FS7: Which long tele lens 400mm + for nature? Best practice

P

Publimix

Veteran
Dear FS7 users,

What long telelens do you like to use (zoom or prime).

What I am looking for is my FS7 mounted on a heavy tripod in a cabin for wildlife/bird filming at a lake. Can't get close. Long lens needed. 400mm or more for 4K.

So what should I choose:
  • 400, 500 or 600 prime.
  • 100-400 zoom or 300-800 Nikkor 200-500 zoom or equivalent
  • Nikkor Canon Sigma, other brand
I am not buying yet, but will hire (unless this super 300-800mm sigma is the holy long lens grail which I doubt).

Is for outdoor, I like sharp contrasty lenses.

What would you recommend?
 
I can highly recommend the Sigma 150-600mm. Great lens and both the Sport (water sealed) and Contemporary versions offer amazing value for money. Sport has better manual focus, though the Contemporary is lighter. Optics are very similar.
 
I can add to that. My 28-300 with Zacuto lens support on Gitzo 3 series and Sachtler FSB-8 is shaky at best. Lucky it has IS. But i would go even sturdier if my job depended on such footage.

Keep in mind not to use Speedbooster if you need long reach.

And Liams mention to the Sigma was my first thought as well. Great versatility. Thinking about getting it myself.
 
I love my Canon 200-400mm f/4 with a built-in 14.x extender for wildlife with both my FS7 and F55. It allows me to shoot 4K from 200mm up to 560mm without ever changing lenses and all at a constant f/4 (or f/5.6 with the extender). The focus ring is smooth and accurate and turns the same direction as all the PL, TV, and cinema lenses I've used for the last 35 years so it's really easy to get used to.

And with 2K center crop on either camera, it lets me cover everything from 200mm up to 1160mm at 240 or 180 fps in HD. All in all, pretty versatile lens that has already more than paid for itself and would be easy to sell to a Canon still photographer if something better ever comes along for video.

About 80% of this national parks video was shot with that Canon. The wide shots are my Zeiss LWZ 15.5-45mm f/2.6.

 
Thanks for the input so far. Is the (if there is) difference in quality between prime and zoom reason for some of you to use primes?
 
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Nirv said:
I hope that cabin doesn't have floorboards.
Click to expand...

I have been in this situation (even at home for testing) found I needed to lay a sheet of backboard down to disperse the load... not perfect but much improved
 
Publimix said:
Dear FS7 users,

What long telelens do you like to use (zoom or prime).

What I am looking for is my FS7 mounted on a heavy tripod in a cabin for wildlife/bird filming at a lake. Can't get close. Long lens needed. 400mm or more for 4K.

So what should I choose:
  • 400, 500 or 600 prime.
  • 100-400 zoom or 300-800 Nikkor 200-500 zoom or equivalent
  • Nikkor Canon Sigma, other brand
I am not buying yet, but will hire (unless this super 300-800mm sigma is the holy long lens grail which I doubt).

Is for outdoor, I like sharp contrasty lenses.

What would you recommend?
Click to expand...

I own the Nikon AFS 400mm 2.8 and 600mm f4 and they really are amazing probably the best super telephoto lenses you can buy BUT they both out resolve 4k then add the slower shutter speeds and movement of following your subject with video vs stills I am not convinced you get all that much benefit over other good lenses like say the Nikon 200-500 super zoom thing other than light gathering ability and DOF differences. I think the lens choice is going to be the easy part, I also own an old Tokina 200-500 manual lens I picked up used for $400 and would pick it and a proper tripod over any of the better lenses with lessor support.

So far I have not found a 75mm bowl I like for long lenses and have had to stick with the 100mm, the Vinten Vision 100 is the best I have used and the Libec H85 does a very good job at 1/5 the cost

another issue is mounting the lens, all those long lenses are made for still camera were you just hand your camera from the mount and the lens foot attaches to the tripod head, obviously no good for video.... I played with 15mm and 19mm rode systems but finally found the perfect long lens support from Really Right Stuff (rock solid!) RLB_1339.jpg
 
RayB said:
I played with 15mm and 19mm rode systems but finally found the perfect long lens support from Really Right Stuff (rock solid!)
Click to expand...

That looks really slick. Is that one part number from RRS? It looks like two assemblies? Thanks!
 
XcYZ said:
That looks really slick. Is that one part number from RRS? It looks like two assemblies? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The package Really Right Stuff makes for long lens video set ups is called the Kennan Ward package, mine is a tweaked version.
and has a shorter bottom bar (red arrow) and a double camp (blue arrow) I got the double because several of my lenses have Kirk, Markins,
and ARCA plates and worried the single knob to tighten to both the bottom bar and the lens foot at the same time might not work...if I had
Really Right Stuff lens plates I would have got the single knob clamp, its lower profile one one less know to deal with (I can always add it later)
if I replace the lens feet

Link to RRS long lens system http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Kennan-Ward-Super-Tele-Package
RLB_1339arrow.jpg
 
Nirv said:
I hope that cabin doesn't have floorboards.
Click to expand...

I had filmed on shaky floor board with long lenses in a concert hall, as I was at the back and the main camera, this was an issue, lucky enough the crane op gave me a few weights which I harnessed on my tripod that did the trick
 
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