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Slyelessar

Slyelessar

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Choosing a lens for videos

August 19, 2018 Simon Green
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First and foremost, I will be a photographer before a videographer. However, videos are becoming ever increasingly more important to what I do. I have a target this year of a video a week, and having appropriate equipment is important. 

For those that watch my videos, you are aware the photo walks are filmed very much run-and-gun, and allowing for all sorts of things to happen. This does mean the video does not look as polished as someone sat in a studio talking to the camera. 

But how do I decide which lens to use for videos? Up to this point, I have always used lenses that I own. For example, the 23mm F2 has pretty much been the standard on my X-T2, and this is whatI have used. Before this it was my 35mm F2. I have used combinations of vintage OM lenses at my desk, but ultimately the 23mm F2 has been my main lens for recording videos. 

I have recently changed my recording set up to Micro Four Thirds (OM-D EM5 MKII). This came with a crappy kit lens, that after testing is just ‘OK’. However, I would like to branch out and get better glass for videos. Normally, I would recommend a wide prime, but cameraface has recently been enjoying the kit lenses zoom for pick-up shots. So I will likely get either a wide-zoom, with power stabilisation. 

If you could only have 1 lens for video: Choosing a lens can be broken down fairly easily, and although you should always use the correct tool for the correct job, this will sit you strongly in the right ball park:

Vlogging/ 1 person: Get a wide angle lens. The full frame equivalent of 24mm or 28mm. So this would be 16mm/ 18mm on an APS-C type sensor, and 12mm/ 15mm on Micro Four Thirds.

Travel/ adventure: You will want a standard zoom or a long zoom. This will allow you to get different shots from different focal lengths. A good example of this is the fantastic Fujifilm 18-135mm. You can cover this with a standard zoom/kit lens.

Sports: Sports of any kind requires the complete opposite set up of what I have. You will want a decent tele zoom, with fast autofocus. Something like a 70-200 or a 70-300 FF equivalent. This lens will also be handy for portraits. 

These lenses should cover most ground, there will always be exceptions to the rules, but I have always found using what I have is just fine. The content and audio is more important that the quality of the visuals - again only to a point. However, using what you have for video should be fine. 

Right I am off to look at lenses! - Sly. 

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