ectobuilder
Veteran
Re: Sigma 18-35 F1.8 + 7D Mark II
I just used this lens for the first time and this is the MOST liberating lens I have EVER used.
It is liberating on so many levels but one in particular is the fact that it has a CONSTANT zoom ring.
This makes it PERFECT for Glidecam/Steadicam use as it maintains the SAME balance when zooming in/out. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Now I can tell a story on a Glidecam with more diversity than ever. On top of that, the lens is literally like a bag of primes. It provides shallow DOF when needed AND has a super close focusing distance that is similar to a prime counter part. Most zooms I find lack a close focusing distance, epsecially at the wider end of the zoom, this one doesn't. The focus and zoom ring are smooth as well, similar to the Rokinon 35mm lenses, they don't have a friction feel like the native Canon lenses. And thankfully the focus ring is driven by gears, meaning it can do REPEATABLE manual focus (unlike the Sony E-Mount lenses)!
On top of that I used it with the 7D Mark II with the dual pixel AF along which has multiple fcus options (i.e. AI Servo AF, Push One Time Focus) and makes the liberating experience even more so (although the 7D Mark II did have some short comings such as the inability to change focus modes (Auto Servo AF vs Manual Servo AF, Face Tracking vs Single Spot) while recording. We needed to stop recording to do that; which sucks because it disturbs the flow of the story. Lack of touch screen also hindered the 7D Mark II's advantages also).
Now I wish Sony would bring out an A7-esque camera with phase detection + touch screen and a lens similar to the Sigma 18-35, that would be the perfect marriage.
One thing I noticed the Sony mirrorless cameras implement that Canon didn't is the ability to assign Face Detection and AF Toggle onto their Custom Buttons. I haven't fully tested it, but I am assuming you can activate and deactive these WHILE recording. If that is the case then they are two levels ahead in terms of user interface/interaction than Canon since with Canon you CANNOT assign these to an external button plus you need to stop recording if you want to activate/deactive these functions.
I just used this lens for the first time and this is the MOST liberating lens I have EVER used.
It is liberating on so many levels but one in particular is the fact that it has a CONSTANT zoom ring.
This makes it PERFECT for Glidecam/Steadicam use as it maintains the SAME balance when zooming in/out. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Now I can tell a story on a Glidecam with more diversity than ever. On top of that, the lens is literally like a bag of primes. It provides shallow DOF when needed AND has a super close focusing distance that is similar to a prime counter part. Most zooms I find lack a close focusing distance, epsecially at the wider end of the zoom, this one doesn't. The focus and zoom ring are smooth as well, similar to the Rokinon 35mm lenses, they don't have a friction feel like the native Canon lenses. And thankfully the focus ring is driven by gears, meaning it can do REPEATABLE manual focus (unlike the Sony E-Mount lenses)!
On top of that I used it with the 7D Mark II with the dual pixel AF along which has multiple fcus options (i.e. AI Servo AF, Push One Time Focus) and makes the liberating experience even more so (although the 7D Mark II did have some short comings such as the inability to change focus modes (Auto Servo AF vs Manual Servo AF, Face Tracking vs Single Spot) while recording. We needed to stop recording to do that; which sucks because it disturbs the flow of the story. Lack of touch screen also hindered the 7D Mark II's advantages also).
Now I wish Sony would bring out an A7-esque camera with phase detection + touch screen and a lens similar to the Sigma 18-35, that would be the perfect marriage.
One thing I noticed the Sony mirrorless cameras implement that Canon didn't is the ability to assign Face Detection and AF Toggle onto their Custom Buttons. I haven't fully tested it, but I am assuming you can activate and deactive these WHILE recording. If that is the case then they are two levels ahead in terms of user interface/interaction than Canon since with Canon you CANNOT assign these to an external button plus you need to stop recording if you want to activate/deactive these functions.
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