B Roll lens advice to use with a gimbal

M

Mark-P

Well-known member
I want to get a gimbal to use with my A73 and I am still new to the video side of things. I like the new Ronin SC, and it should work weight wise with my lenses. I do want to buy a 24-70 and am trying to decide between the f2.8 and f4. The f.2.8 will be too heavy along with the camera to work with this gimbal. Would you even shoot at f2.8 when doing broll with this lens? Would you ever use an 85mm or a 100mm when shooting broll or is broll shot with the wide lenses usually?

Thanks.
 
So the a7III and a6400 are probably the two cameras I've used the most on a gimbal besides a 5D Mark IV.

Yes, you can use f/2.8. I actually mostly use f/1.4 or f/1.8. You have one of the best AF cameras in the world, which will allow you to do that.

Yes, you can use an 85mm and a 100mm on a gimbal although that would be my personal cut off (more so the 85mm) on the a7III (full-frame). On the a6400 (APS-C), I cut it off at 50mm or so.

___

The only reasons you may see more wider shots out there in the online world is mainly for two reasons:

(1) It's much easier to have stable looking footage (less micro-jitters).

(2) Gimbals and cameras existed way before very good video-tracking AF did and it was simply not possible to shoot with longer lenses without someone controlling your focus or stopping the lens all the way down.

___

Lenses...the E-mount has a ton of choices. Which 24-70? Sony? If so, the f/2.8 is not worth the extra money for video (arguably not even for stills).

If you need something between 24-70, there are also other third-party alternatives like the very popular Tamron 28-75 f/2.8: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1393332-REG/tamron_a036_28_75mm_f_2_8_di_iii.html

Another recommendation would be to get yourself at least one or two lightweight & fast primes. A 35mm on a full-frame camera is a great starting point unless you need super-wide.

A new one was just announced although it's pricey: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1492866-REG/sony_sel35f18f_35mm_f_1_8_fe_lens.html

Or Sony's 85mm is one of their best lenses ever made: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1317562-REG/sony_sel85f18_fe_85mm_f_1_8_lens.html

There are so many more lenses you can use. You can even purchase APS-C lenses and use the a7III in its APS-C mode.

My go-to lens with the a6400 is the 24mm (it's like a 35mm on a FF): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/818647-REG/Sony_SEL24F18Z_SEL24F18Z_24_mm_f_1_8.html

___

In short, you can use longer lenses although they will be more difficult to stabilize (micro-jitters), and you can definitely shoot at f/2.8 and faster with your camera's great AF system. I actually never shoot higher than f/2.8 unless everything needs to be in focus like maybe with a wide establishing shot.

[FWIW, you may need ND filters and there are gimbals that can handle a lot more weight than the Ronin SC.]
 
Buy a pancake zoom lens. Those things are perfect for small gimbals. I don't believe I've ever used longer than a 35mm lens on a gimbal, and I'd think you'd have a hard time framing with an 85mm or longer.
 
85mm would be for people/smiling faces. Close-ups & mid-shots with beautiful shallow depth-of-field.

Of course it depends on the work though. But think portraits...people love this look.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Buy a pancake zoom lens. Those things are perfect for small gimbals. I don't believe I've ever used longer than a 35mm lens on a gimbal, and I'd think you'd have a hard time framing with an 85mm or longer.
Click to expand...

NorBro said:
85mm would be for people/smiling faces. Close-ups & mid-shots with beautiful shallow depth-of-field.

Of course it depends on the work though. But think portraits...people love this look.
Click to expand...

Depends on what exactly you're doing. So much gimbal footage you see is just wide/super wide running around stuff. But I've talked to Steadicam ops who operate on movies who said they've shot with 100mils for tight precede shots.
 
Another reason for all these gimbal shots to be using a wide angle is that it exagerates motion, so, stylistically it also makes sense.

Most of my gimbal shots are 18mm, then 24mm, and also some 50mm. But when I have to shoot portraits and I don't want a handheld look I will also put the 100mm on the gimbal (just for stabilization, not for motion, I'm not good enough as an operator tu pull that off).

My go-to gimbal lens on an a7 would be the Batis 18mm f/2.8. It's a really nice ultrawide, one of the best lenses at that focal length, and it's also small and light.

Some reviews:
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/20...f-the-zeiss-batis-18mm-and-135mm-f2-8-lenses/
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-zeiss-batis-18mm-2-8/
https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/zeiss_batis_18mm_f2_8_review
http://3d-kraft.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=191&catid=40&Itemid=2
 
Would you ever use an 85mm or a 100mm when shooting broll

Of course - a typical interview could be hands

100mm on a stabiliser is super high skill.

--

If you are new to video it is worth bearing in mind this advice... do not move the camera - tell stories in a series of moving photos.
 
Run&Gun said:
Depends on what exactly you're doing. So much gimbal footage you see is just wide/super wide running around stuff. But I've talked to Steadicam ops who operate on movies who said they've shot with 100mils for tight precede shots.
Click to expand...

I am aware of that, but it's doubtful that tracking or movement is involved with a 100mm lens on a stabilizer, so why bother? You could get a better shot on sticks or hand held.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top