Lenses for Interviewing Suggestions

[marink]

Hi guys,

Just asking a little advice, basically I'm doing a production where I'll be filming a number of short interviews in office/business style environments, with very little/none outdoor or moving around shots. So I'm focusing on getting very good still/tripod shots for it and I'm slightly torn between which lenses to buy.

We have around a £3k budget for camera and lenses, and I'm looking at a 5D MK III with Canon lenses, either:

50mm f/1.4 and a 24-105mm f/4.0

or a 50mm f/1.8 and a 24-70mm f/2.8

I don't know whether it would be better to get the cheaper prime so I can get the larger aperture on the Zoom, or whether I should do it the other way round.

What would your guys suggestions be?

Thanks for your help in advance,

Gary

 

[dhofmann]

Just the 24-70 II, because it's at least as sharp as everything else you listed.

 

[bluegreenturtle]

On full frame it's hard to interview people at shallower than 2.8 on a 50mm (really, it's hard at any shallower than about f4) because any little movement by the subject throws them out of focus. Assuming you're doing the interviewing and not pulling focus full time, you don't really need the fast lens. So as said, the zoom will serve you well.