Upgrade my 17-55 2.8 for video???

Hi all,

I'm wanting to know if the 17-55 2.8 will be good for video. Basically, the situation is, I'm looking at upgrading my 30D to a 70D in the next few weeks and wondering if I should get a 18-135 STM combo or just get body only. I read that the focus is a little noisy with the 17-55 and a STM lens is much better. So thinking a 70d package with a 18-135 STM would be a nice combo for video and then swap out to the 17-55 for stills.

My other lenses are a 17-55 2.8 IS and a 28-135 IS, but since I got the 17-55, the 28-135 just collects dust.

I am only upgrading the 30D because I want a bit better high ISO performance for non flash low light situations, and I really want to shoot video. (The video will be about equal use as stills.) so rather than upgrade the body and buy a dedicated vid cam, might as well get a body that shoots good video.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

I recommend getting the STM lens since you plan on video. I use my EOS M for video over my 7D because I have the EOS M 18-55 STM . STM is significantly quieter than USM. However, the feature I find more important with STM over USM shooting video is the much better focus tracking with STM. STM will hunt much less and the focus transition is smoother than USM. I don't have the skill to manual focus, but it's all moot if you can manual focus.

When you buy the 70D with 18-135 STM kit lens you can usually get a substantial savings compared to buying just the body and lens separately. Since you plan on doing video the 18-135 STM is not only ridiculously silent but will add more "zoom" range for you to play with while taking video. I would say get the 70D with 18-135. As long as you take video somewhat regularly you come out ahead cost wise IMO.

muvro wrote in post #17028356
Hi all,

I'm wanting to know if the 17-55 2.8 will be good for video. Basically, the situation is, I'm looking at upgrading my 30D to a 70D in the next few weeks and wondering if I should get a 18-135 STM combo or just get body only. I read that the focus is a little noisy with the 17-55 and a STM lens is much better. So thinking a 70d package with a 18-135 STM would be a nice combo for video and then swap out to the 17-55 for stills.

My other lenses are a 17-55 2.8 IS and a 28-135 IS, but since I got the 17-55, the 28-135 just collects dust.

I am only upgrading the 30D because I want a bit better high ISO performance for non flash low light situations, and I really want to shoot video. (The video will be about equal use as stills.) so rather than upgrade the body and buy a dedicated vid cam, might as well get a body that shoots good video.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

I agree with the other posters, the newer 18-135 STM will be better for video

Many apologies for not replying. Thanks for your help and advice.

I ended up getting the body only, couldn't afford the kit at the time. If anyone is interested, the 17-55, actually works exceptionally well with video. You can't hear the focus in video playback, and focus hunting is minimal if I choose the subject to track.

I pretty much just video my son, and once it's locked on, very rarely does it come off him.

The 55 is short though, and as said above, the 18-135, would be awesome. In saying that, I just plan my shoot a boy ahead and either stand further back and use me 70-200 if I need reach, or get up close and use the 17-55. I must admit, the zoom isn't smooth on the 17-55 like it is on my 70-200, do when tracking and adjusting zoom it does get a bit jerky.

Thanks again.