Lens Speed Help

M

Monomoy

New member
Hi all, just ordered my GH3.... I'm coming from years as a news cameraman... first DSLR for video. I've been looking to do Real Estate Videos so most of the shooting will hopefully be done inside in natural lighting. I know I need wide... maybe a 12mm or 14mm. I was thinking prime for the low light abilities however, I'd also like the flexibility of the wider zooms... but can I get away with the higher fstop shooting indoors in with natural light? I'm just not sure how fast of a lens I will need indoor... any help, lens recommendations will be appreciated.
 
For most good real estate video, you'll be shooting at daytime and/or with all the lights on. A lens at f5.6 should do fine, such as the Lumix 7-14/4. Optionally, the 12-35/2.8 is similarly excellent with a faster aperture and different range.
 
Even with all lights on, I'd not want to use a lens that didn't get down to 2.8 at it's maximum focal length. Slower lenses are fine for outdoors, but in my experience, very frustrating and needing higher and noisier ISO levels indoors.
 
I do not think the 20mm would be wide enough for your purposes. The 12mm, 14mm, or even better, the 12-35 would work for your needs. You probably don't want to be shooting scenery wide open at F/1.6 anyways...
 
If I were shooting real estate videos I would think that a wider depth of field would be more ideal, so I would want to shoot a bit stopped down, not wide open on a lens at 2.8 or 2.0 or such. I'm sure it would make the video a little more appealing in our own eyes, but to the eyes of a buyer, I would want to see detail of what is being blurred out by a shallow depth of field. With that said, real estate requires a very wide lens. Mine at 14mm on the GH3 isn't wide enough inside the house. I'd say the 7-14mm Lumix lens would be ideal, and maybe throw in a little bit of a lighting kit to help you out a bit.
 
Thanks Wildfly, appreciate the help. I'm new to the world of DSLR shooting.... the 7-14 is pretty expensive, I guess my options for anything wider than the 14mm would be only the 12 in fixed.... still not wide enough in your opinion? I was also thinking the Oly 9-18mm not as expensive as the 7-14.
 
Buy the Panny 14mm f2.5 and add a 11mm wide converter (about $100). 11mm 2.5 should be sufficient for all but the tiniest rooms and f2.5 should be plenty.
 
Monomoy said:
Thanks Wildfly, appreciate the help. I'm new to the world of DSLR shooting.... the 7-14 is pretty expensive, I guess my options for anything wider than the 14mm would be only the 12 in fixed.... still not wide enough in your opinion? I was also thinking the Oly 9-18mm not as expensive as the 7-14.
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What I would suggest is to take both on a shoot and test them. The best way to do this is using lensrentals.com or borrowlenses.com . Rent them for a few days and test them, and then you can make sure to get the right lens for YOU via your own experience with the lenses and not second or third hand information on the forum.
 
For real estate its all about maximum depth of field and showing off an area - spend your money on sliders and movement rather than fast lenses - F4 is plenty, as is 12mm for all but a broom closet.
I would use house lights such as downlights and lamps for ambience, plus lots of little LED's you can pick up at hardware stores for little light "spills".
 
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