Best ultra-wide lens/camera combo for 6K acquisition?

jasonbrooks

jasonbrooks

Well-known member
Hey folks,

Somehwat off-topic for the Sony forum I know, but there are too-many all around image-junkies on here who I respect to avoid asking.

Got an interesting one to shoot "360"(ish) wide landscape shots to create the effect of being surrounded by landscapes when standing in a courtyard surrounded by 15m tall projection-mapped surfaces. The courtyard walls are broken up by passage ways into 5 slices though, so stitching won't be an issue, and thus I'm tempted by using 5 discrete cameras.

I'm pretty sure that the most budget friendly way to acquire these images will be BM 6K cameras or similar, although it might be possible to use FX3s in portrait orientation too, to capture the 3840 vertical res of the projectors.

My fundamental question is: What's the best EF-mount (or EF-flange depth compatible) lens at 16mm or wider to capture these images through. Looking for edge-to-edge sharpness (as corners will be cropped by shape of projected wall surface, plus performance wide-open, etc. Also interested in E-mount suggestions (beyond the 16-35 GM, obvs), in case the Fx3 route proves viable.

Any thoughts? Cheers!

jason
 
I'd definitely use multiple cameras. Is this going to be moving imagery or still shots? (I assume moving)

If moving, then look into 360VR, it's a very deep topic. Lots to consider.

Perhaps for 360VR I'd leaning towards one of the Z Cam E2 series, or the BGH1/BS1H, or Blackmagic Micro G2. Depends on various factors. (heck, in some oddball scenarios I'd maybe even be considering cameras such as the Sony RX0 as well)

Laowa has numerous UWA lenses which are nice plus also fairly affordable, once I've decided upon the camera, they'd be the next step I'd be going for.

beyond the 16-35 GM, obvs
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Hell no, am sorry, but definitely not that lens!! (or any other zoom for that matter)

Then again, you're saying what's being projected is such that stitching isn't necessary? Meh, maybe you can be sloppy with the shooting then and use a zoom, and still be able to get away with it?? But I don't really see the point in it, other than the flexibility.
 
You may consider renting the Insta360 Titan if you're looking to do dedicated 360 degree VR type of shots. It will make the process a lot easier than the direction you may currently be leaning towards with many separate cameras.
 
So you basically want a DIY Circle-Vision 360° setup. The 35mm version used 9 cameras, and you'd need to increase that number if the cameras are recording in a 9:16 aspect ratio, although, ultra wide lenses will reduce the number of cameras needed, at the expense of a natural perspective.

Possibly a Tokina 11-20mm, although 11-16mm version had barrel distortion, so you might need to overlap coverage to account for barrel distortion correction. The 11-16mm covers full frame when zoomed in to 14mm, but I don't know about the 11-20mm.

Laowa has a 12mm lens they claim has close to zero distortion, but I've never used one, and can't comment on the veracity of the claim.

You'll need to have a custom camera base machined to properly position and align the cameras.

P.S. Timecode sync would be a nice feature to consider, along with open gate to maximize the lens angle of view.
 
IronFilm said:
Even better and better is having genlock. But not too many cameras have genlock in such a very small form factor.
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Get yourself a few RED Komodo’s along with some small Mutiny breakout boxes that have timecode/genlock. Then you can adapt to some wide angle EF or PL lenses and Bob’s your uncle.

A lot of people shooting plates for VFX that go with the multi cam Komodo setups.
 
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