Best run n gun zoom lens suggestions

HeavyG, just curious if you would want to answer, what type of work are you speaking of? Is this cinema type production for shorts or features or more freelance type or corporate work? I am looking at getting an AF-100 and always wonder what this camera is getting used for.

Thanks in advance.
 
Bassman2003 said:
HeavyG, just curious if you would want to answer, what type of work are you speaking of? Is this cinema type production for shorts or features or more freelance type or corporate work? I am looking at getting an AF-100 and always wonder what this camera is getting used for.

Thanks in advance.
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I shoot 90% advertising (Broadcast & web) Most of that is over thought out and choreographed in a very tight manner, some of it is a little wild and spur of the moment.

G.
 
Mac said:
I've said this before, so excuse me for repeating myself...

But, personally, I've gone back to the olden days of shooting with a semi-wide like I used to do in 16mm. I use the 28mm Leica and the 20mm Canon. When I need closer, I move in, when I need wider, I step back. I keep one lens in a vest pocket and work w/o the matte box to facilitate changing lenses. I use the Z-Finder and Aaton grip and handhold almost exclusively.

I have a very small camera bag with a 50mm Leica and a 100mm Canon that I can carry if need be. Until a decent zoom becomes available (which is beginning to look like never), that is how I work every day.
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I just rented the RED 17-50 T2.9 for a day and was NOT overly impressed: it breathes and I think its basically the Nikkor design in a new dress. The mechanics were good, weight was ok it has a decent price and you get what you pay for. I got the Nikon mount for the Red I was using and had fun with my set of Nikon mount lenses. One of these days I want to try out the more expensive zooms from Cooke but I believe the ENG type zooms are what would be right for all these cameras with interchangeable mounts for run & gun, so I vote for an ENG type zoom if Panny listens. What really makes a run&gun zoom for me are the remote controllable focus & iris and a motor zoom.
 
...I have to say, I am amazed at the thought that it should be easy and cheap for manufacturers to build a fast, lightweight, inexpensive zoom lens that can cover the image circle required for this big a sensor... it's just physics folks, and it's not gonna happen...
 
well...I am amazed that there are camera and lens combinations available that give those that need them ...everything they want and ask for... yet they choose an AF100 which does not.
 
Shooter said:
well...I am amazed that there are camera and lens combinations available that give those that need them ...everything they want and ask for... yet they choose an AF100 which does not.
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I imagine you mean people who want an ENG style camera with a servo zoom / auto iris / OIS?
 
Shooter said:
Correct.
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Because shallow depth of field is all the rage.

A lot of folks are coming from HMC150-type cameras because of the pricepoint (and still think it's really expensive) and have never used a "real" (i.e. HPX370 or better) shoulder-type camera, so they don't get how much it would cost to make something like an ENG type lens.

I mean, I would love an ENG type lens (complete with powered zoom) when I eventually pick up an AF100, but considering how much a 2/3" lens costs, I don't even want to know how much a m4/3 version would be. I'd just be happy with the Lumix 14-140 in a f/2.8 (even if they charge twice as much for it).
 
Mike Harvey said:
Because shallow depth of field is all the rage.

..).
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If thats what people want with "run and gun" or event shooting or ENG..they have to suck it up and go with it and the inherent issues. Usually they want the camera to do the work to make them selves look "professional" automatically.

The smart guys will cut their cloth accordingly and choose something they can manage or that will do the job. ie. use the camera (tool) to do what it is designed for.

I dont think there is a middle ground on this . Who shoots "run and gun", events or ENG with a RED or an Alexa for example?
 
Shooter said:
. Who shoots "run and gun", events or ENG with a RED or an Alexa for example?
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I just tried :-) Never again. But I have to say: the Red Zoom lets you get almost 18 cm close to objects ( from lens front) and the weight sort of stabilizes...
 
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timbook2 said:
I just tried :-) Never again. But I have to say: the Red Zoom lets you get almost 18 cm close to objects ( from lens front) and the weight sort of stabilizes...
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I love how close you can get / focus with the RED 18-50!
 
Yes that close focus was most impressive, I must admit. Do you notice that it breathes on the AF100? On the Red Mysterium it was quite noticable.
 
timbook2 said:
Yes that close focus was most impressive, I must admit. Do you notice that it breathes on the AF100? On the Red Mysterium it was quite noticable.
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Yeah it breathes, but you work around that and it's never been a problem.
 
heavyG said:
I imagine you mean people who want an ENG style camera with a servo zoom / auto iris / OIS?
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I want the "ENG style lens," but "only" in the sense of range of focal length, constant aperture, holds focus, using it as a "variable prime."
I don't want servo, auto anything or OIS. And I know that's asking a lot. But I can wish, can't I? :happy:

Mike Harvey said:
Because shallow depth of field is all the rage.
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I enjoy the camera's sensitivity, also. I did my first "event" style shoot (not my usual genre, but the rate was generous) last weekend, and the high ISO was a blessing.
Mike Harvey said:
I'd just be happy with the Lumix 14-140 in a f/2.8 (even if they charge twice as much for it).
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Ditto-exactly. I'd pay 3 times as much. That would almost be an ENG style lens, not quite as wide or long, but almost...
 
what gets me is that the lens that we all need already exits at reasonable prices

here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html

and here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/520637-GREY/Nikon_2164_AF_S_Nikkor_24_70mm_f_2_8G.html

and if you need a little wider here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/425812-USA/Canon_1242B002AA_EF_S_17_55mm_f_2_8_IS.html

or here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300490-GREY/Nikon_2147_17_55mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.html

Granted these aren't optimized for video but nether are the canon FD,Nikkor,minolta MD primes from the 70's folks have been making due with.

I just need a lens like these in a M4/3 mount

ois and parafocal is a bonus but not a requirement.

give me hard stops at the end of the zoom/focus range and I'm gonna buy two.
 
john deaver said:
what gets me is that the lens that we all need already exits at reasonable prices

here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html

and here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/520637-GREY/Nikon_2164_AF_S_Nikkor_24_70mm_f_2_8G.html

and if you need a little wider here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/425812-USA/Canon_1242B002AA_EF_S_17_55mm_f_2_8_IS.html

or here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300490-GREY/Nikon_2147_17_55mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.html
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Well, the two Canons are right out without the Birger mount or something similar; not being able to change the aperture is certainly not consistent with my concept of "run'n'gun." And I say that as the owner of a dozen EF and EF-S lenses that I am sad I can't use on the AF100 right now.

Whether these are adequate otherwise depends on your shooting style -- if the in-shot zoom is a valid page in your book of tricks, then a 3:1 ratio doesn't cut it because there's insufficient "sweep" from one end to the other. And similarly, a zoom servo makes the effect many times easier to achieve spontaneously. Parfocal behavior would also be a must for me (zoom in, focus, zoom out, shoot).

Actually, I don't sweat this too much. Due to ergonomics, limited depth of field and the pretty much designed-in inability to zoom while shooting with just about any lens, I don't really regard the AF100 as suitable for run'n'gun shooting in general. I didn't buy mine for that, and I have an HMC80 to use when I'm working in that style (which is an excellent and somewhat under-rated camera for that purpose, BTW).

One of the 17-55mm f2.8's would, indeed, be a fine "general purpose" lens choice for the things the AF100 is already good at, but that's not exactly the same as "run'n'gun" in my book.

- Greg
 
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Here is my pick as what I would use out of my entire lens kit if I was required to do a "run n gun" shoot. Which I define as a shoot that I would do generally by myself alone, mostly hand held or with light head and sticks.

Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm ( Four Thirds on the Panasonic M4/3 adapter)

I purchased this for my GH2 (specific projects in mind) and have only had it 3 days.

Yesterday I decided to do a little test with it on the AF102 and I was really impressed with how workeable this lens is in every respect.
That does not mean it is not a compromise or has issues in film work...but it would do the job very well for me and I would cope.
Image quality is excellent ( I have not done any test to check the "imaging characteristic" of the lens yet.).
 
New Micro 4/3 Panasonic lens to be announced beginning of September, just before the IFA in Berlin. Might be the 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 (?).
 
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