me swap from a 20 to a 30 and to a 50-megapixel sensor. The ISO goes from 100 to 6,400, which can be expanded to 50-25,600. This isn’t one thing spectacular, nonetheless in case you are taking footage at ISO 6,400 regularly, it is potential you may want to ponder a definite digital digicam. For straightforward of us who work inside the differ of 100-3,200, it will most likely be good. The digital digicam begins showing up earlier 1,000 ISO, so that you simply want to be careful with that. Nonetheless, the grain is pretty good and nothing horrible.
Some notable choices embody keep view, which does seem regular now, nonetheless was a big change for me coming from a film and 1D Mark II background. On the unhealthy side, the autofocus is horrible, and you may solely depend upon a single coronary heart stage. This isn’t so unhealthy in case you are working with a principally nonetheless subject, nonetheless as shortly as a result of it begins transferring fast, it is potential you may want to look inside the course of the Canon 1D Mark IV, or the 1Dx. For individuals who’re into video, you’ll not be too completely satisfied, as a result of the 5D Mark II is primarily a stills digital digicam. I’ve shot very very small video duties on the 5D Mark II, and it carried out okay, nonetheless there is no method I am bringing it to one thing extreme. It makes relatively extra sense to rent a Blackmagic for video duties.
24-105 f/4 ($300-400)
This is not a selected lens, it’s possible you’ll say. It’s a very specific lens, I reply. The 24-105 f/4 IS is a low-cost expert chance which will suit your desires for a lot of taking footage. Notably initially of your occupation, if you find yourself undecided in regards to the focal lengths that you just select, the 24-105 will current ample choice in pictures. From mid-telephoto to mid-wide-angle, this lens may very well be very so much “mid”. It won’t offer you a crazy zoom, or crazy bokeh, it will nonetheless offer you a safe and reliable lens that takes sharp pictures. It’s kind of a bundle lens on steroids. And a very good one definitely. That features image stabilization, it will be good for a lot of who want to take their shutter speeds considerably down. As compared with mannequin II, the distinctive one is lighter and smaller. The one enchancment the newer, dearer lens has is the nook brightness, which can be mounted in publish. Go work out which one you’ll have.
What Regarding the 24-70 f/2.8?
An attentive reader will ask why I shoot on the heavier 24-70 f/2.8? And the reply is pretty straightforward, just because that is the lens I bought, and obtained caught with using. On the an identical time, having shot work on a 24-105 as successfully, I might fully advocate it to anyone who needs an excellent zoom nonetheless wouldn’t want to spend ridiculous portions of money. For individuals who uncover a complete lot, and actually really feel that you do not need one thing previous 70mm go for the 24-70, nonetheless be able to lose sharpness at wider apertures, along with use an excellent greater and heavier piece of glass. Coming from any individual whose fingers harm after a taking footage usually, this is usually a very precise concern.
Closing Concepts
So, there you’ve got it, the Canon 5D Mark II, paired with a 24-105 f/4, or a 24-70 f/2.8 is an effective starting combo for almost any expert photographer. Costing beneath $1,000 used, this gear could also be purchased off Fb Market, quite a few groups, along with websites. I might strongly counsel purchasing for the gear in particular person as usually distant purchases may end up in frustration and poor alternatives.
