FS5: All around zoom for the FS5

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Well-known member
I'm looking for recommendations for a light weight all around zoom for run n' gun. I bought the Sony 18-105 (couldn't hit manual focus) a while back and exchanged it for the Tamron 28-75, which is great but I find it to be a). Not wide enough on APS-C b). Too jittery without OS. No worries, I use it on my A7III. I thought I could use my Canon 17-55/Metabones, but after hand holding for an hour I was practically in traction (I'm not 20 anymore ;)

Any advice would be great. My budget is around $1000. Thanks
 
The Canon is only 645 grams so that really limits your options.

If you'd like a lens lighter than that with IS and a decent range, I think your only options are the slower kit-like lenses.

Most good glass is heavy (especially zooms), and many people use zoom lenses that are twice/3x as heavy as the above.

___

If image stabilization is a must-have, here all of B&H's options filtered for E-mount and EF mount priced low to high:

E: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...e-stabilized,fct_lens-mount_3442:sony-e-mount

EF: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...mage-stabilized,fct_lens-mount_3316:canon-eos

[Can't group them since they separate mirrorless and DSLR lenses.]
 
Did your 18-105 have the most recent firmware? I found that it was significantly improved when I updated the firmware. It's still not great, but I feel like it's usable now, which really wasn't the case previously.

Otherwise I'm not sure you have many other options within your parameters. I like the Canon 24-105mm paired with a speedbooster, but it's definitely heavier than the 18-105.
 
drboffa said:
Did your 18-105 have the most recent firmware? I found that it was significantly improved when I updated the firmware. It's still not great, but I feel like it's usable now, which really wasn't the case previously.

Otherwise I'm not sure you have many other options within your parameters. I like the Canon 24-105mm paired with a speedbooster, but it's definitely heavier than the 18-105.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had firmware V4. It was just really hard for me to hit my focus. I felt like I was spinning the focus ring a lot just to get slight focus changes. And the MFD of 3 feet when zoomed to 105mm was tough to work with. If you have any tips for MF on this lens I would be happy to hear them...
 
scorsesefan said:
Thanks, Norbro. Do you have any experience with the Sony 24-105 on APS-C?
Click to expand...

I don't, with neither the Sony or Canon.

Most of the time I actually like shooting wider than 24mm on APS-C. And when I need to zoom it's more than 105mm (like a CU of a speaker all the way from the back of a room).

Lensmakers have forever tortured us with lens designs as there is always a compromise (IS - speed - weight - range), so you'll probably always have to have a few pieces of glass in the bag.

One reason I love full-frame cameras is because you can potentially use the camera's crop modes (like on your a7III), so a 24-105mm would be more useful on the wider end in FF mode, and you could still have the 105mm in APS-C if that would suffice.
 
scorsesefan said:
Yeah, I had firmware V4. It was just really hard for me to hit my focus. I felt like I was spinning the focus ring a lot just to get slight focus changes. And the MFD of 3 feet when zoomed to 105mm was tough to work with. If you have any tips for MF on this lens I would be happy to hear them...
Click to expand...

When B&H opens up again, test lenses (many are on display) because a lot of them focus by wire.
 
What about the Tamron superzooms? I've used a Tammy 18-270 on my APS-C cameras. (I believe they now make a 16-300.)

Pros: lightweight, huge range and wide-enough wide-angle, cheap, nice looking image, stabilized

Cons: doesn't zoom smoothly, not parfocal, not that sharp (but sharp enough IMO), ramping aperture and very slow on the long end

But for run-and-gun b-roll where you want a close-up of the guy at the podium and then a wide shot of the entire crowd watching, it was awesome. I used it mostly on daylight exterior shooting to accommodate the f/6.3 on the long end.
 
ahalpert said:
What about the Tamron superzooms? I've used a Tammy 18-270 on my APS-C cameras. (I believe they now make a 16-300.)

Pros: lightweight, huge range and wide-enough wide-angle, cheap, nice looking image, stabilized

Cons: doesn't zoom smoothly, not parfocal, not that sharp (but sharp enough IMO), ramping aperture and very slow on the long end

But for run-and-gun b-roll where you want a close-up of the guy at the podium and then a wide shot of the entire crowd watching, it was awesome. I used it mostly on daylight exterior shooting to accommodate the f/6.3 on the long end.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I find the ramping on the non-constant aperture lenses very distracting. What are your thoughts?
 
scorsesefan said:
Yeah, I had firmware V4. It was just really hard for me to hit my focus. I felt like I was spinning the focus ring a lot just to get slight focus changes. And the MFD of 3 feet when zoomed to 105mm was tough to work with. If you have any tips for MF on this lens I would be happy to hear them...
Click to expand...

Okay. I'm not sure if you ever used it with the earlier firmware but imagine something even worse!

Honestly my only tip for MF with this (or any) lens on the FS5 is using an external monitor. I had so many slightly soft shots that I ended up getting an Atomos Shinobi to use when I'm not using the Shogun. I don't like having to carry around another piece of kit (and batteries/charger), but the focusing and exposure tools are so useful it's worth it. If you don't already have an external monitor and you've got about $1K to spend consider splitting that between a decent lens and a monitor (I got my Shinobi on eBay for a little over $300).

One combo I like is the Sigma 17-50 (adapted via Sigma's MC-11). You lose range, but if you need a shot in a pinch you can use ClearImage Zoom or Center Scan (assuming you're not using raw over SDI).
 
drboffa said:
Okay. I'm not sure if you ever used it with the earlier firmware but imagine something even worse!

Honestly my only tip for MF with this (or any) lens on the FS5 is using an external monitor. I had so many slightly soft shots that I ended up getting an Atomos Shinobi to use when I'm not using the Shogun. I don't like having to carry around another piece of kit (and batteries/charger), but the focusing and exposure tools are so useful it's worth it. If you don't already have an external monitor and you've got about $1K to spend consider splitting that between a decent lens and a monitor (I got my Shinobi on eBay for a little over $300).

One combo I like is the Sigma 17-50 (adapted via Sigma's MC-11). You lose range, but if you need a shot in a pinch you can use ClearImage Zoom or Center Scan (assuming you're not using raw over SDI).
Click to expand...

Thanks. The FS5 monitor is pretty crappy. I do have a monitor but I use it so seldomly I have to check what focus assists (if any) it has. I think I may just buy a used 18-105 and try to accept its limitations....
 
scorsesefan said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I find the ramping on the non-constant aperture lenses very distracting. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

The aperture ramping is ok if you're already stopped down for the slower side or the zoom. It also doesn't zoom smoothly, ramping aside. So I wouldn't recommend it for slow, steady zooms, but you can get decent results with a quick zoom. And as far as fast run-and-gun coverage goes, it's a great lens that I bought for around $600.

Here's a video at Smile Farms that I shot with the 18-270 on a 60D a few years back. I've used it many times more recently, but I remember that this video was shot solely with that lens. There are several zoom moves in there: https://www.onlygood.tv/smile-farms-disabled-adults-2078465740.html

For years if I'm not shooting on a prime, I've used the f/2.8 Tokina 11-16, Canon 24-70 or Canon 70-200. The Tamron 18-270 was for when I needed maximum speed and versatility. If I had to buy it again today, I would get the 16-300. 18 is wide enough, but 16 is even better.
 
Thanks, looks great... BTW I've done some work for IGHL. As a matter of fact, I filmed an interview with Chris Mccan of 1800-FLOWERS...
 
Oh cool - small world. I actually shot/edited that piece for Hoopla Ha so I didn't have any direct contact with the other entities except on the shoot day.
 
The E Mt Sony 18-200 f3.5 -6.3 is a also a consideration for you. I found that if you just stick to f6.3 then there is no ramping and these cameras are so fast that it can even be used indoors.
Its not parfocal and fly by wire etc but it does give you that one lens run & gun. I have the PZ model which has a zoom motor and rocker arm but I think the arm on the FS7 will work it though I don't recall for sure.
I will be selling mine as I upgraded to the FX9 and will probably get the full frame version soon. Let me know if you're interested. It might be more expensive than the Tamron and I have no idea how they compare. I don't know whether the fact that its a Sony lens make the autofocus work better for example. Much smaler than the 18-110 of course.
I have a friend who's a well respected documentarian and he finds the full frame version his most often used lens on the A7.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top