I have come to the dark side.

New_Zealand

New_Zealand

Veteran
I have been filming with the HVX200a for quite sometime. Two of the main problems I found with the camera was focus and low light filming. My next project has some really low light scenes. I have decided to get the T3i with the tamron 17-50 f/2.8.
 
And LOL I'm going to use the T3i for all my night shots. From the footage that I have seen in low lighting it beats my HVX by a long shot. I just hope I got the right lens.
 
New_Zealand said:
And LOL I'm going to use the T3i for all my night shots. From the footage that I have seen in low lighting it beats my HVX by a long shot. I just hope I got the right lens.
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f/2.8 is really not a fast lens. You should look into lenses that are f/2.0 and faster. A nice 30mm, 50mm and 85mm prime lenses can give you some great footage
 
Thanks - I just went to Amazon and canceled the 17-50mm. I may shoot all the scenes Day and Night with this camera. The night scenes are very important and can't have it too noisy - must be nice and clear.
 
f/2.8 is the fastest ( i.e. lets the most light through) that you will get with a zoom lens. The other choice would be a prime lens (meaning single size, no zoom) which means changing lenses a lot more often - just so you understand what is being recommended here.

The other consideration is focus. The wider an aperture you shoot with, the harder focus will be. If you are having trouble keeping focus with a small sensor camcorder, you will have a VERY hard time with a DSLR and an aperture wider than f/2.8.

The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC version only, the later VC version is crap) is a great bargain zoom. I would recommend it as a first lens to buy for almost anybody.
 
vision_filmz said:
f/2.8 is really not a fast lens. You should look into lenses that are f/2.0 and faster. A nice 30mm, 50mm and 85mm prime lenses can give you some great footage
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F2.8 is faster than a lot of folks think on a camera like the Canon DSLRs. I have a set of Nikkor prime lenses that I use on a T2i, which are mostly f2.8, and I have found them to be plenty fast enough. I can comfortably shoot up to ISO1600 with it and the image is very clean. Of course, I do have a 50mm Nikkor that is a f1.4, just in case, but I found that when I am shooting with that lens, I have usually stopped down to at least f2.8 on most instances anyway. F2.8, in an affordable zoom, is about the best you are going to be able to get anyway.
 
David G. Smith said:
F2.8 is faster than a lot of folks think on a camera like the Canon DSLRs. I have a set of Nikkor prime lenses that I use on a T2i, which are mostly f2.8, and I have found them to be plenty fast enough. I can comfortably shoot up to ISO1600 with it and the image is very clean. Of course, I do have a 50mm Nikkor that is a f1.4, just in case, but I found that when I am shooting with that lens, I have usually stopped down to at least f2.8 on most instances anyway. F2.8, in an affordable zoom, is about the best you are going to be able to get anyway.
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Yes, I agree , but in certain instances using an f/1.4 for certain shots can only deliver a certain image that is simply not possible with an f/2.8 lens. I would truly suggest the op to rent some lenses and make a decision for himself. You will quickly find out that you will like/need different lenses for different occasions.
 
Instead of trying to get a super uber fast lenses why don't you light your scenes better. Even a portable battery powered LED light held off-camera will give loads of production value than fighting to focus with a fast lens or fighting noise with your camera's ISO.
Have an assistant hold the light or use a cheap light stand if its a more stable environment. If you're conducting voxpop or interviews then that will be tricky but an on-camera LED in those situations would still be easier than focusing at 1.4 I think.
 
I have found that with Magic Lantern focus peaking on the LCD I can keep pretty decent focus with a 50mm f1.8 if you set up about 10' away from the subject. That is still a pretty tight shot yet you can see with the focus peaking if you are on the ear or the nose. If the subject is 5' or less you only have a few inches to play and the screen on canon's is not good enough to really know.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Boncrek said:
What's your problem?
I'm just giving the OP the advice I was given.
If its true and good advice just leave it be and say "+1"
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Sometimes you run into the problem of not having electricity nor someone to help you out on many no budget shoots. In a perfect world lighting something i ideal, but obviously not always possible. I think that's what the other poster meant.

peace
 
vision_filmz said:
Sometimes you run into the problem of not having electricity nor someone to help you out on many no budget shoots. In a perfect world lighting something i ideal, but obviously not always possible. I think that's what the other poster meant.

peace
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I live in Jamaica. Our electricity is tempermental at best, being a third-world country and all so I know about lack of power.
That's why I said battery-powered LED was an option.
Nothing is fit for every situation or perfect.
That's why I was giving the OP the option. Nothing more nothing less.
Nothing is wrong with fast lenses BTW.
I was just telling the OP an option he may not have considered sheesh
 
David Jimerson said:
It's been suggested before because it's the best way to deal with poor light.
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OP says he has critical low light/night time shots. Its my guess that a fast lens is more within his budget, time, and convenience than a light setup in a public space at night which most likely he'll be filming w/o permit so he just needs to steal the shot on location. Obviously if he has the budget for filming permits, can get a nice light setup in a poorly light/dark scene then he'd go that route. But seeing that he's looking for a fast lens and a quick fix, I'm guessing that he's asking for a fast lens and a quick fix.
 
bronxjragon said:
OP says he has critical low light/night time shots. Its my guess that a fast lens is more within his budget, time, and convenience than a light setup in a public space at night which most likely he'll be filming w/o permit so he just needs to steal the shot on location. Obviously if he has the budget for filming permits, can get a nice light setup in a poorly light/dark scene then he'd go that route. But seeing that he's looking for a fast lens and a quick fix, I'm guessing that he's asking for a fast lens and a quick fix.
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The original poster never mentioned a quick fix, and only mentioned a faster than f/2.8 lens after advice given here. I don't think that advice is the best plan given what we know.

The original poster initially wanted a f/2.8 zoom and I believe that is a VERY valid option for her or him. Trouble focusing with a small sensor camera was mentioned as a MAJOR issue - a fast prime on a DSLR will only exacerbate that. You can fix a lot of things in post, but focus is not one of them.

The original poster also made no mention of the location for the low light scenes - for all we know it's under her or his bed. Yes it could be a public place without permit, but to assume so and base all your advice on such seriously handicaps said recommendation. In fact, if unpermitted public shooting is part of the plan, my first advice would likely be to reconsider such a location - if something goes wrong, any bad publicity involving filmmakers breaking the law hurts us all in the end. Legal locations can be found cheap and/or free. IMHO shooting unpermitted should only be a last resort option.

Prime lenses wide open are certainly not the best option if you need to shoot quickly - changing lenses and shooting additional takes because of blown focus is not the fastest method.

Lastly, renting lights will almost always be cheaper than buying fast lenses, unless said lenses are serious crap.
 
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