Re: Good video lens for my 7D?
 

If you're just shooting video, don't forget to look at vintage MF glass. There's some great buys out there on old Nikon, Contax, Pentax, and M42 mounts (ironically, NOT Canon FD mounts). A friend gave me his Pentax 50/2, and it does very well wide-open. I'm now looking for a 50/1.4 to get an extra stop.

MF lenses give a lovely focus throw (around 180 degrees or more) compared to modern AF lenses, and most are built like tanks.

Although not a vintage lens, a great piece of glass for medium telephoto work is the Canon EF 85/1.8. Super low-light performance, great contrast and sharp as a tack. On the plus side, it also takes great stills. ;-)

My three go-to lenses that cover 95% of my productions now are the EF 85/1.8, the Tamron 17-50/2.8 VC, and the old Pentax 50/2. I'll be shopping for the Tonkina 11-16/2.8 very, very soon to give me a super-wide.

The Tamron is a great "walkaround" lens when I'm just out shooting various b-roll for my productions. It's nowhere near as sharp (or as fast) as a fast prime in any of its covered focal range, but more than good enough. I've shot a few productions with only that lens.

Re: Good video lens for my 7D?
 

Harrison, it sounds like you're confused on what a prime lens is. A prime is a fixed (single) focal-length lens. I suspect you might have thought a fixed- aperture lens was a "prime", but that's not the correct terminology.

So, you either have a zoom or a prime. Zooms are almost always slower, more expensive, and not as sharp as primes in the same lens families, due to the inherent compromises to get a multi-focal-length product. BUT, it's sure nice not to have to swap out lenses on some productions.

HTH...

Re: Good video lens for my 7D?
 

The classic lens you are missing is also the Canon 70-200 F2.8L or F.4L .... incredible lens - both of them.

I actually went with the F4 after using the 2.8 because of the weight issue - I shoot in very remote locations abroad. On the 7D this will give you top end focal length and great DOF. Every pro I know with Canon will have either of these lenses!

Re: Good video lens for my 7D?
 

well, my friend, you have to make one :) shooting and especially editing is all about making decisions;
16-35 is an amazing lens, BUT it's full frame so on 7D it'll be like 24-55, I own one and to my eye it is a better lens than 17-55, BUT there is no IS, and IS is very helpful for many different situations, BUT if you planning to upgrade to MKIII it will not fit it, BUT i hear the roomers about MKIII for the last three years :)
if you know you will be upgrading to FF camera, and unless you're planning to keep your 7D do not buy EF-S lenses, but if you not sure when, or if not sure if you will, 17-55 mm IS f2.8 wil cover 90% of your shooting ,
best,

Re: Good video lens for my 7D?
 

wait a second there, the 16-35 is a crazy wide lens for the 5d, although the field of view will be narrower for your cropped sensor, you will still have the same characteristics of a wide angle lens within that field of view.