Best lens for under 200$ for 1st gen canon 5D

[george63636]

Hi Everyone im new to this forum. I have a Canon 5d first gen that was recnetly handed down to me. I would love to start using it but i sadly dont have a lense. Im not looking to spend crazy money actully litttle money as possible. What is the best lens for the least amount of money that will do good. used lens are also in my mind. Thanks alot !

[ebiggs1]

"I can't imagine having no lens that is brighter than f/3.5 to f/5.6."

Hmmm, around 10 million Rebel 'kit' owners can.

[Waddizzle]

"You could get the new 50mm f/1.8 STM new for $125. You could also get the 40mm f/2.8 pancake for about $150 new." Given a choice, go for the pancake. The connection to the camera is metal, not plastic. The 40mm shows up in Digital Studio Professional for lens compensation, but that particular 50mm does not appear in the ist.

[daleg]

allow me to recommend an alternative approach.

while I own the 28-135mm (it really is a very convenient consumer grade zoom and with an early form of IS) - that lens would be far down my list of recommendations.

I suggest you match your camera to the best available contemporary (made at the same time lens).  Simply stated, it's a match that makes sense.

Consider a used copy of the Canon EF 35mm f2.0.  This is the lens that preceded the f2.0 IS USM version.  You will love the IQ of this lens, and with a max aperture of f2.0, you have a nice lens for low-light photography.  And besides, Henri Cartier-Bresson (and many others) made a career with essentially this lens - though a CZ variant.

Alternatively, any of 50mm f1.8's (Mk I - metal mount, Mk II, or STM) would work - as would the 40mm STM.  All are ok - although if I had to choose,  I'd favor the STMs - but I'd still go with the 35/2.

A terrific second lens - to complement the 35/2 - would be an 85mm f1.8 USM - a very respectable portrait lens.

Your 5D is a timeless digital machine.  Consider matching it with solid, classic, excellent optics.  These are not all that expenive either.

& don't forget - have fun!

[RobertTheFat]

---

@daleg wrote:

allow me to recommend an alternative approach.

while I own the 28-135mm (it really is a very convenient consumer grade zoom and with an early form of IS) - that lens would be far down my list of recommendations.

I suggest you match your camera to the best available contemporary (made at the same time lens).  Simply stated, it's a match that makes sense.

Consider a used copy of the Canon EF 35mm f2.0.  This is the lens that preceded the f2.0 IS USM version.  You will love the IQ of this lens, and with a max aperture of f2.0, you have a nice lens for low-light photography.  And besides, Henri Cartier-Bresson (and many others) made a career with essentially this lens - though a CZ variant.

Alternatively, any of 50mm f1.8's (Mk I - metal mount, Mk II, or STM) would work - as would the 40mm STM.  All are ok - although if I had to choose,  I'd favor the STMs - but I'd still go with the 35/2.

A terrific second lens - to complement the 35/2 - would be an 85mm f1.8 USM - a very respectable portrait lens.

Your 5D is a timeless digital machine.  Consider matching it with solid, classic, excellent optics.  These are not all that expenive either.

& don't forget - have fun!

---

This thread is wandering into an area I don't know much about, so I don't propose to get argumentative. But I offer the following two points for whatever they're worth:

1)  I have a bit of experience with the 28-135. (I got one as a kit lens when I bought my 50D. I didn't really need it, so I gave it to my wife.) It's an optically good, well made lens. If its zoom and aperture ranges are what you want and need, I see no reason to avoid it.

2)  I think we may take it as fact that if Henri Cartier-Bresson (whose customary camera was a rangefinder Leica) were alive today, he would not be using the same lens he used during his career.

[ebiggs1]

Amen, Bob from Boston.