If You Could Pick 3-5 Lenses...

F

filmrebel13

Member
...what would they be for the Sony FS700 and why would you choose them? I've been considering zooms (i.e. 24-70, 70-200, etc.) but primes seem like a better option. I don't have any preference on mount, so it could be Canon, Nikon, Alpha, etc. Thank you!
 
Depends on your application... If you own the metabones EOS II adapter and price is no object... you could go the canon cinema lens route... the zoom lenses are an insane 46k but the primes are a little more reasonable. If that's not in your budget, I would say the best bet is going with a basic set of primes 24L, 35L and 50L and three zooms the 16-35L, 24-70L and 70-200 USM IS II and get a doubler for good measure. This will cover your zoom range from 16-200 (400) at 2.8 which is usually fast enough, but you'll have primes for your light hungry super slow mo shots the fs700 offers. Zoom are great for run and gun one man band shoots, primes are great for low light, slow mo and more controlled shooting applications.
 
You didn't give specifics about the type of shoots you do so here's a general guess...

IMO the Zeiss 24-70 and 16-35 are superior to the Canon variants. Personally the 24-70 is such a versatile lens as its very sharp and covers a wide range, the Sony 16-50/2.8 covers the same range as the 24-70 on FF and is very good and with the LAEA1 adapter its about 1/2 the price of the 24-70's. For UWA the Sigma and Tokina are great options and cheaper than the 16-35's. If you're going primes there are tons of great MF options that can easily be adapted and are very affordable. You can get a wide range of Canon FD's, Olympus OM's or Minolta Rokkors for the cost of the 70-200 zoom. A high quality standard zoom is very handy IMHO and then you can cover other FL's with fast primes, that way you have multiple FL's when you're in situations where you can't swap lenses.
 
Just 3 zooms:
-Tokina 11-16mm f2.8
-Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 (OS version)
-Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 (OS version)
:happy:
 
5 Lenses that are affordable. I'm not talking about PL mount lenses or even Zeiss CP2 which are still too expensive for me. But a boy can dream :)

1) Zeiss 25mm f2
2) Zeiss 50mm f1.4
3) Zeiss 85mm f1.4

Excellent primes, excellent mechanics, Zeiss color rendition.

3 zooms that are great, especially when you're doing run and gun and need quick focal length changes
1) Tokin 11-16 f2.8
2) Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS. IMO, the best and most necessary zoom lens for 1.5x crop sensors. The IS is great, plus 17-55 is a much better focal range than 24-70 for crop sensors like the FS700. 24-70 is more for full frame cameras
3) Canon 70-200 IS F2.8 V2. Considered one the best lenses Canon has ever made. This is an amazing lens and I absolutely love it and use it all the time. Coupled with a 2x extender, it's a lethal combo.
 
Dont believe anyone on the internet including me. Get you hands on some glass and shoot some shots and some sequences.
All auto focus lenses are terrible for video. They do not offer any tactility or subtlety to you the operator.
The FS100 has a large sensor capable of subtle focus adjustments to tell your story, dont throw that away with matching with glass that you cannot do this with.

Many people dont like nikon cos they focus the wrong way - choose to delete nikon and replace with contax for the rest of this post if you want.
18mm prime
35-70 zoom
and or (28/2 or 35/2) and 85/2
and consider he 18-200 kit lens

Now every one has a 17-50, but many interviews you moving all the time between 35 and 70, MCU and CU
Think about your shot list (even on an unscripted event)

A Typical sequence might be
Wide (18) , MCU (35), CU (70), CU, MCU, CU
With a 18 and a 35-70 that is one lens change
with a 17-55 and 70-200 that is 4 lens changes

The kit lens? its for emergencies and people running - the AF is imperfect but better than you!

S
 
Hey everyone, thanks for your help. I'm more of a run-and-gun shooter, but still want the cinematic look/feel. Zooms seem great for this, but I know for the slow motion, you need a wider aperture due to more light being needed. Thanks again!
 
morgan_moore said:
Now every one has a 17-50, but many interviews you moving all the time between 35 and 70, MCU and CU
Think about your shot list (even on an unscripted event)

A Typical sequence might be
Wide (18) , MCU (35), CU (70), CU, MCU, CU
With a 18 and a 35-70 that is one lens change
with a 17-55 and 70-200 that is 4 lens changes

S
Click to expand...

Amen. I forgot to mention the Sony Zeiss 16-80 + LAEA2, which would cover all your shots in one really nice lens and give you good AF OR LAEA1 for a more budget friendly option.
 
Ive not been tempted by sony lenses dont like the focus, maybe the zeiss is better - in which 16-80 is a case a superb range

I bought a nikkor 17-80 and its fairly crap

The 18 35-70 combo you get a straight vignette free 18 and a wonderful macro 35-70

S
 
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If you want to run and gun with the FS700 and want Auto Focus, the LA-EA2 adapter with phase detection AF is super quick.

E Mount lens AF is almost useless because it's too slow to track any moving object. You do get spot focus which is really nice, but again it takes a second or two to get focus.

I was looking for some good AF, and ended up going with the LA-EA2 adapter with the Sony Alpha 16-50 2.8. Love the AF for run and gun situations. Only works at f3.5 however. You don't get spot focus. Those are the drawbacks. But it will track objects and keeps my unpredictable dog trotting around in focus 90% of the time.

As for the SAL1650 itself, theres's some barrel distortion at 16mm, but ramps down as you get to 24mm. For run and gun, i don't mind it. I heard some people here say they passed on that lens for that reason. However, if you want AF i still think it's a great lens to have.

If you're going to set up for a wide angle shot, no run and gun, then you'd probably pull out another lens like the Tokina 11-16 2.9 or the upcoming Sony E Mount 10-18 4.0.

I dove right in to E Mount lenses and haven't been super excited about them yet, other than the 50mm 1.8 OSS AF. Only reason i'd take the Sony 50mm over other brands is the E mount gives you spot focus, focus transition, great IS and (a not super quick) AF. I'm hoping the upcoming 35mm 1.8 is just as nice or even better.

Other than that, like many have said, Canon with the metabones adapter is probably great. Kind of wish i went that route. Probably would have if i wasn't chasing that quick Autofocus.
 
I have the 18-200 sony kit lens - for the af and 'IS' and range

I think the AF is pretty good.

As for the A mount - its is still AF only at 3.5 ?

 
morgan_moore said:
I have the 18-200 sony kit lens - for the af and 'IS' and range

I think the AF is pretty good.

As for the A mount - its is still AF only at 3.5 ?

Click to expand...

Yes, i have the LAEA2 and SAL1650 2.8. Auto Focus only works at 3.5. Also, the little AF points show up all over the FS700 built in screen and i don't see a way to turn them off.

The AF is really fast though!

Hmm, one of these days i should toss up a video test. I know i was looking for any footage of it i could find before buying it, not much out there!
 
The 18-200 the AF works at all apertures and is 'free' with the camera

I think it is a must have.

The other thing about that shoot is that it is handheld!

S
 
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