Filming an entire vacation with just one fixed lens!

J

Julie_Freed

Member
Hello all-

Due to extremely limited space, I can only take one fixed lens on a trip to Europe. (Long story why I can't take a zoom lens...) If you could only take one fixed lens to film walking around places like Prague and Vienna, what would it be? My camerea is a GH2. I'm trying to decide beween my favorite lens, the 25mm Summilix f 1.4, or something longer. If you had such a limitation, what would you take???
 
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Take whatever is a normal lens on your sensor, I guess that 25mm is around the right focal length.
 
Don't know your shooting style, neither what you shoot when traveling, but I would take the 17/1.8 Oly.
 
25mm Voigtlander. I shot a whole vacation to Puerto Rico with one on a GH2
 

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Julie_Freed said:
Hello all-

Due to extremely limited space, I can only take one fixed lens on a trip to Europe. (Long story why I can't take a zoom lens...) If you could only take one fixed lens to film walking around places like Prague and Vienna, what would it be? My camerea is a GH2. I'm trying to decide beween my favorite lens, the 25mm Summilix f 1.4, or something longer. If you had such a limitation, what would you take???
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I don't know that the 14-140 zoom is 'all that big', such that you need to go with a fixed lens. The only thing the 'zoom' has in the negative is the speed. But other than that, being able to shoot wide when needed, or zoom in on details... would override any 'space consumption'.
 
Okay maybe I should be more specific on "why". :-) Yes there is the space issue, I can only take one lens. As for why it can't be a zoom lens, is I will be shooting with a Glide Gear handheld stabilizer, and you really can't zoom on a steadicam. So at this point I am planning on just taking one fixed lens so I don't have to keep rebalancing, but I am open to suggestions or any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of.
 
Then it's even more beneficial to go a bit wider.
Also, Prague has kinda narrow streets, esp. where you might want to shoot. *hint*
 
I would take a 35mm-equivalent. With space and weight issues, and for use on a steadycam (where you don't need to pull focus), that would be the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake. It's a very nice lens optically, it's cheap, and it's really small. The only thing I hate about it is the fly-by-wire focus system, which pretty much sucks (it seems to have a mind of its own). But if you use AF for setting focus before you start rolling, I think it's a perfect solution.
 
I would definitely go with normal, your 25mm. I did the same thing in Spain for six weeks. Never wished I had a wider lens, just a longer one every now and then, so I myself certainly wouldn't take a wider one.

Don't fret having just one focal length. It will probably be some of your best shots. Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures, by Ken Rockwell.
 
Julie_Freed said:
Okay maybe I should be more specific on "why". :-) Yes there is the space issue, I can only take one lens. As for why it can't be a zoom lens, is I will be shooting with a Glide Gear handheld stabilizer, and you really can't zoom on a steadicam. So at this point I am planning on just taking one fixed lens so I don't have to keep rebalancing, but I am open to suggestions or any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of.
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Seriously?

Take the zoom!

Just because you can't zoom while on your Steadicam, does not mean you can't use the multitude of different focal lengths a zoom gives you compared to a single fixed focal length. And you will grow weary of ALL of your footage from an entire European vacation being hand held glide thingy. Having stat shots at different focal lengths will give you great edit points to use. You can build a very low cost disposable bean bag style camera support out of a large resealable plastic bag filled with dried beans. Great for stat shots from tables, chairs, park benches, stone walls, ground level, you get the idea.

I know if I have to use a single lens for a walk-about, my Zeiss Contax 28-85mm is usually my first choice unless low light is a big concern.
 
Julie_Freed said:
Okay maybe I should be more specific on "why". :-) Yes there is the space issue, I can only take one lens. As for why it can't be a zoom lens, is I will be shooting with a Glide Gear handheld stabilizer, and you really can't zoom on a steadicam. So at this point I am planning on just taking one fixed lens so I don't have to keep rebalancing, but I am open to suggestions or any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of.
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You could always use your lens on the widest focal length when using the Glide Gear and use any other FL for handheld shots, photos, etc. You wouldn't need to rebalance it that way, easier to maintain focus when wider and still have the versatility of a zoom.
 
My go-to single lens kit is the Voigtlander 17.5, but if you prefer 25mm it'll work fine.
The good thing about fast lenses with GH cams is that you can keep ISO low to properly exploit ETC mode from time to time and "cheat" a secondary portrait focal length.
 
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