Sundance 2018 Infographic: What Was the Most Popular Gear Used for the Films?

[Canon Rumors Guy]

NoFilmSchool made a great infographic showing what camera brands and lenses were used the most for the 2018 Sundance films.</p>
<p>Canon fared very well, and it looks like their considerable investment in the Cinema EOS series is paying off.</p>
<p><strong>Camera Brand</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Arri: 90</li>
<li>Canon: 37</li>
<li>Sony: 28</li>
</ul>
<p>Most Popular Camera:  Arri Alexa</p>
<p><strong>Lens Brand</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Canon – 46</li>
<li>Cooke – 24</li>
<li>Panavision 16</li>
</ul>
<p>Most Popular Lens: Canon EF</p>


<div id="attachment_33134" style="max-width: 738px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://nofilmschool.com/2018/01/infographic-sundance-2018-cameras-and-lenses"><img class="wp-image-33134 size-full" src="http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear.jpg" alt="" width="728" height="1779" srcset="http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear.jpg 728w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear-235x575.jpg 235w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear-419x1024.jpg 419w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear-92x225.jpg 92w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sundance2018gear-610x1491.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">infographic credit // NoFilmSchool // Click to visit NoFilmSchool</p></div>
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[IglooEater]

Huh, 14% of shorts shot was on a DSLR. That’s quite a surprise to me, an outsider. I would have hardly expected any.
The other surprise to me is the lack of RED gear.

 

[Talys]

For most popular lens, an EFS 18-55 is pictured

 

[Sharlin]

Huh, 14% of shorts shot was on a DSLR. That’s quite a surprise to me, an outsider. I would have hardly expected any.
The other surprise to me is the lack of RED gear.

Sundance is an indie festival, ain't nobody got money for a RED. Also explains the DSLR shorts.

 

[Sharlin]

For most popular lens, an EFS 18-55 is pictured

Didn't you know, it's really popular among the filmmaker crowd

 

[bgoyette]

Huh, 14% of shorts shot was on a DSLR. That’s quite a surprise to me, an outsider. I would have hardly expected any.
The other surprise to me is the lack of RED gear.

Sundance is an indie festival, ain't nobody got money for a RED. Also explains the DSLR shorts.

Sundance is indie only in the sense that studios don't finance the projects, and generally there are no distribution deals in place prior. A big chunk of Sundance competition films have name actors connected to them, so these aren't your "dad's credit card" type of indie. Besides, if the number one camera is Alexa, then there's no reason why RED shouldn't represent there. Except that now RED has decided it wants to be a rental camera (the average price of a red camera has tripled), indie filmmakers are less likely to be using their own RED on a project and choosing to rent Arri's over RED, which even most non-indie DP's would do. Still surprised that that RED didn't beat both Canon and Sony. That's an interesting shift.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Its no suprise that Canon lenses are popular, they support all camera models, and are excellent. A big part of chosing a camera is manufacturer suport. Canon has made it clear that they are going to support cinema in a big way.

 

[Talys]

For most popular lens, an EFS 18-55 is pictured

Didn't you know, it's really popular among the filmmaker crowd

Must be that awesome STM autofocus ;D

 

[LDS]

Huh, 14% of shorts shot was on a DSLR. That’s quite a surprise to me, an outsider. I would have hardly expected any.

I believe someone here would have expected many more, including full movies shot on a 4K phone. ;D

 

[Hector1970]

I guess its a bit like cameras and real photographers/camera people want the best gear but I'm surprised that more of the independent film makers aren't using simpler camera gear like the Panasonic GH5 or Full Frame camera's.
The output of this independent film making is often poor enough.
Too much time spend on the gear and not enough on the script, plot and acting.
A bit like photography - too much time spent on gear and pixel peeping and not enough on composition , location , lighting and subject

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

For most popular lens, an EFS 18-55 is pictured

Didn't you know, it's really popular among the filmmaker crowd

Must be that awesome STM autofocus ;D

Talking serious.

The "EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 STM" is one of the fastest, quietest and most accurate focusing lenses, and the bias comes from those who have never used such a lens.
In fact, it is infinitely faster and quieter than the EF40mm F2.8 and EF50mm F1.4, and also exceeds the EF28-135mm USM.

STM lenses may not be great for focusing manually, but in autofocus the "no pancake" models are really great.

 

[Chaitanya]

No surprise regarding Canon EF lenses, even Panasonic makes cameras that accept EF lenses. Wide selection across different price ranges do make it attractive proposition compared to other mounts.

 

[LDS]

I guess its a bit like cameras and real photographers/camera people want the best gear but I'm surprised that more of the independent film makers aren't using simpler camera gear like the Panasonic GH5 or Full Frame camera's.

I think the reason is exactly they are not great tools to create movies - especially as main cameras, and there are better alternatives you can buy and especially rent.

While a mirrorless or DSLR could look great for freelance journalists or vloggers especially because of the price, and maybe even some wedding photographers, I think a camera designed for movie shooting and not stills is far more productive, easier to rig as desired, and delivers better results with less effort.

Canon cameras placed well against Sony as well - maybe the Cxxx line instead of trying to cram everything into a 5D was not so stupid?

 

[ExodistPhotography]

This Tangerine color on Blue gives me a headache to look at..

 

[mb66energy]

For most popular lens, an EFS 18-55 is pictured

Didn't you know, it's really popular among the filmmaker crowd

Must be that awesome STM autofocus ;D

Talking serious.

The "EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 STM" is one of the fastest, quietest and most accurate focusing lenses, and the bias comes from those who have never used such a lens.
In fact, it is infinitely faster and quieter than the EF40mm F2.8 and EF50mm F1.4, and also exceeds the EF28-135mm USM.

STM lenses may not be great for focusing manually, but in autofocus the "no pancake" models are really great.

O.K., I have to think twice if I give it away like planned. For photography I do not like that lens, at least because I use it mostly on the long end and the EF-S 60mm Macro is so much better in terms of IQ and gives mit 2 extra stops for light + shallow depth of field + nicer bokeh

 

[Talys]

Must be that awesome STM autofocus ;D

Talking serious.

The "EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 STM" is one of the fastest, quietest and most accurate focusing lenses, and the bias comes from those who have never used such a lens.
In fact, it is infinitely faster and quieter than the EF40mm F2.8 and EF50mm F1.4, and also exceeds the EF28-135mm USM.

STM lenses may not be great for focusing manually, but in autofocus the "no pancake" models are really great.

I owned one, though I've given it away -- it came virtually free with some body, perhaps the T6s. You are right in that this is a good lens, in the "use it, don't feel it" category. The AF is fast an accurate, and the image quality is acceptable if not spectacular, and of course, it's really inexpensive.

However, I think the EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (the nano lens) is much quieter, and the autofocus is so fast and hunt-free that if there's sufficient light, I can totally miss the refocus. And of course, it has a massive FR and isn't a very large lens. Plus, you can use the remote that has electronic W/T controls.

If I were interested in video, I think this would definitely be my lens of choice. I was so impressed with it that I bought one, and then never used it because I'm not really interested in video For stills, both the wide and tele end are not good enough for me, compared to other alternatives that I already have. I kept it around because I thought it would be a nice travel lens with my 80D, but then, I never ended up packing it, because I'm greedy with the lenses I want to take with me. Who needs clothes.

 

[Ozarker]

I thought everyone was shooting with a Sony. Stupid Canon. :