Lens Kit for Documentary Style Shooting

So your experience shows that at 8-10', a 50mm does give the CU to head and shoulders (no flakes/joke referring to video).

That is just about what I want as the interview will feature consistent cuts to B-roll and pertinent shots.
 
Sounds about right ... tonight I can send you a sequence of test stills of an interview subject 35mm out to 135mm - I just need to remind myself what distance I shot them at.
 
As promised, here's a sequence of uncropped images shot on a GH2 at different focal lengths, with the camera ~10 feet from the subject. This a scan of a print I made at the time - couldnt find the original PS file - so the the quality is lousy. But it should provide an indication of the relative framing.

GH2at10feet.jpg
 
As I posted in your other thread, a couple of smart phone apps like pCAM and Artemis are invaluable for figuring which focal length lens to use at a given distance.

Good luck with your lens shopping.

Dave
 
this is what you need.

nikon 14-24 2.8
nikon 24-70 2.8
nikon 80-200 2.8 (do not get the newer 70-200. the 80-200 is from like 97 but is still sold new and is 1000 cheaper)

I shoot m43 all day and I must suggest you also get a variable 77mm variable ND so you can control dof for the latter 2 lenses.
 
skibovision said:
this is what you need.

nikon 14-24 2.8
nikon 24-70 2.8
nikon 80-200 2.8 (do not get the newer 70-200. the 80-200 is from like 97 but is still sold new and is 1000 cheaper)

I shoot m43 all day and I must suggest you also get a variable 77mm variable ND so you can control dof for the latter 2 lenses.
Click to expand...

Are you shooting indoor interviews?
Do you shoot them wide open?
What distance do you work from the talent?
What distance do you set between the talent and the background?
How is the bokeh?
 
Heartfelt said:
Are you shooting indoor interviews?
Do you shoot them wide open?
What distance do you work from the talent?
What distance do you set between the talent and the background?
How is the bokeh?
Click to expand...

yes
depends on what I'm going for
varies
varies
bokeh is good. To be honest I don't think the audiences I shoot for are looking at the out of focus parts of the scene.

many of your questions are very specific and I would have to answer on a shoot by shoot basis.

This is a good set of lenses and I think it allows you to do the best with what you have, and in most of my shoots what I have as far as options/time is not a lot.
 
skibovision said:
yes
depends on what I'm going for
varies
varies
bokeh is good. To be honest I don't think the audiences I shoot for are looking at the out of focus parts of the scene.

many of your questions are very specific and I would have to answer on a shoot by shoot basis.

This is a good set of lenses and I think it allows you to do the best with what you have, and in most of my shoots what I have as far as options/time is not a lot.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your sharing and am not asking anything to vet you but because I am curious, and if I ask for too much, just let me know. I do believe that is a great set and offers a lot of the ease my camcorders would offer with the zoom mixed with, as you mentioned, control over DoF.

The options/time issue is very real when you involve people and customers who don't personally know you, as in my case... although I have done work with people with whom relationship made patience an easy thing.

Would you mind talking about one of your jobs? I don't know if you have any clips that can be shown. It seems the more I see and read, the better prepared I am.

I will give some thought to forsaking the prime path for some zooms. The f2.8 spooks me a little being inside with the particular creative aim I have.
Thanks again.
 
Last edited:
Heartfelt said:
I will give some thought to forsaking the prime path for some zooms. The f2.8 spooks me a little being inside with the particular creative aim I have.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...

If you are talking true documentary, cinema verite, run and gun then you should absolutely be getting zooms. You can shoot a gh2 up to about iso 6400 and using neatvideo noise reduction get very usable results.

If you are only shooting interviews and want some faster lenses then check this out http://rplens.com/. Seems to be a good place to get them. Stick with nikons. They are sharper and you can use them on canon cameras, cant say that for canon lenses on most other things.
 
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