• Blackmagic Cameras

  Cinema Camera and lens selection

  Posted by Justin Spitler on September 22, 2016 at 1:24 pm

  Hello all!

  I’m new to video cameras and lensing (I’m an audio and lighting engineer) and need a little bit of help on some lens selection. Our church inherited a cinema camera and the lens that came with it is OK in it’s zoom range for how it’s being used right now. However, currently we are building a new sanctuary and we are planning on using this camera in the new space. Right now we’re shooting about 40′ and can get a full body shot with the current lens (Lumix H-HS12035) but that’s as close as I can get. In the new space, we will be shooting any where from 60′ to 70′ and would like to get tighter shoots from at least waist up. Since I’m very green in this area I’m looking for a powered lens (on a shoestring budget of course, about $800 to $900). It will be used for IMAG and capture. Any ideas on what to look at is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

  Erik Cantu replied 9 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Erik Cantu

  September 23, 2016 at 4:09 pm

  You didn’t say, but I assume your Cinema Camera has a MTF, Mirco Four Thirds, mount on it. Yes, the lens you have now, a 12-35mm zoom is considers in the stardard range of lenses; with the shot you want from those distances you need to be looking for telephoto lenses.

  For your requested spec of a motorized zoom lens, this is your best choice.

  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892457-REG/Panasonic_h_hs35100_35_100mm_f_2_8_Lumix_G.html

  But that lens may not have the reach you need. Motorized lenses are common outside of broadcast high end camera lenses.

  On the low end, this has farther reach:
  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827291-REG/Olympus_V315030BU000_40_150Mm_F_4_5_6_R_M_Zuiko.html

  And this would certainly have the range you need:
  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/919786-REG/olympus_v315040bu000_m_zuiko_digital_ed_75_300mm.html

  This is over you budget, but is top optical quality for MTF lenses.
  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082046-REG/olympus_v315050bu000_m_zuiko_digital_ed_40_150mm.html
  Being able to open you iris to f2.8, is a nice plus depending on your santurary’s lighting to get a good picture on camera, but from experience, it is often too hard to keep people in focus shooting at f2.8 at that distance.

  Feel free to ask any more questions, I’m been shooting and editing professionaly for 20 years and much of that volunteering at my church.

  Erik Cantu
  Video Producer
  RadioU TV & Animal Basement
  14 years experience as a fulltime broadcast shooter, editor & broadcast designer.

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